Is a Milk Cow Worth the Expense? Let's Do Nerdy Cow Math!

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Today we are sitting down to discuss how we came to the decision to get a milk cow. Do the numbers add up? Or are we just throwing our money away.
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2 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 1 тыс.

@evelinefoneswilliams906 5 лет назад

My mother saved the whey from cheese making and soaked the poultry grain in it ......lt tripled the bulk of feed reducing the amount used and made it super digestible plus increased vitamins and minerals . Poultry thrived and we saved on feed costs all from a waste product.

@groundedapproach 3 года назад

Genius!

@reignmicah1119 3 года назад

instablaster

@spoolsandbobbins 2 года назад

We do the same with kefir whey but don’t have a cow…yet.

@louisecamm9058 2 года назад

Thanks

@peggylynndesigns 5 лет назад

Have you figured in vet bills, annual shots, de-worming, pest control, and labor just to name a few?

@lessycurls 5 лет назад

Good question

@maurice4648 5 лет назад

and there own milk cheese yogurt etc what they are using?

@Ostarita 5 лет назад

they mentioned the possibility of calf sales, but forgot to mention bull services

@johndowe7003 5 лет назад

i wouldnt bother with a single milk cow, not worth the effort or money. better to raise steers, you can get some as low as 500$ or less and just feed it all year and sell it, make double back just about

@aCycloneSteve 5 лет назад

@@johndowe7003 If you have no grass or a feed facility for raising steers...not so much.

@lararabb8888 5 лет назад

Even if you just break even it is a good addition for health alone.

@katee2231 5 лет назад

Lara Rabb agree

@dualminecrafters1803 5 лет назад

Plus, if you collect the manure and compost it, you have something beautiful for the garden ☺️

@rayray8687 5 лет назад

Luke Simmons: There’s no need to compost manure, it’s well fermented inside the animals digestive tract.

@backtobasicstipswithtomrib19 5 лет назад

@@rayray8687 depending on the hay there can be a lot of weed seeds spread also

@rayray8687 5 лет назад

Tom Riblett: That’ll make the goats and rabbits happy, lol

@jonathanbrooks4969 5 лет назад

If you collect the manure, and put it in an area where the chickens and otherbirds can get to it, the manure will draw insects that the birds eat. There is a new concept I saw where an area was given to buffalo to live, then they brought in goats to eat the weeds grwon from the buffalo manure, then chickens to eat the bugs and weeds that still come from the manure. Circle of cow patties.

@deevila704 5 лет назад

Don’t forget to add the experience you will be teaching the girls. Priceless! 🐄

@swianecki 5 лет назад

Love to hear the nerdy math of any kind. She will be a great addition to your homestead whether she makes you money or not. I love reading all the other comments too.

@yankeedoodleaussie 5 лет назад

You need to factor in that your cow will be dry at some point in time between calves, but then also realize that you will be able to raise a bull calf on her for your own beef, more than one if you wean her calf and buy another calf to put on her. My holstein/jersey cross raised 2 calves each year and still gave me 6 gals of milk to give away (I can't legally sell it). That was before I knew how to make my own sour cream, cheese and yogurt though.

@thaboomer53 5 лет назад

Even if milk can't legally be sold, there is the whole thing of barter for different products you need and don't have.

@lorindav5549 5 лет назад

That's what I was going to add too. A cow needs time between milking and calving. Not to mention Vet costs, which need to be a factor just like car maintenance, it's part of the cost. Breeding takes time and sometimes costs.

@gingerreid8569 5 лет назад

@@thaboomer53 , yes, our milk lady's jersey is fixing to calve out and she is letting her dry up...we have to drive farther to get our raw milk until she is back again...couple months out..but if I am correct, milk freezes well...

@gingerreid8569 5 лет назад

@@thaboomer53 , yes on the barter...we have more eggs than we can eat...our milk lady goes to Dallas and Houston once a month with eggs...sometimes she comes up short and I trade eggs for milk...always a way.

@sharonnalder3428 5 лет назад

They forgot the dry time of the cow they will need to buy milk and bag balm teat dip cost of breeding that is just a few things that they forgot to add to the nerdy math oops.

@munirgolsom5850 5 лет назад

I liked " Vandelay Industries" ... Have a great weekend ✍☕

@JoshuaSmithHomesteader 5 лет назад

love the shirt Kevin. Importing, Exporting gotta love Seinfeld. The one price you didn't mention was, raw milk and the foods that you will make from it, that is drug free, full of vitamins and minerals. The cost savings of not going to the doctors and drug store to cure the illness that store bought dairy will give you. Priceless!!

