Post by aimee on Apr 28, 2011 20:34:58 GMT -5
Greetings!
I am getting a dairy cow in 2 weeks and I have no dairy farming experience. Naturally, I'm looking for advice! I'm really excited and motivated to care for my new cow and I have lots of questions. My husband and I raise grass and alfalfa hay, so we have lots of good chow, and I feel comfortable that our 1950's wooden dairy barn and pasture will make a great home for her. I'm comfortable with taking care of those basic needs...but the dairy is a whole other story! She's a pregnant Jersey, and due this summer. Currently she is dry, so I have a little time to feed her and get to know her before the milking fun will begin. I've read a lot about milking set up options, and I want to learn to milk by hand, but I'm also planning to buy a portable vacuum milker so that I have lots of options. I've saved up and I want to do this right and have good, if used, equipment. On that note, I have some questions....
I love the enthusiasm in all of the posts that I've read on this forum. I have to say that I'm so excited to make cheese, butter, and ice cream. I've been buying gallons of heavy cream and practicing some things, the local grocer thinks I'm nuts! Once I have all of the equipment set up well in advance of the calf coming I will have lots of questions on how to share milk with the calf, and well so many things I can't possibly name them all. I would really appreciate any advice, and thanks in advance for understanding that I have no experience. Also, if I'm posting in the wrong place feel free to let me know. Thanks!
I am getting a dairy cow in 2 weeks and I have no dairy farming experience. Naturally, I'm looking for advice! I'm really excited and motivated to care for my new cow and I have lots of questions. My husband and I raise grass and alfalfa hay, so we have lots of good chow, and I feel comfortable that our 1950's wooden dairy barn and pasture will make a great home for her. I'm comfortable with taking care of those basic needs...but the dairy is a whole other story! She's a pregnant Jersey, and due this summer. Currently she is dry, so I have a little time to feed her and get to know her before the milking fun will begin. I've read a lot about milking set up options, and I want to learn to milk by hand, but I'm also planning to buy a portable vacuum milker so that I have lots of options. I've saved up and I want to do this right and have good, if used, equipment. On that note, I have some questions....
- Do you recommend a 40 gal bulk tank for one cow? Does $5K sound high for such a tank? I've read that they need to be very full to work, is that true? what about an Ice Bank Tank?
- Do you recommend vacuum milkers that hang beneath the udder or that sit off to the side?
- Our family and friends will be consuming lots of raw milk and raw milk products. However, I want a small pasteurizer too. Does $400 sound high for an 8L unit?
- What can I do now (well as soon as I get her!) to make sure the rest of her pregnancy is happy and healthy?
- What can I do now to make sure the little one has every chance for a healthy start?
I love the enthusiasm in all of the posts that I've read on this forum. I have to say that I'm so excited to make cheese, butter, and ice cream. I've been buying gallons of heavy cream and practicing some things, the local grocer thinks I'm nuts! Once I have all of the equipment set up well in advance of the calf coming I will have lots of questions on how to share milk with the calf, and well so many things I can't possibly name them all. I would really appreciate any advice, and thanks in advance for understanding that I have no experience. Also, if I'm posting in the wrong place feel free to let me know. Thanks!