Post by jenwren on May 22, 2022 21:56:05 GMT -5
Hi everyone!
I've been doing a lot of research on keeping a family milk cow for the past couple years, and I'm finally in a position to have a couple cows on my property in the next couple months. During all my time of research, I kept stumbling upon threads on this site that would always answer my questions, so I figured I'd finally join after all this time lurking!
I grew up riding horses my whole life and living around beef cows, but I also wanted a source of fresh, raw milk too. So once I got settled with my own new family this past year on our 6 acre property in southeastern Pennsylvania, I began building a fence for a couple beef cows and a family milk cow. We have an old barn on the property that'll store all our hay, wood shavings, and equipment as well as a 4-stall stable and a tack room (though we fashioned one of the stalls into a big chicken coop for our 25 new chicks). We also have a couple beehives on the property too.
Our fence will be finished by the end of this month (or beginning of next month), but I've been struggling with finding beef cows and a dairy cow to eat 4+ ft tall grass covering 6 cleared acres. I haven't had much luck with Craigslist. Is an auction worthwhile? Or should I reach out to 4-H clubs in the area? What's a good source to start out my little herd?
I'm looking for 1 beef heifer or cow and 1 dairy/beef cross heifer or cow. I only need about 3 gallons of milk a week, so I've been trying to avoid pure dairy breeds since I don't need that much milk (though everyone on Craigslist wants to sell me their open Jersey cow...) There are a few cows that have piqued my interest on Craigslist, but they're about 150+ miles away. Is it normal to travel so far for a cow?
Is there any advice you guys have for a newbie? I've always had animals given to me when I was a kid from family, so I never had to do the searching, but since I'm in PA now (which is on the entire other side of the country from all my family), I have to start from square one. Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks! I look forward to chatting with you all on the forum.
I've been doing a lot of research on keeping a family milk cow for the past couple years, and I'm finally in a position to have a couple cows on my property in the next couple months. During all my time of research, I kept stumbling upon threads on this site that would always answer my questions, so I figured I'd finally join after all this time lurking!
I grew up riding horses my whole life and living around beef cows, but I also wanted a source of fresh, raw milk too. So once I got settled with my own new family this past year on our 6 acre property in southeastern Pennsylvania, I began building a fence for a couple beef cows and a family milk cow. We have an old barn on the property that'll store all our hay, wood shavings, and equipment as well as a 4-stall stable and a tack room (though we fashioned one of the stalls into a big chicken coop for our 25 new chicks). We also have a couple beehives on the property too.
Our fence will be finished by the end of this month (or beginning of next month), but I've been struggling with finding beef cows and a dairy cow to eat 4+ ft tall grass covering 6 cleared acres. I haven't had much luck with Craigslist. Is an auction worthwhile? Or should I reach out to 4-H clubs in the area? What's a good source to start out my little herd?
I'm looking for 1 beef heifer or cow and 1 dairy/beef cross heifer or cow. I only need about 3 gallons of milk a week, so I've been trying to avoid pure dairy breeds since I don't need that much milk (though everyone on Craigslist wants to sell me their open Jersey cow...) There are a few cows that have piqued my interest on Craigslist, but they're about 150+ miles away. Is it normal to travel so far for a cow?
Is there any advice you guys have for a newbie? I've always had animals given to me when I was a kid from family, so I never had to do the searching, but since I'm in PA now (which is on the entire other side of the country from all my family), I have to start from square one. Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks! I look forward to chatting with you all on the forum.