@Meatherxc 5 лет назад

It sounds like you guys have a great plan and I am excited for you guys. The only thing that breaks my heart is processing a cow that is only a baby it is hard for me to think that is very ethical. You guys are so ethical in all the thing you do everyday so it just throws me off.

@cynthiafisher9907 5 лет назад

Shushin Satori I don’t think they meant that they would process a baby cow, just that they would raise the baby up and process it when it’s big enough.

@nw7408 5 лет назад

Nerdy cow math. Lol 😂 Have a great day. God bless.

@christinebeavers2621 5 лет назад

I don't live on a homestead but i truly love all of your videos. I'm learning some things. Thank you so much for sharing and may God continue to bless you.

@victoriaburkhardt4402 5 лет назад

Hi Kevin and Sarah, I love watching your adventures! When we had farm animals, I found it important to have a separate "Vet Expense" savings account. I like to keep quite a lot of money in there - cause "stupid stuff just happens with animals" ! Much love to you all!

@rudyorpington3152 5 лет назад

Good for you Sarah and Kevin. Surely someone else has mentioned this--YOU will care for the health of your cow and the quality of pure, non medicated milk will be phenomenal! Rara Avis

@TheAbleFarmer 5 лет назад

Don't forget the skim milk for pig feed! Cost savings!

@rayray8687 5 лет назад

The Able Farmer: Skim milk for pig feed? What’s wrong with skim milk for human feed.

@TheAbleFarmer 5 лет назад

@@rayray8687 you could I suppose, skim milk is a byproduct of making heavy cream. Not an expert on milking but I do know lots of people feed the skim back to hogs. They say nothing fattens them up quicker!

@rayray8687 5 лет назад

The Able Farmer: Both milk and cream come from a cows utter simultaneously at milking but the cream being very fatty and therefore lighter separates out and rises to the top of the container. In small quantities it is removed by skimming it off with a ladle, the result being skimmed milk and pure cream. In large operations it is separated by a centrifugal device called a separator (something like a salad spinner). Anyway, lots of people drink skim(ed) milk to reduce the fat content and still get the other nutrients. Others prefer 1%, 2% or 4% which are all created by adding back the appropriate amount of cream and then homogenizing the mixture in a high speed blender so it won’t separate again. All to keep the hogs fat and the people skinny, lol.

@hollienguyen5222 5 лет назад

@@rayray8687 check out full circle farm on RU-vid, he will explain why skim milk isn't good 😊

@rayray8687 5 лет назад

hollie nguyen: Thanks. I checked it out. He says they make cottage cheese out of some of the skimmed milk and feed the leftover amount to the pigs. I presume the cottage cheese is for human consumption?

@lieuwina 5 лет назад

I love your Nerdy Cow maths ha ha. I think I am just as excited as you both are about getting the cow, Cannot wait to watch this new adventure on your homestead. Have a great day Sarah and Kevin.

@aimingforvictory 5 лет назад

Yes but you need to be pricing raw A2 cow milk. Here it's $8 a gallon.

@Siamko 5 лет назад

Also it comes down to pricing things fairly for you and your customers. Let supply and demand drive pricing rather than national average.

@susanfurnish4132 5 лет назад

Good point.

@tammyvaughn6039 5 лет назад

It’s $8 here a gallon as well and that’s selling it as pet food. They may up their price a bit when they figure in other costs such as vet bills, annual shots, deworming ,hoof care or even mastitis strips. I think they may end up graining her more especially if she’s going to be eating mostly hay as her body score will start dropping without it. Unless they have super high quality hay. I’m so excited for them for getting a cow. Wish I were closer to lend a hand.

@kristinatidwell6563 4 года назад

@@tammyvaughn6039 my Ex raised Longhorns and to keep the weights up he fed cotton seed which is 20% protein thsts how he got the weights up. I've been researching how to do things to build my own place. Idk yet where it will be located? I'm currently in Texas tho. I need to look up a few answers to questions. Idk if its possible to sell raw milk specifically relating to liability issues towards insurance too.

@tinymompj 3 года назад

@@Siamko interestingly enough, my gut cannot process A2 milk!

@fionajane56 5 лет назад

Our family cow does not save us money. However she does balance the equation by giving us truly healthy milk. We make butter and sour cream and yogurt. I have not mastered making the cheddar cheeses. The dairy at Walmart is far cheaper. The key is the quality of what we get. With the calf we had nursing her producing beef [after 2 years] the cow is very much worth it. I consider it a Value Added investment.

@wendyall1 5 лет назад

And once people are coming to the farm for milk, they might want eggs and goat products. Great decision.

