We're first time cow owners and our milk cow, Cocoa, is about to freshen. We're so excited, but quite nervous as well. Your video has helped us SO MUCH in getting prepared for our new arrival. May the Lord bless you and thank you again.
Thank you! This list was just what I was looking for--all in one place. I've been reading The Family Milk Cow, but I feel like the book is very conversational in tone--maybe even a tad rambling--so I would have to start over from the beginning and read the whole thing over with a pad of paper to write down all her suggestions. So this video is much appreciated. We're due the 29th with our very first milk cow!
You’re very welcome! I know what you mean.. that book is so helpful though too.. I still refer back to it. I hope that goes well for you! I’m sure it’s exciting and a little scary at the same time 😏
@@AllOuttaSpoons Thanks, it's going well. She had a healthy heifer calf in September and we've been milking her since then. I made a nice batch of soft lemon cheese to go with our dinner tonight! But I'm working on a video to put out soon on our experiences so far...
@@wanderingstarfarmhouse That’s awesome! I’m on day 2 post calving on my first jersey and we’re already dealing with the start of mastitis. She’s being really good and the calf is doing fantastic. Not a great start for us. Have had beef cattle all my life. This is a whole different world. Would love to see your video when you get there! Thanks for the update!
Both my Jersey Girls just recently delivered! June 7 & 16! I was able to watch one of the births, absolutely beautiful. We had a bull and a heifer, Buttermilk and Jewel.
Another fantastic no panic down to earth video packed full of knowledge. Thank you for taking the time to do these. We’ve been milking a beef cow. Not the best milk. Was Blessed with a jersey and she just called a beautiful heifer calf. Now into milking. New subscriber! God Bless! ❤
My name is Derek. Thank you so much for this video. We’re gonna get a mini Jersey milk cow that is going to calf and we are super new to the game…like beginners. Any other help or tips would be awesome! God bless you guys.
Hey man thanks for this it was super helpful I have a first time calving coming at end of march first time for both me and my heifer so this was awesomely informative in all the right ways thanks man!!
My grandmother taught me an old remedy for scours in calves. Toast a couple of cups of wheat flour in a pan until well toasted (the colour of well toast but not burnt). Mix with water and small amount of molasses and tablespoon of salt. Needs to be thin enough to pour down their throat. Consistency of cream is good. Fixes them right up 👍
Hey Again! 😂 Thrilled we found your channel! Just moved back to Ohio and looking for our forever farm(no easy task!! 😮). We want and guernsey as well, so I may have lots of questions for you. We are in south central Ohio...where do you get good hay? Any tips for getting a guernsey specifically? Thanks!
Howdy! I get hay from a friend. In my experience it hasn't been too hard to find. Try Facebook Marketplace. I've gotten some from there before. There are a couple Facebook groups for cows that you could try lookin for a Guernsey. They pop up every once in awhile. See if you've got any dairies near you that might have Guernseys. They might have an older cow they'd wanna sell. Guernseys are hard to find!
Totally depends on the individual cow, what they’re eating, what point they are in their lactation, and if you’re milking once or twice a day 😊 Our first cow was a Jersey. She was grass fed with only a little bit of grain at milking, and I was milking once a day. She was giving 5 gallons at her peak, but her average for a lactation was probably around 3 gallons. I think she was on the high end of production for a Jersey.
I love your idea of the ice water bottles in the secondary bucket. Very clever! I don't think I ever would have thought of that. I just recently learned that melatonin has been shown to help with mastitis. I found a paper on it recently when I had a bout of mastitis with my jersey. I'd be curious to know what you think about that.
The ice bottles make a huge difference in getting the milk cool faster, so it helps the milk taste better and last longer. I’ve never heard of that. I’ll have to look into it.
First timer and very anxious with my Guernsey she is due in the next couple of weeks. We have beef cows but wanted to venture into a family milk cow. This video put my mind a bit at ease, thanks so much.
Congrats! Glad I could be an encouragement. There are definitely things to watch for, but they usually do just fine. And worrying doesn’t do anybody any good 😉
My heifer is getting AI'd on Thursday 02/01/2024. I'm re-watching this video so I can start preparing for what's ahead of me. I'm so nervous and excited all at the same time! I love your content, thank you!
