Post by kellyinco on Feb 6, 2010 17:42:23 GMT -5
So, we are having two winter-related problems that need adjustment for the sake of our pocket books and sanity.
The first problem is that our cows are living in poo soup out there and it's REALLY NASTY (despite our best efforts)!!!! We have two little stalls that we keep clean and that the cows can bed down in, and we do the best we can to keep it clean in the area outside that they stand while eating and drinking. But inevitibly our sweet little jersey momma chooses the biggest poo to plop in for her naps and comes into the barn for milking looking like she swam in it! It's a lot of work two times a day to keep the stalls and small dry area outside that's not covered in a foot of snow even the least bit hygienic. Our two other angus heiffers are probably just as dirty as our jersey but neither we nor they seem to care as much about that. We don't have to drink their milk!
The other problem is feed. We're spending way too much on it! We want the best for our jersey but the two angus also benefit from her standards because we have them all together and feed them all together.
So, there are those that have been encouraging us to separate the jersey and the angus, due to the differing standards of cleanliness and feed that we must keep for them. But that would mean that our jersey would be alone and separate from the "herd."
This spring and summer we plan rotate them all together out in the fields but for now, what do you think? Would it be better to separate them or keep them together?
Thanks! I've been gone from the board for a while and it's good to be back! I appreciate you all.
Kelly
The first problem is that our cows are living in poo soup out there and it's REALLY NASTY (despite our best efforts)!!!! We have two little stalls that we keep clean and that the cows can bed down in, and we do the best we can to keep it clean in the area outside that they stand while eating and drinking. But inevitibly our sweet little jersey momma chooses the biggest poo to plop in for her naps and comes into the barn for milking looking like she swam in it! It's a lot of work two times a day to keep the stalls and small dry area outside that's not covered in a foot of snow even the least bit hygienic. Our two other angus heiffers are probably just as dirty as our jersey but neither we nor they seem to care as much about that. We don't have to drink their milk!
The other problem is feed. We're spending way too much on it! We want the best for our jersey but the two angus also benefit from her standards because we have them all together and feed them all together.
So, there are those that have been encouraging us to separate the jersey and the angus, due to the differing standards of cleanliness and feed that we must keep for them. But that would mean that our jersey would be alone and separate from the "herd."
This spring and summer we plan rotate them all together out in the fields but for now, what do you think? Would it be better to separate them or keep them together?
Thanks! I've been gone from the board for a while and it's good to be back! I appreciate you all.
Kelly