Raising Dairy Cows, Part I

1 / 10
The
The "liquid" assets from raising dairy cows are ample payment for the small amount of care your cow or cows will require.
2 / 10
Thick-muscled Brown Swiss cows were bred to provide meat, milk, and draft capability. 
Thick-muscled Brown Swiss cows were bred to provide meat, milk, and draft capability. 
3 / 10
A black spotted Holstein. This breed was developed by the Dutch on very fertile soil with lush grasses.
A black spotted Holstein. This breed was developed by the Dutch on very fertile soil with lush grasses.
4 / 10
A brown spotted Holstein. As a rule, Holsteins are large-volume producers.  
A brown spotted Holstein. As a rule, Holsteins are large-volume producers.  
5 / 10
Guernsey (and Jerseys) provide milk with a higher percentage of butterfat and non-fat solids.
Guernsey (and Jerseys) provide milk with a higher percentage of butterfat and non-fat solids.
6 / 10
Jerseys (and Guernseys) were bred to graze the English Channel islands between England and France.  
Jerseys (and Guernseys) were bred to graze the English Channel islands between England and France.  
7 / 10
Large, hardy Ayrshire cows originated in Scotland.
Large, hardy Ayrshire cows originated in Scotland.
8 / 10
A good milkmaker will require well-balanced, high-protein rations, as well as hay and pasture grass.  
A good milkmaker will require well-balanced, high-protein rations, as well as hay and pasture grass.  
9 / 10
A commercial milking parlor like this one is good for large dairy operations.  
A commercial milking parlor like this one is good for large dairy operations.  
10 / 10
If you're going to do the milking yourself a sturdy metal milking stand like this one is a big help.
If you're going to do the milking yourself a sturdy metal milking stand like this one is a big help.

Raising dairy cows delivers multiple benefits. Just one “bossy” contentedly chewing her cud in the lower 40–or even in a small backyard plot–can easily provide your family with all the milk, cheese, and other dairy products you’ll ever need. In fact, a single cow can actually overwhelm a single household with a super-abundance of delicious white liquid. But the problem of dealing with such excess–especially since extra milk can easily be put to good (and potentially profitable) use–is just the sort of hassle that most self-sufficient homesteaders hope to face!

What’s more, milk and its by-products aren’t the only goods that a dairy animal will provide. She’ll raise her own calf (or calves) each year to supply your freezer with steaks and hamburgers … and–of course–will also add an abundance of material to the compost pile.

I. Pick the Best Cow You Can Find

I’ve said it before, but I’ll stress this point once again: If there’s any one livestock-raising commandment that is of prime importance, it’s the rule that you should always pick the very best animal you can find. When you realize that–poor producer or not–you’ll have to milk (and pour feed into) a hungry hay-burner twice a day, seven days a week, for the next 10 to 15 years, it should be very evident that you want to start with a good cow.

If you haven’t been around dairy cattle much, it’s best to have an experienced herder (preferably not a person who’s trying to sell you an animal) give you some pointers on making a good buy. As an alternative, you can also learn a good bit about cow-choosing by simply sitting ringside at a local fair or cattle show, and matching your discerning eye against that of the judge.

  • Published on Jul 1, 1981
Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368