Great video, you covered all the must haves and some extras. What kind of feed do you give? We found this non gmo feed at tsc, the local feed stores only had medicated feed 🤢. She also gets some alfalfa. When she’s not getting milked we have her on pasture rotating her every day
Glad you enjoyed! We do bout the same thing.. I get a non-GMO dairy ration from a local Amish guy. Sometimes she gets some alfalfa pellets. In the winter she gets some alfalfa hay. All spring and summer she’s rotated on pasture 😊
This is so awesome! I enjoy this so much! I am a college student, I am learning to farm and learning about farm animals because I love farm animals and want to have a farm of my own someday in the near future. I already have some goals for that after education. Your videos have such great tips! Thank you very much! Sincerely, Amber Taylor. P.S. you just gained a new subscriber! Lol! 😉☺️🤗
Hi! About how many tons of hay per year does your milk cow eat? (Realizing that much of the year she's eating grass in the pasture). Also, you've had no problems with her eating moldy hay? Heard that's a no-no...
Don't know in tons, but I feed around 6 round bales and maybe 30 small squares? Cows are not nearly as finicky as horses. I wouldn't wanna feed it if it was moldy all the way through, but the alfalfa bales I get are only a little moldy on one side. The cows will just not eat that part.
I'm really wondering how this is going to be so different with sheep. I hope you go visit your sweet cow now and then. I'm sure she will be happy to see you again.
How long do you give the cow garlic? I have a Hereford jersey cow that just calves for the first time five days ago. My hope is that she would be able to feed all of her milk to the calf. Tonight I went out and began to experiment with milking her a little bit, and noticed that only one of her quarters seems free-flowing and clean, while the others are hot, and even one has some thin milky blood presenting. I did a mastitis card. One circle is yellow and three turned green. Will this change over time as the calf milks each quarter more consistently? Is this typical with a first time cow? Is this typical because it’s early in her partition? Anyone out there milking half Herford, half Jersey who could speak to if I necessarily have to milk her?
I give the cow garlic as long as she has signs of mastitis. The blood sounds a little sketchy.. mastitis is usually just clumpy. You might wanna get a vet out.. especially with three hot quarters 😬 If she’s a high producing cow you can’t rely on a newborn calf to get enough milk out. You should be milking at least once a day. I would milk more if she’s got mastitis. Leave the calf on 24/7 to help clean her out. I hope you get it figured out and cleared up!
Thank you!! @@morethanfarmers yeah, I’ve been milking her twice a day sense Saturday with calf on 24/7. Blood has cleared up. Still having trouble getting her to eat something with Garlic in it. I tried some sweet cob With molasses. And she didn’t touch it.
Codi and Michelle, we just got our bred heifer four days ago. This is our first ever milk cow and we could not be more excited as this as been a long time goal on our homestead!! But now it's real! Your video's in this playlist have been so helpful and very thorough making me more confident and prepared for a successful birth and milking process. Thank you so much!! Keep this playlist going, I'm so sure there's more to teach us.
This video is just what I was looking for! We have had dairy goats for a while now but we have our first dairy cow due in January and I wanna make sure I’m ready!
it is 3/14, my heifer is due on 3/21. Thank you so much for this video. It has quieted a lot of my anxiety. I have a camera set up in the barn so I can check whenever I want to. I have had cows for awhile, I thought I had everything ready, after watching the video, I realize I do not. Thank goodness I still have a few days, maybe. Again , thank you.
Hi! Thank you for this video and the others. Our very first calf today-but the vet said we had two more months, so I’m not as ready as I wanted to be. Been binge watching your channel and yes! I have been reading/studying the book! I love it! Thanks so much, I love that your information is so helpful and not just a bunch of fluff!
@@morethanfarmers We have 4 dexters. They came to us a bit wild so we’ve been working with them and they’re improving but Gracie won’t let me get near her right now. I’m worried she needs to be milked but doesn’t realize I’m there to help. Having nursed my own 5, I know that engorged feeling. Will see how it goes today! Many blessings.😊
Dexters are pretty cool.. never had them, but I like the smaller dual purpose idea. Love my Guernsey though 😉 If you can’t get to her to milk she should adjust to what her calf is drinking.
We picked up our first cow yesterday. She is a miniature Jersey and she is due September 12th. This is her second birth and her former owner said she calved just fine. I’m very nervous but I am watching your videos to get prepared. Thank you!