@sherylintheraw 5 лет назад

Plus fresh cut flowers and herbs as well👌

@Beecozz7 5 лет назад

The added health benefit of consuming raw milk products (endless list) is priceless!!! AND the manure!!!! LOL Great decision !!! TY

@carlinkay1151 5 лет назад

lol....just as good as nerdy chicken math...so funny!🤣🐮🐂 Do you sell a nerdy t-shirt?

@loribarto2119 5 лет назад

plus.....ICE CREAM!!!! I have been reading the comments and I know some people are trying to realistic but some of it sounds pretty judgmental to me. I wish you all the luck and good fortune. I know you have been doing your research and have every faith that you have also researched the how to's on making your own dairy products it will be fun to watch the videos on this new adventure. can't wait. so wish I could do what you are doing. keep up the awesome videos!!!

@farmermom 5 лет назад

A couple of costs you might need to also consider.... Breeding costs (usually AI) are variable according to area (it's about $100 for me). And I would definitely pad in a bit for vet visits, medicines, etc. ($300 is about what I spend a year for 4-5 cattle). Also, do remember the dry time (around 60 days). Your rations might be a little low. A typical scoop of alfalfa pellets is usually around 3lbs. So you could almost go through a bag of alfalfa pellets a week milking twice a day and just giving one scoop of alfalfa. It'll really depend on the quality of your hay! A trick I've learned is NOT to ask for cow hay when you have dairy cows. Ask for horse quality hay. Also, I have one cow who handles the cubes just fine, and one who chokes on them. After a VERY scary incident, the cubes have been banned here at our place. I'm super excited to see Hope settle into your place!!

@GKmadnessclasses3413 3 года назад

Are u from USA

@farmermom 3 года назад

@@GKmadnessclasses3413 Yes...and in the Northeast so prices are a bit higher than in the midwest/plains states.

@suebadger92 5 лет назад

Love the nerdy cow math., along with your rabbit and chicken !

@SpencerJayLuca 5 лет назад

Growing up we use to go thru about 1 gallon of milk a day. I can’t imagine how much it was for my parents just in milk.

@joyceshelby8858 5 лет назад

Yes, yes yes Nerdy Cow Math. I love it. Super great video.

@foundingfatherstoday 5 лет назад

Keven, we love your nerdy math!! Awesome outcome!! Love it. But we were shocked at the price of your groceries!!

@spoolsandbobbins 2 года назад

Ha! Ours are nearly doubled that in Canada!

@eileenpalumbo6578 5 лет назад

I work on a dairy farm in Massachusetts. We sell a gallon of raw cow's milk for $8.00. The price depends on the area where you live. Once folks taste raw milk they will like it so much it is hard to go back to store milk. Also when you have males you can raise them up for meat. Good luck folks on your new endeavor. God bless.

@lbsmith83 5 лет назад

The Nerdy math isn’t accounting for the time she is drying up to get ready to calf. I know that’s not all that long but it has to be accounted for too. Love your show and I live through y’all.

@roxannabrollier6859 5 лет назад

so exciting and so interesting learning about the financial picture too. can't wait to see Hope come to your homestead.

@cindymobley8926 5 лет назад

And, another blessing, is the whey is fantastic for increasing chicken egg production, healthier chickens, and harder shells.

@willowsverge3046 5 лет назад

The easiest cheapest way to get extra calcium into your chickens (to make the shells harder) is to give them busted up oyster shells. The oyster shells grind on the feed in their gizzard to break down the feed but it also breaks down the oyster shell itself. I only needed a 50 lb bag every 1 1/2 - 2 years. I had a dozen hens. Hubbards Golden Comets. I got on average 9 eggs a day. So my girls really needed to keep built up. God bless all!!

@karenhighley7597 5 лет назад

I love your nerdy math.

@davidgunter7162 5 лет назад

Don't forget the butter you can sell it goes about 7 to 8 dollars per pound

@rayray8687 5 лет назад

david gunter: They are currently paying about $4.00/lb.

@aimingforvictory 5 лет назад

We pay $10 a pound for raw butter.

@rayray8687 5 лет назад

Glory Abuzeide: I feel sorry for you. I wouldn’t pay $10/lb for butter delivered to my door from the Queen’s own larder by six horseman on pure white steeds. Well...maybe for just one pound, I mean I do love white steeds.

@aimingforvictory 5 лет назад

@@rayray8687 no need to feel sorry for anyone. Those that feed our family quality foods know what it's worth.

@ohioladybug7390 5 лет назад

Ray Ray ....they save $12 a month by not having to buy any and then make $7-8 a lb. or even $10 (😉) with any that is left and can be sold.

@joeb8167 5 лет назад

Ice cream savings? 😀😍 Love the nerdy cow math!

@joanneburns325 5 лет назад

Well done, especially for those of us non-farmers! Can’t wait to “meet” her! Best wishes!!

