Do you want to raise livestock for milk that isn't as huge as milk cow? Well, here are your 10 alternative milk animals that are almost as productive.
From costs, to how to pick the right cow, breeding, calving, milking, and more I’m going to walk you through the basics of keeping a family cow.
Want to buy beef in bulk but not sure how it works? Check out this field to freezer guide on how to buy a cow.
Like most kids, mine would pound through the door and ask "What's for dinner?" After receiving the answer I would often get the response of "Steak again?" Not too long ago I surveyed the freezer and realized that we had almost $5,000 worth of organically grown beef in our stuffed to the brim old chest model. The upright held the overflow. How much is almost 1,000 pounds of beef? We had fillet mignon, prime rib, t-bone, rib steak, porterhouse, sirloin, round steak, rib roast, rolled roast, and hamburger that was as good as steak. We didn't have to wonder how much the fat content was because there was no fat content, it had been cut off and now we had to add oil to the pan when we cooked it. It tasted as good as steak because it was steak, since we had more steaks than any person could want we threw those in also and ground them with the other cuts. All this for well under $1 a pound. Who would argue that an investment that multiplied more than 4 times in two years was not a good return? And, no matter how the stock market bumped and dipped there was still meat in the freezer. The best news of all is that this does not have to be a deal that only country people can take advantage of though they do get the best return for the money. If you live within driving distance to a rural area a once a year trip to the country can provide many of the same economic and health benefits of the small farmer. We have heard the horror stories of the main steam cattle feedlot and many have become vegetarians in protest of the conditions in which these animals are raised and the health issues that mass greed production has inspired. The life of small farm animal is not the same. We raised two or more beef animals at a time. They were raised from birth or purchased at three to six months of age. From there they had all the pasture they could eat supplemented with hay in the winter months. Some farmers supplemented the feed with grain to produce a richer meat and higher fat content but we preferred the leaner less marbleized beef. Breed had much to do with the meat as well and Black Angus is known and idealized as a good breed for producing some of the best steaks. Their temperament is more feisty than others so are not often the choice for the small farmer who prefer the more mellow breeds of Simmental, Limousin, and others. After raising a number of different animals we decided on the Dutch Belted which are pictured in the lower left hand corner. These animals are mellow and both good milk and beef stock and are almost extinct. Their origin was Europe and they were known as the breed of kings. The reason was that the belt around their middle is dominant and genetically passed on to their offspring. In this way the king was able to recognize his own cattle and punishments were stiff for those who were caught stealing them or raising them as their own. It was our hope to help increase the population of this wonderful animal who was said to be the original producer of Tillamook Cheese and Ice Cream. So why would a city person want to know all this? Food is an investment. An investment in ourselves, our children, and our nations economic structure. Just as importantly, so that you can select the best steak you can buy from the best conditions. Some study the stock market pages whose return is risky at best, livestock on the other hand has a more expected and predictable pattern of growth and return on investment. Brief soapbox message: I make no secret or no apology that one of the purposes that I hope to convey with this blog is the hope that the city man in the $1,000 suit will be able to interact and shake hands with the man in the overalls and that they both may be able to recognize and acknowledge the contribution both is making to our way of life and economy. To not do so is at our own peril as we get farther and farther from even knowing the source of our own food supply. By taking it so much much for granted we run the risk of having it changed, altered, or controlled without our knowledge. To learn more about agriculture and the challenges faced pick up the Capital Press and you can amaze and astound your friends. We are all on the same team striving to rebuild our nation's economy therefore it is important for the right hand to know what the left is doing or why. It's really not about politicians and Washington D.C. It's about us, the people, our way of life and country. Isn't food on the table our number 1 priority when it gets right down to it? Back to our beef investment topic. Even if you live in a city high rise condo there are ways to take advantage of the best opportunities to invest in beef for yourself and family. Buying a whole or half a beef from a rancher will not save as much as growing your own but cuts out many of the middle men who jack up the price and often reduce the quality all along the way. Who do you know in farming communities within reasonable driving distance from your home? Maybe this is an opportunity that has always been available you have just not taken the first step to bring it to pass. There are some restrictions that apply in buying directly from the farmer so this is something to discuss with them if you want to pursue it.
Cattle farming is an important part of the food supply chain for humans. We have got benefited from cattle especially cows for thousands of years. They have been able to
I’m welcoming back Kate from Venison for Dinner today as she wraps up her two-part series on milk cows that kick. I love these tips and have used several of them! So now you’ve figured out WHY your cow is kicking…but what are you going to do about it?! Put these ten practical tricks to […]
Learn more about the income and expenses of a homestead dairy cow to help you figure out if you can afford to buy a family milk cow.
