Post by cmercer00 on Oct 24, 2013 7:35:27 GMT -5
I'm now the proud owner of two reg. Jersey heifers since Sept. - both girls are hopefully bred for spring and are just the sweetest most perfect young ladies! Any ways, for several years untill this last March I raised a show herd of Alpine goats, so thats where the most of my experience comes from with dairy animals. We have raised some steers in the past short term on goats milk and then put them in the freezer, but thats really it except for the Jersey we had as a family cow when I was a kid.
My question is this - we live in ND and are still in the process of building our farm, so don't yet have our barn. We do have 3 mares that the cows live with, and they have access to a run in shed. However when the horses all feel like using it the cows don't get too. I also have another run in shed that is connected to what used to be my goat pen that I can put the cows in when the weather gets very bad - and have done this already here and there since we have had cold wet fall days already.
But the cows don't use the shed that I have seen. They will follow me in there, but they don't seem to use it on their own. Can I trust them to use it if they need it? How hardy are Jerseys? Should I watch for something this winter so I know if I need to like lock them in or something?
When they are with the horses they have access to a grass round bale 24/7, water, minerals and get a grain/cow cube treat every night.
They came from a farm in ND that had them only on grass after they were out of the calf stage, and said the only cows that got shelter were their milkers to prevent udder damage - so all their young/dry animals lived outside with only some windbreaks all year.
Just wondering how much care they will need in the cold. Thanks!
My question is this - we live in ND and are still in the process of building our farm, so don't yet have our barn. We do have 3 mares that the cows live with, and they have access to a run in shed. However when the horses all feel like using it the cows don't get too. I also have another run in shed that is connected to what used to be my goat pen that I can put the cows in when the weather gets very bad - and have done this already here and there since we have had cold wet fall days already.
But the cows don't use the shed that I have seen. They will follow me in there, but they don't seem to use it on their own. Can I trust them to use it if they need it? How hardy are Jerseys? Should I watch for something this winter so I know if I need to like lock them in or something?
When they are with the horses they have access to a grass round bale 24/7, water, minerals and get a grain/cow cube treat every night.
They came from a farm in ND that had them only on grass after they were out of the calf stage, and said the only cows that got shelter were their milkers to prevent udder damage - so all their young/dry animals lived outside with only some windbreaks all year.
Just wondering how much care they will need in the cold. Thanks!