@dadafan5921 5 лет назад

I hope you have good insurance. Seriously, one catastrophe turns nerd math upside down.

@lynn4truth592 5 лет назад

Nerdy cow math 👍. What no ice cream? Lol

@ritakus9871 5 лет назад

If you do things safely with raw milk your family will be healthier. You'll save time and gas by not having to feel pressed to get to town. There are some forgotten costs like medical needs for the cow, overall it's worth it if you break even and/or have increase. Good for you guys💯

@sierradi1 5 лет назад

You can only calculate selling milk for 9 months. You have to freshen your cow every year and you have to stop milking and dry them up 2 to 3 months before they calve and then you have to wait after the calf is born to clear the colostrum. And this is your break from milking everyday if only milking one cow.

@abordercollie1 5 лет назад

Diane is correct. Also,The colostrum is a necessity for a healthy calf . It contains antibodies and immunity for developing calves . They must also get the colostrum in their belly within the first 24 hrs of life in order to be effective. We can tell the difference in twin calves as to who got the colostrum . If you have a lot of green grass like in the Spring., she will need the right minerals or might could develop grass tetany and die. Heavy milkers will do that without the right minerals. We offer granulated minerals and salt at all times. I have seen tetany here on our farm although a rarity we must be vigilant or it develops quickly .( We have about 200 Angus cows and their calves are born in the Fall ). Our vet comes and does some vaccines and health checks and we do some.( A vet road trip here is $60 - then plus what ever needs doing) . . To produce good milk and a nice healthy cow needs a balanced feed program . In the winter our cows get a certain amount of protein and such every day. The hay is mostly a filler and does help produce heat for warmth but again a good feed program is a necessity. Check on range cubes . we don't use them but know people that do.. ( we mix our own feed ) Good Luck .

@jethparbo1172 5 лет назад

Here in Hawaii our range for milk is $5.79 to $7.99 a gallon, yes it’s ridiculous but we live in the middle of the ocean and get taxed for everything 🤦‍♀️ love your channel, thanks for all your very informative videos. I have learned a lot from you folks. Keep up the great work! God bless your ohana (family)

@derekmills5394 5 лет назад

Concerned you did not show how much milk it was going to take to replace all those dairy items compared to how much you expect to get. Also what about when she dries off? My guess is you'll have 2 cows before too long.

@Siamko 5 лет назад

Derek Mills jerseys can produce 6 gallons of milk per day on average. 1 milk cow is more than enough for a family with some to sell.

@mariehenriksen67 5 лет назад

@@Siamko how many lactation days will you get 6 gallons? Also, how many will you get once she's dried off for her new calf? She will have to be dried off unless you want to drink colostrum.

@moonlitphillips 5 лет назад

@Holistic Homestead/ Living Faith Farms You get 2 gallons a day and cant sell any? Holy moly you drink a lot of milk.

@myprophet1 4 года назад

@@moonlitphillips not if you are making cheese, butter and yogurt.

@dwaynekendall 5 лет назад

I think Hope will love it there. Glad the Nerdy Cow Math works out! Looking forward to watching the dairy processing videos. Yogurt, cheese, butter...yum,

@TastingParty 5 лет назад

This is great but it’s more than just the milk though. You’ll need to process the milk for butter, yogurt & cheese as well as your time. That adds up too.

@farmermom 5 лет назад

Honestly, the processing time is more than milking and care of the cow. Shoot, just washing jars takes almost as long, lol. But I'm sure Sarah & Kevin will figure out the most efficient methods!

@helenbrown8572 5 лет назад

Homesteading/smallholding mindset is that we genuinely dont see it as 'work' (well, myself and the smallholders I know locally) so the enjoyment and satisfaction of making the produce and feeding our families with it is our motivating factor. Its nice to barter and even make some extra money here and there but the joy of the lifestyle (and the freedom) is why most of us do it 💖 (Im not saying it isnt hard work as it definitely is, but its fun too!). Best time of year for us now. Preserving what we've spent all year growing, I love every bit of it! I waited my whole life to live like this so I dont mind all the grafting x

@farmermom 5 лет назад

@@helenbrown8572 Amen!

@mekahesma 5 лет назад

Great math. Looking forward to seeing how to make all those store bought items. God bless you and your family.

@sarahbierman5490 5 лет назад

PS, you forgot to add in the occational vet bill, very expensive!

@sinnahsaint7869 5 лет назад

and the insemination fee

@rayray8687 5 лет назад

sarah bierman: They forgot, or more correctly do not know, a lot of things that will result in a large dead loss. But if they’re having fun and don’t mind quadrupling their dairy bill and labor, then I guess they should go for it. They seem to be quite well off financially and very happy in fantasyland.

