We're raising a DAIRY COW on ONE ACRE? (why we chose a mini cow over goats)

Join Stephen and I for a chat on the back porch! We're going in depth on WHY we bought our jersey cow last year and our thoughts on choosing a mini cow vs. goats for a small homestead like ours. Enjoy the show 🙃
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[@SummerBearry]

I'd love to know what your plans are for pasture management with the cow and how you're handling the manure on one acre thanks!

[@sylphienne]

Do you have just one cow on your acreage? What do you do with the baby cows?

[@shullfamilyhomestead6044]

Thank you for this video! I have just over an acer in my backyard that I'm about to fence in with panels and build a pallet barn. And I'm really getting serious about a mini cow.

[@GrowingDawn]

Sounds like a promising set up!

[@gailann7813]

Did you AI your cow or a vet? Also may I ask the cost of the mini Jersey? Lastly, I may be wrong but I thought cows were a herd animal and needed a partner to keep them happy.

[@GrowingDawn]

we had an AI tech come and do it. and we definitely paid way less for her than you would be able to get one for now!

[@rustictraditionshomestead]

We only have an acre and we started with dwarf goats but they were nonstop getting into something. They didn't escape our fence thankfully. We had our 3 does long enough to breed them and begin milking them and they didn't produce enough milk for the hassle so we sold them all a year ago. We want a mini cow for all the reasons y'all mentioned. We don't eat goat but we love steak. I am thankful for the experience with our goats because now we know we don't want them lol.

[@GrowingDawn]

This is such a great comment! Thanks for sharing your experience. I know that’s the best way to learn and figure out what we do and don’t want!

[@balliadairyfarm]

Ajay Yadav India dairy farm

[@Lucy-qc4iz]

I am so grateful to have found your channel! My family recently moved to an area where we have 5 acres. We have 8 chickens 🐔 and would love to have a mini cow 🐄 but not sure what that requires. So listening to your thoughts and plans and watching your family handle cow situations is great!! I'm wondering how much time is needed daily to take care of a cow? And also I have heard that people use to have a family cow they would milk for 5 years, is this bad for the cow? After watching the struggle you all had in the birthing process I think I would stretch out the calfing process too. What do you guys plan to do?

[@GrowingDawn]

It takes us 30 minutes or less to milk in the mornings. Obviously more time is put in too but that’s the biggest chunk nInterestingly a friend told me recently about someone who milked their cow 8 years on one lactation. I’m intrigued, but we haven’t fully decided yet on the next breeding plan for Beulah.

[@TheNena444]

Love your Chanel!

[@hybridhomesteady]

is the acre enough for 1 cow to graze most the year? I think thats what I'm trying to figure out... how much hay I'd have to buy at least for winter

[@GrowingDawn]

We have to feed her hay during the winter for sure because the grass doesn’t grow. But April-October she is just on grass.

[@jasmynesartstudio]

Is 1/2 an acre too small for a mini Jersey? I live in north florida without much cold weather

[@GrowingDawn]

I would be prepared to supplement with some hay even during spring/summer but if you can find room for a stanchion and barn stall I don't think it's too small!

[@Rachel-kg2cw]

Also thought FAQ was a silly/tech way to say Facts 😂🤣😂.

[@carliaalderman]

Thanks so much for the video. We’re seriously considering a couple mini cows for our small property, and I’m really struggling to find answers about their manure/waste output and disposal options. Composting isn’t a great option for us in this season, and there’s not many options for removal in our area- to be honest, I’m afraid we’re gonna end up “pooped” out of house and home lol. If I’m trying to keep the yard/pasture clean, am I gonna end up spending every day picking up massive amounts of stool & with unmanageable piles and piles of it? I guess I’m just trying to figure out how MUCH stool I can expect over a period of time lol. Any estimates or suggestions on the matter? (Sorry for the gross question lol, but after all the research I’ve done, this remains the main unanswered concern)

[@GrowingDawn]

We have a pretty large pile at this point (about the width of her barn stall). We put a good amount of the old stuff on the garden this year. We scoop most of her poop out of the yard although we are transitioning out of scooping so much now that we have a set rotational grazing system.

[@carliaalderman]

@@GrowingDawn Thanks so much for the response! We just put a deposit down on 2 mini calves & are bringing them home next week, so here we go!! 🥳☺

[@crystalhaynes5786]

Thank you #druromi for all that you do; being battling with HSV - 2 for so many years, but I'm glad you healed me with your herbs .. 💯

[@johnfarmer1691]

how boring that was