Post by epitts75 on Dec 26, 2007 8:01:04 GMT -5
I've been a mostly quiet member of this board for a little while as I have soaked up all the great info and awaited the long desired purchase of our new milk cow. We unexpectedly found her last week. I hope we made a good choice. The family who owns this cow has been calling her Mommy Moo-moo...we'll probably change the name as she is still pretty skittish and doesn't come to her name.
She is a Jersey and came very cheap at $400. The 9 yr old boy who owned her had outgrown his interest in livestock with his new interest in ATV's and dad was tired of taking care of the animals for him. All the animals seemed well loved as far as time and affection spent on the them, but I was not impressed with food quality or knowledge about the animals. I don't think anyone received vet care. This cow is basically an unknown. The previous owners had started working with hand milking her but she is definitely not tame. After awhile she let my husband get close to her and rub all over her and handle her udder. There was no attempt at kicking or any other aggression but she did seem skittish and would jump away if we got too close to her. We think after some regular treats we can eventually get her used to being brushed at feeding time and from there she might be less skittish and consent to being milked. One question I had was I intended to grass feed only, but she is used to getting some grain and I think we need treats to help train her. I was thinking we'll phase out the grain slowly, but what would be the best thing for training purposes? We usually have beet pulp on hand for our goats. Do cows like that? Any other treats that they are particularly fond of?
We plan to have her vet tested for tuberculosis and brucellosis. Probably not immediately as she is at the end of her lactation cycle and we won't be breeding her for a couple months or so. I've heard a lot of talk about Johnes on this board but our vet did not mention that as a necessary test. Is that something that is only necessary in certain areas? Anything else I should be aware of before we drink the milk raw? We are complete novices at livestock. We bought meat goats and chickens last year...haven't actually eaten any of our animals yet. We're bigger softies than we thought! We'll try not naming the next round of babies. :-)
I'll post a picture in a day or two after we get her settled and this cold rain stops. She should be delivered around lunchtime today.
Ellen
She is a Jersey and came very cheap at $400. The 9 yr old boy who owned her had outgrown his interest in livestock with his new interest in ATV's and dad was tired of taking care of the animals for him. All the animals seemed well loved as far as time and affection spent on the them, but I was not impressed with food quality or knowledge about the animals. I don't think anyone received vet care. This cow is basically an unknown. The previous owners had started working with hand milking her but she is definitely not tame. After awhile she let my husband get close to her and rub all over her and handle her udder. There was no attempt at kicking or any other aggression but she did seem skittish and would jump away if we got too close to her. We think after some regular treats we can eventually get her used to being brushed at feeding time and from there she might be less skittish and consent to being milked. One question I had was I intended to grass feed only, but she is used to getting some grain and I think we need treats to help train her. I was thinking we'll phase out the grain slowly, but what would be the best thing for training purposes? We usually have beet pulp on hand for our goats. Do cows like that? Any other treats that they are particularly fond of?
We plan to have her vet tested for tuberculosis and brucellosis. Probably not immediately as she is at the end of her lactation cycle and we won't be breeding her for a couple months or so. I've heard a lot of talk about Johnes on this board but our vet did not mention that as a necessary test. Is that something that is only necessary in certain areas? Anything else I should be aware of before we drink the milk raw? We are complete novices at livestock. We bought meat goats and chickens last year...haven't actually eaten any of our animals yet. We're bigger softies than we thought! We'll try not naming the next round of babies. :-)
I'll post a picture in a day or two after we get her settled and this cold rain stops. She should be delivered around lunchtime today.
Ellen