@typoagain1 5 лет назад

When it comes to livestock you generally don't have much of a vet bill. You do your immunizations yourself with supplies you get at the feed store. And I can guarantee you there one cow is gonna produce at least 4 times what they will ever consume

@jmthomas29 5 лет назад

I appreciate how you break things down in your decision making. Thanks for sharing.

@salliebeard1899 5 лет назад

And you didn't even mention the health benefits..... Of knowing where your milk came from....no additives....no chemicals. 👍👏👏👏❣️🐄🐄🐄🐄🐄

@RP4UXO 3 года назад

No RGBH

@denisewilson8367 5 лет назад

glad you realized that its VERY profittable to have animals, especially a cow.

@gkevineady49 5 лет назад

4 gallons a month??? We do that in a week. But we don't have goat milk.

@rebeccahherdener2068 5 лет назад

Lol. My family oes through at LEAST 6 a week.😅 Growing kids need milk. And I've got 3....and my husband LOVES milk.😅😅😅 I tell him no a LOT. Lol

@crowgirl1326 5 лет назад

There were 6 children in my family and I had a brother that drank a gallon a day in his teen years. When we grocery shopped one of us pushed a cart for milk and bread alone.

@dex0n0ky 5 лет назад

@@crowgirl1326 I drank a gallon of milk every day as a teenager. Now I drink a gallon beer a day.....lol...just kidding about the beer.

@susanfurnish4132 5 лет назад

i thought they said 5 gallons a WEEK.....

@rosejafari8917 5 лет назад

I had a holstein giving 4 gallons a day with a calf on her.

@shutterbugamy 5 лет назад

Vandelay Industries! I love it!

@melsolomon8256 5 лет назад

Plus the quality of your own dairy and possible beef intake is so much better.

@JohnsonFamilyFarmstead 5 лет назад

Love how every penny counts! Inspiration for us all ♥️

@kimberli2391 5 лет назад

Cost of raw organic milk products are higher too. :)

@marybethham4967 5 лет назад

So excited about the cow coming. Love how you all think things through before just jumping in. Wow! A gallon of raw milk was 50 cents a gallon when I was a kid. Things change. Man by us sells it and you can sure tell the difference from store bought. BETTER BETTER for sure. 🐮🐮🐮 praying all goes well.

@MountainCrestFarm 5 лет назад

You don't even mention the health benefits of raw milk, which decreases future health care costs. THAT is the biggest money savings benefit.

@MountainCrestFarm 5 лет назад

@Holistic Homestead/ Living Faith Farms Did I say it was? No.

@jeansintheyard 5 лет назад

I am only into this video to the cheese, and WOW, your dairy groceries are outrageous!

@Bamaman14k 5 лет назад

I love nerdy math. Raw milk is illegal to sell or buy in Alabama. It's just ridiculous. Organic milk is about 8 bucks a gallon here. Really all organic dairy products are very expensive here. Can't wait to see Hope on the homestead, Jimmy

@1gr8lpta 5 лет назад

I am so proud of you all for this endeavor. Scary? Yes, but so very rewarding! I am so excited for you both and your daughters. I have be championing for a cow on our homestead for awhile. My husband is now actually thinking positively about it. We have a long way to go before we can actually get a cow but watching your channel has made me think very bravely. Just a thought, I have see many homestead using their chickens to spread the manure and controlling the flies. Would you ever consider raising a few chickens for this purpose in the cow and goat pen?

@MrRbrgrn 5 лет назад

How about some nerdy pig math on raising a pig for someone else?!?!?

@sharonbelanger6257 5 лет назад

Best of luck with your new milk cow. We had one also and loved it, until one evening, she ate to many acorns and we loss her during the midnight hours. It’s important to be prepared for these emergencies when they happen. We had the tool to help her expel the bloated gas, but it was already too late for her.

@jenniesweetcheeks 5 лет назад

Wow! 5 dollars a gallon for raw Jersey milk? That's a great price! In New Mexico, we're paying 10 dollars a gallon.

@marionward7115 5 лет назад

Same here, in GA!

@jamitysmom 5 лет назад

Here in MA also! $10 gallon. I love that they are getting a dairy cow. I've always wanted one.

@caraarslan 5 лет назад

I'd calculate in the vet costs too, plus if you want to breed her to have again more milk. And probably I'd calculate in the benefits of cow manure too.

@louannrichter5790 5 лет назад

I love watching your videos. Can't wait to see your cow. Hope will be a great addition to your family. Good luck. Anticipating for your next video.

