Post by 7isheaven on Jun 25, 2012 11:38:50 GMT -5
Hey everyone
Just as the thread title says, I'm looking for advice and guidance...we're hoping to get a family milk cow in the next 6 months to a year and I really wanted to come on here and ask you all what we should be doing to the farm to prep for her arrival.
Specifically I'm wondering about shelter (we're thinking of building a lean to onto the side of our existing barn that houses our horses...maybe the length of the barn so she's got plenty of room to get out of the weather?) or should we build just one huge stall for her on the side with a doorway?
I'm also wondering about building a milking parlor...we've got no experience with milking a cow and I'd love to visit a dairy to learn as much as I can about them but I dont know of any close by us. What kind of structure should we build for milking?
What's the best places to buy milking supplies? How hard is it to take care of a milk cow? Like I said...we have NO experience and while I've read books and I read here daily and am gaining knowledge, sometimes I wonder if we can really do it...guess I'm nervous of the unknown. Do you all use vets for your girls ailments or do you do everything yourselves? I've searched and have be unable to find a large animal vet that deals with farm animals in my county...horses...yes, they're everywhere but not for anything other than that....I'm just worried if we have an emergency being newbies etc...that there's a vet we can call who will come help!
Anything I haven't asked about please feel free to jump in a suggestion etc... I read like crazy and learn a lot but sometimes don't ask the right questions and maybe need some guidance in laymens terms LOL
Thanks in advance y'all...looking forward to reading responses!
Just as the thread title says, I'm looking for advice and guidance...we're hoping to get a family milk cow in the next 6 months to a year and I really wanted to come on here and ask you all what we should be doing to the farm to prep for her arrival.
Specifically I'm wondering about shelter (we're thinking of building a lean to onto the side of our existing barn that houses our horses...maybe the length of the barn so she's got plenty of room to get out of the weather?) or should we build just one huge stall for her on the side with a doorway?
I'm also wondering about building a milking parlor...we've got no experience with milking a cow and I'd love to visit a dairy to learn as much as I can about them but I dont know of any close by us. What kind of structure should we build for milking?
What's the best places to buy milking supplies? How hard is it to take care of a milk cow? Like I said...we have NO experience and while I've read books and I read here daily and am gaining knowledge, sometimes I wonder if we can really do it...guess I'm nervous of the unknown. Do you all use vets for your girls ailments or do you do everything yourselves? I've searched and have be unable to find a large animal vet that deals with farm animals in my county...horses...yes, they're everywhere but not for anything other than that....I'm just worried if we have an emergency being newbies etc...that there's a vet we can call who will come help!
Anything I haven't asked about please feel free to jump in a suggestion etc... I read like crazy and learn a lot but sometimes don't ask the right questions and maybe need some guidance in laymens terms LOL
Thanks in advance y'all...looking forward to reading responses!