Need a lil advice

I am going to start this off with the statement that I have not, do not, and probably will not own a diary cow. That being said I will offer up some advice and ask some questions of you.

What live stock experience do you have? Cow's are a lot of work and a big commitment. Jumping right into having a cow sounds like a recipe for disaster for most beginning homesteaders. Starting out with easier critters to get your feet wet would be well advised. Poultry are easy and generally problem free, sounds like you already have some chickens. Pigs are relatively easy, especially raising them as feeders. Although when a pig gets sick, they get sick fast. Same with sheep. I have never raised goats, but I hear they will test your patience and your fence daily.

Do you have the time commitment for a cow? Cows must be feed and watered like all other livestock. But the real commitment is milking. This is typically a twice a day chore of first sanitizing your equipment, for a single cow this is likely just a stainless steel bucket. Then you will spend time actually milking the cow. After that is complete the milk must then be put up for later use. I am not sure how long this will take, but an hour each milking doesn't sound unrealistic if doing it by hand. I have heard of people that only milk in the morning, then let the calf spend the day with the cow. The calf takes care of the afternoon milking for you, but you must be there to then separate the calf and cow again after 12 hours so you will have milk the next morning.  

What would you do with the calf? And do you have space to raise the calf as well? Bull calfs eventually make great eating, especially if you steer them, but the grow out time on a calf is much longer than other livestock, especially a diary breed. 

If you really want to get a cow I would suggest starting out with a feeder meat type just to get a handle on managing a cow without a huge commitment. Although I myself have never owned a cow I have spent plenty of time around them. I find the meat breeds to also be better tempered than diary breeds. I assure you there is nothing meaner in this world than a Holestien bull. And if you really want a diary cow now, check out the mini cattle. Breeds like milking Devons and Dexters, are both smaller and dual purpose. I hear they tend to have better temperament, they take less space, and eat less feed, while still providing plenty of milk.


Again I am no expert on cows, but I really think you should put this one on the back burner for a while. Starting a slow and building up is the key to successful homesteading. 

I've never owned , or so much as milked a cow, but my uncles on my mothers side were all dairy farmers, and one thing I can tell you about them is that they were married to those cows.

I often talk to the farmer that rents my land, and the happiest day of his farming life was when he sold his dairy cows. While other dad's were taking their kids in vacation they were stuck home milking the cows...twice a day...every single day. Cows don't take holidays or sick days. If you aren't able to milk them you had better know somebody who can fill in for you at the last minute.

I don't want to talk you out of anything, and I applaud your homesteading ambition, but I can't imagine a bigger commitment on the homestead as far as an animal goes.