@gingerreid8569 5 лет назад

Love it! Yes, it is a great asset! We just brought home our first and only beef cow on Monday...yes, big expense. We were able to have hay people come and cut and bale our pasture - we got 32 round bales and we didn't get one section done...so with our 9 horses and 1 cow...we have pasture right now...but come winter, we figure we will be able to feed horses and cow without buying it. Also our cow is bred...certified by ultrasound and should calve out next May...we are not sure yet if we will butcher the calf or determine if we take to sale to recoup some of our costs...we do want the meat and we are being told if she throws a bull calf, castrate and grow up to about 500+ pounds and take to auction - steers get more $ than heifers(right now)...if she throws a heifer, grow out and take to butcher. Butcher is an additional cost...but...the biggest cost to us on our groceries is meat...right now, we have chickens, meat rabbits and two pigs...so down the line, we won't have to buy any meat from the store and with the garden, fruit trees and me learning to can...our monthly store bill will drop...but the initial costs are high...we are retired and live on SS money...nothing like when we have dual paychecks...it's a choice...and one we both are full board on...happy for ya'll and your new adventure!

@chcnsac 5 лет назад

Thank you for sharing this! Always excited to see your videos, because I always learn so much!

@LaurieChistine 5 лет назад

Also the quality of the dairy products is night and day when you don't buy organic. So the quality will be a huge step up.

@LaurieChistine 5 лет назад

@Steve Slade I'm saying they will know what is going into the cow. My son and I can not drink regular milk from the store...but we can drink the better milk without issues.

@diananazaroff5266 5 лет назад

I see others have mentioned vet expenses. You also need to add in the cultures and other ingredients necessary to make yogurt and cheese as part of the expense of your homemade dairy products. I agree that the calves will be either an additional source of income or source of food at some point. You also need to add in stud expenses for the additional calves and factor in the cow drying off for a period of time (that would reduce your income but not necessarily your food if you save ahead for that time). You may wish to contact Justin and Rebekah Rhodes to see if they have any advice or additional things to add. Rebekah is very knowledgeable about cow health and they do a lot of homeopathic with theirs. I'm in agreement that a dairy cow is a great addition to the homestead. Now, if I could just convince my city that we can have them, lol..

@KellyLeeanna 2 года назад

I just adore your channel- you are both so knowledgeable and I love learning from you guys! 💕

@charlottejustesen6375 5 лет назад

Good luck in your adventure. I hope it works, math on paper sometimes doesn't work right Vet Bill's, milking, stud fee? Dry months?

@PatricesProjects 5 лет назад

Yep. I was thinking about stud fees and dry months too.

@amandabartlett8749 5 лет назад

I wish you guys the best of luck with the new adventure with the cow.

@gingerreid8569 5 лет назад

We have a neighbor that we buy raw milk from, she sells half gallon for 3.00...she also sells butter, pints of cream and also sells lard from her hogs...you have a definite source of income there.

@2007KB 4 года назад

The quality is the key. No antibiotics , and a happy cow making healthy milk👍

@Siamko 5 лет назад

@living tradions homestead - Vet Cost, IVF breeding Cost, Water, how do you value your time $?

@traceywelsh9696 5 лет назад

They also didn't factor in the benefits of clean, none factory cow milk. Hope won't be pumped full all of those hormones and crud though factory living. Kevin and Sarah care a lot about where their food comes from on a respect level and a health level.

@traceywelsh9696 5 лет назад

And they're using a catchment system for rain water with a well as back up. But, you make a good point

@Kris-ms4bo 5 лет назад

I personally would put a couple of things into your nerdy cow math. First I would add the cost of breeding, unless you have a friend that will lend you a stud for free you will most likely be paying for a stud fee, or AI. Also, I would take the purchase price of the cow and divide it by the average lifespan left on the cow, to get a estimate on its yearly expense. Sure its a one time fee, but it was an expense you had to pay, and I would also do an average yearly cost for vet bills. Anywho, love yalls videos keep it up!!

@coopie624 5 лет назад

I am SO jealous! Raw cows milk is delicious! I would certainly buy from you if I lived close. Florida doesn’t allow selling raw milk for human consumption.

@purplemb26 5 лет назад

So happy for your family. Thank you for the breakdown. Helps. 😊

@casey197930 5 лет назад

4 gallons a month!! Good lawd, we go through 2-3 a week.

@Lyn4817 5 лет назад

You forget that they consume their goat's milk and have being doing so since moving into their property. The cow's milk would be in addition to the goat's milk.

@casey197930 5 лет назад

@@Lyn4817 ah! Good call. That makes sense, I don't follow every video, just ones I'm into.

@ddhvn28 5 лет назад

Don't forget the rennet, cultures, and wax costs for making cheese. Also, cheese needs time to age in a cool area for about 6 months or more to have a similar flavor to the store cheese so that means storage costs and cooling costs unless you store cheese in your storm cellar.

