Re: Cows

[Moen Creek]

Title: Re: Cows

Hi,  I'm Mark's wife and partner in our animal husbandry. I'd like to answer some of your questions. About sheep milk.......its a big industry in France--makes excellent cheese and drinking milk.  Yes, the teats are big enough to hand milk, if you get the right breed....you want a breed that is known for milk.  Our Jacobs are not known for their milk, They have very little teats.....however, I have milked them to get colostrum and/or milk out for a newborn lamb when nursing was a problem.  Wisconsin has a Dairy Sheep Breeders Association. Should be easy to find on the web and you could inquire about the right breed, IF you decide to go that direction.  To get milk for yourself and the baby(s)....it is recommended that you separate the mom and baby at night.  You then milk her in the morning when she is full, then put the baby with her for the rest of the day. This system can work work for any milk animal.....we read that this is standard practice for some sustainable organic dairies in Australia.

I would still recommend that you get two of the same kind of animal, rather than a mix of one of each. Dogs and cats enjoy being "onlies", but bovines  are herd animals--they need more of their own kind to be happy. A minimum of two is recommended. If coyotes are a problem, then the larger animal (cow) is probably a better choice, though her calf will be vunerable--would help to have a cow with horns.  

How are going to breed your animals?  What will you do with the offspring when they grow up? These answers may figure in your choice.

"Heritage" chickens refers to many old breeds that are in danger of becoming extinct. An excellent source on all kinds of "heritage" breeds of barnyard animals is the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.  We have a "Noah's Ark" of old chicken breeds--about 10 different kinds (Dominique, Buff Orpington, Black Jersey Giant, White Jersey Giant, Silver Crested Polish, Speckled English Sussex, New Hampshire Red, Sicilian Buttercup, Auracana, Iowa Blue, Buckeye).  If you stick to the heritage chickens, they are all good grazers........and scratchers....mostly chickens like to scratch alot.

Good luck !  Linda

I also want to include chickens and ducks in the pasture.  Is Heritage the breed?  

I like the idea of a cow and sheep because of the diversity on the farm.  And because there are coyotes in this area and I think sheep by themselves will get killed.  The cows in this area don't seem to be bothered by the coyotes so I'm thinking a sheep with a cow would be protected.

I particularly interested in sheep, ducks and chickens that are strong grazers.  If anyone has suggestions...

Daniel

----- Original Message -----
From: Moen Creek <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 4:16 PM
Subject: Re: Cows

Well,
given the further Q's and thoughts on my & wife Linda's part.
We suggest you go with milking sheep, polled ones at that. Rams with Horns are harder on trees & ALL!  then anything. They are not named RAMs for nothing. We have Jacobs with lots of horns and love them even more then our Highlands but we have some of the sweetest Ewes & rams on the planet!
While we are at it our heritage chickens are truly amazing and you should consider them in a pasture mix.

In Love And Light
Markess

From: "D" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Wed, 22 May 2002 09:37:30 -0700
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Cows

Thanks for the info Markess,

I would be interested in hearing more about milking them.  Do you know if they will produce enough milk for a calf and a family?

I don't know if we have enough land for two cows so we might go with a cow, sheep combo.  Anyone have experience with a sheep and a cow bonding?

The other breeds we are interested in are Jerseys and Guernsey's.  I would love to hear from anyone
with those breeds.  

Daniel