So it is the norm for most homestead to be raising chicken for either meat or eggs. However I have noticed that many homesteads, and that includes ours do not really raise cattle for beef, even though we often make homemade beef jerky. Since it is something we are considering, I decided to look up
https://www.buzzsprout.com/469465/3607060-115-how-we-breed-calve-our-milk-cows.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download In one of the more exciting developments on the homestead over the past couple months, we have calves! For many of you, the idea of dairy producing animals might be completely foreign. On today’s episode, I’m here to demystify the process of breeding milk cows. I cover topics […]
We have recently started up a small, raw milk dairy, weaned the calves and have moved to twice a day milking. I am expecting our third child (3 under 4) and was wondering about how I am going to manage to leave our place again. How do you balance being able to go to things like fairs, events and such when milking
Cows enjoying seaweed feed at Straus Dairy Farms Cows produce a ton of methane, a fact that weighs heavy on the dairy industry’s tortured brow. The greenhouse gas is the second largest contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide, and cows can’t help but release a huge percentage of the global output. Farmers have gotten
There are many signs to watch for with an expecting cow. It's important to know what to expect and watch for to avoid illness and death.
I'm sharing the simple process for how to actually milk a cow by hand, how to filter the raw milk, and how to store it properly.
You’ve finally reached the point in your homesteading journey where it’s time to purchase a milk cow. You’ve bought a
If you are considering having cattle on your homestead, see our selection of useful cow breeds that have different purposes, to make your perfect pick from.
In this article, we provide information on caring for cattle on your homestead, on your beef ranch, etc. Learn more on how to care for a cow.
Are you ready to welcome a homestead dairy cow to your farm? This collection of resources will help you get started!
It always sneaks up on me… Breeding season, that is. Compared to all the big ranches around us who have hundreds of cows to breed each year, I feel like pretty small potatoes with our two measly mama cows. But still, if our cows don’t get bred, then we don’t have milk. Or meat. So […]
Cows are docile animals that are good milk and meat sources. Here's everything you need to know to raise them.
Like every other waste product from animals, cow dung has really gotten the attention and enlightenment it so deserves. And that’s why today, we are going to
Raising cattle can be a profitable business if you choose the right breeds for your climate and the amount of land you have.
This article was originally published by KJ Barber on www.askaprepper.com Editor’s Note: Today’s article idea came from Left Coast Chuck, one of our most esteemed group members and commentat…
Want to get a family dairy cow but not sure where to start? Here are my favorite cow supplies that you should get to be ready for a new cow!
Ever wanted to know how to butcher a beef cow? Well this here is your all-around guide. There are some basic pieces of info on the site here, and beyond that there are links to some of the best sites on the Internet on the topic.
Learn how to train a heifer to become a family milk cow. Follow these tips to figure out how to train your heifer both before and after calving.
If you’re going to be raising cattle, you’ll need to know how many cows per acre you can keep in your state. The number of cows you can keep without damaging the soil varies from
1. Udder Changes We like to use udder development as a good indicator of how far along a cow is. This measure is usually effective for dairy cattle, whereas beef cattle do not always “make up…
If you’re going to be raising cattle, you’ll need to know how many cows per acre you can keep in your state. The number of cows you can keep without damaging the soil varies from
It's pretty obvious that beef is meat from cattle, but how does it get to the table? In order for beef to be served at dinner time in the form of, for example, a porterhouse steak, sacrifices must be made in order to get that steak. In...
If you're looking for details about what you need to own a cow, here are a few things that you should definitely consider.
If you think you are ready for homegrown beef, first read our short guide on raising beef calves on a homestead, to know what you are in for.
From costs, to how to pick the right cow, breeding, calving, milking, and more I’m going to walk you through the basics of keeping a family cow.
Anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new calf? This post highlights the 5 most common signs of calving so you'll know exactly what to look for.
Home dairy cow vs. goat, read the pros and cons of both dairy animals here. Learn which dairy animal is right for your homestead dairy needs?
New to rotational grazing? I cover the basics of how we do it on our five acre farm. A great quick lesson on rotational graing for beginners.
Then this homemade teat spray is for you! Replace harsh bleach with the power of essential oils.
Milking a cow by hand is a tradition deep-rooted in the blood of our ancestors and learning how to do it is as much about preserving that knowledge.
Springtime is the best time to deworm cattle. Early in the springtime, parasite loads are very heavy. How often should you worm cattle?