@bertieboatright1206 5 лет назад

I wish I lived close I would buy milk and make my own butter too . Can’t wait to meet Hope.

@patmaier6917 5 лет назад

I would love to buy real milk, can’t drink it or use it, but times you just need real milk.

@rayray8687 5 лет назад

Bertie Boatright: Can’t you buy cream in your area?

@bertieboatright1206 5 лет назад

After this video I did look for fresh cream in my area and found a homestead, about ten miles from my home who sales fresh milk and I so plan to ck her out . Thanks for your suggestion . And have a blessed day.

@rayray8687 5 лет назад

Bertie Boatright: I’m glad this worked out for you! I live in an area where it is illegal to sell raw dairy products or even to give them away. But the fact is I don’t care because I don’t drink milk. I use milk for baking and I use cream when making certain soups where in both cases it will be cooked anyway so it makes no difference to me that it’s pasteurized. But if I did drink milk I would be 100% happy with pasteurized because I can find no reason not to. And just for information I live in an area of scores of Mennonite farms so if I really wanted raw milk, legal or not, I could easily get it. All the best on the butter churning!

@sherylintheraw 5 лет назад

Do you plan on expanding the types of cheeses that are currently in your diet and possibly adding that to your lineup of things to sell on the homestead? That would be amazing for your diet AND your pockets as well.

@RobertJones-ey9qz 5 лет назад

Don't forget, the cow will dry off about 2 months before giving birth. Then you have a week or more with the calf nursing before you start getting milk again. I couldn't get over the prices for things at the store. Maybe I can't afford to move to Missouri when I retire. Which was sort of my plan. I thought it looked like better winters than what I have now in northern Indiana.

@inmyimage1081 5 лет назад

I live just NE of Indy and was thinking the same thing but small town grocery stores probably don't have the competition or volume to keep the prices down I guess.

@metalmartha2571 5 лет назад

So I was curious while watching your video. Omg Jersey cows produce 3-4 gallons a day!!! That’s a crazy amount of milk! You’re gonna be master cheese makers by the end of the year just to keep up... or you’ll make a killing in selling it.. good luck! Can’t wait to see more kitchen vids❤️

@codyrussow170 5 лет назад

I guess I dont get the nerdy math lol I only see a profit of 400 but it is early in the morning 😉

@ohioladybug7390 5 лет назад

Cody Russow ...it was costing $150 just from not purchasing from the grocery. When they added in how much they make selling just milk it was $1300 a year - the $150 = is a $1150 profit. This does not even factor in the bulls she has for for beef or whey for feed to the other animals, the compost from the manure and the sales income from the manure. They did forget breeding costs and vet bills but it’s still a profit and a quality product. Plus there is nothing like the peace you get from connecting with your animals.

@codyrussow170 5 лет назад

@@ohioladybug7390 I was just doing simple math , it cost them 900 a year to take care of cow , milk sales are 1300. 900 - 1300 is 400

@ohioladybug7390 5 лет назад

Cody Russow ...sorry but that is half assed math. You only did a small portion so your final number is not correct.

@codyrussow170 5 лет назад

@@ohioladybug7390 no need to curse .... please explain why it's such bad math ?? What they spent at the store yearly is canceled out by cost of cow yearly cow cost more per year by 150 or so so new cost is 900 milk profit is 1300 so profit of 400

@lisap.5156 5 лет назад

Agreed. You can no longer take into consideration the original budget amount. It becomes expense of $900 minus profit of $1300 leaving a $400 surplus. The whole point is to lower the grocery store budget so therefore the original amount is no longer in the equation.

@pattyfair7384 5 лет назад

Really excited to see you make butter, cheese, sour cream and yogurt!! Really looking forward to those videos!

@jeanninebooth6415 5 лет назад

I had a shock moment when I saw you buy yogurt...so cheap and easy to make...happy new adventure

@tammymann6292 5 лет назад

Just noticed your t-shirt! :) "And you want to be my latex salesman." Ha!

@LivingTraditionsHomestead 5 лет назад

I specialize in importing and exporting! Haha

@tammymann6292 5 лет назад

@@LivingTraditionsHomestead Ha! Might as well do both. :)

@margaretlbroadhead8638 5 лет назад

Dont forget the vet bills x

@sharonnalder3428 5 лет назад

That's if you go on the cheep side of things my cost per straw was any where from 15 to 22 per straw and that was 30 year's ago and I did the breeding dairied for over 15 year's we breed for utter hip and other things as well as the milk production.

@ohioladybug7390 5 лет назад

Thank you so much for the breakdown. We were waiting for someone to do this and my husband and I both said Living Traditions Homestead will do it if we just wait. We are riding on your coat tails, sorry.

@kellyearly2969 5 лет назад

You might also be able to sell cheese or other milk made products as well to make even more money

@kentuckymarsha 5 лет назад

I love how you guys make these decisions! I must have missed nerdy chicken math video, I’ll go back and find it.

@kentuckymarsha 5 лет назад

I can’t find nerdy chicken math. Can anybody point me in the right direction?

@spacegroyper6548 5 лет назад

I wish I could agree with you here. You did not factor in "expected opportunity loss." Once you factor that in, for a single household, it would be a net loss. Don't get me wrong, I love cattle. But, once you factor in real-world wages for the man hours necessary to maintain the cow, recover the dairy products, market and sell, etc. It's a loss. "The juice ain't worth the squeeze."

@robindowning5560 5 лет назад

I love the video. From what I have factored out, you buy the equivalent of 12 gallons of milk per month. 4 gallons to drink, one gallon makes one pound of cheese so add 6 gallons for that, then another gallon for yogurt and sour cream. There is also the butter which is made from the cream skimmed off the milk so you can add one gallon volume of milk to replace that. If sharing with a calf you should still get 2 gallons a day. For about 3 1/2 months a year you should get at least 4 gallons a day from a Jersey. This is when I would make my cheese. It sounds like you have contacts for only 5 gallons a week but I pray you get a lot more. However, what I am trying to say is you will probably be able to sell a lot more produce from your cow than you have calculated which will cover the vet bills, breeding cost, cheese making supplies, etc. that everyone is mentioning. I would also advise you to check out the price of fresh whipping cream and add that to your list of possible income. Although many customers will prefer the cream left on, there will be some that would prefer to buy the butter or cream seperately. I know you will enjoy your cow and best of luck to you. Also, think about what you could grow to replace some of or all your feed. Granddaddy grew all his own feed, you could too

@rocktech7144 5 лет назад

My first question is how and when are you going to store and process 3-6 gallons of milk a day ???

@danielallouche2493 5 лет назад

Making butter, yogurt, ice cream sour cream and cheese please.

@rocktech7144 5 лет назад

@@danielallouche2493 So you have never made any of these items from raw milk. Only so many hours in a day. And then next day 3-6 more gallons of milk etc. You have to imeadiately chill and store the milk in sanitary conditions. I haven't seen those facilities on that homestead.

@jrfrmem 5 лет назад

I’m reminded of my cost accounting and controllership classes in college...way to break it down guys! 👍👍

@ksay34 5 лет назад

You guys are my favorite homesteading youtubers. You walk the walk. You aren't travelling all around going to ridiculous numbers of conferences or planning events. You have honed your skills at living sustainably and put out good useful content and sell quality homemade products locally. You are also doing it yourselves. You aren't employing regular help or using "volunteers". You are showing how regular people get it done. Bravo!

@sissydewoody8717 5 лет назад

DOUBLE DITTO! S&K are the real deal. The ''did it ourselves in one year'' folks need to share some ''full-disclosure-nerdy homestead math''

@cndbradley4423 5 лет назад

Craig and I always appreciate that you share how much things cost. It's the reality of having a homestead. Something you didn't show in your nerdy cow math is the products you purchased were all conventional ones. Even though you are not "certified" organic, the products you will be getting will be much closer to organic than what you bought. That would have raised your yearly total for dairy products significantly. Can you also sell raw milk cheese and yogurt from your farm? That would add another income stream. If we lived anywhere near you we would certainly be buying the raw milk and any other raw milk products you produce. Around here the very best price per gallon is $8! God bless you and your family.

@EdetaKudou 5 лет назад

What about the goats? Are they not producing enough milk to do this all?

@davelawson2564 5 лет назад

yes. for small family ,cow or goat not both

@DeepSouthHomestead 5 лет назад

Love the math guy's. I've raised cattle most of my life. As you know we have the dexter bull and a jersey dexter cross cow. This breed can forage like a goat and survive. We only feed hay in the winter and fall. I only milk one 6 months out of the year so it has time to recover for next birthing period. Don't forget worming and withdrawal periods. Good luck with the cow guys.

@sissydewoody8717 5 лет назад

Another favorite TEACHING homestead heard from ! Love from Ozarks to DSH.

@clairenason3561 5 лет назад

What about goat milk? Do you use that and or sell.

@tomaswilson2792 4 года назад

Something else to consider is all the other uses for the surplus milk. Feed for pigs, chickens and ducks (whey and raw milk). Manure for garden fertilizer. Additional draw for customers to promote your farm to sell other products. In addition to all the other benefits you mentioned.