Homestead Education Channel is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.
If you’re new to homesteading or ready to make a change towards a more sustainable food source on your land, a family cow is a great choice. A dairy cow is usually docile, easy to handle, and a reliable provider of milk. However, suppose it’s just you and a partner, and maybe you’re not quite prepared for what it means to bring in up to 10 gallons of milk a day? We have a smaller and more manageable option for you to consider. A miniature dairy cow.
For some homesteaders, a mini cow just makes more sense. From the amount of space needed to house and keep the cow, to feeding costs and space requirements, to the amount of milk you can expect her to produce daily, a mini cow might be the better choice.
A full-sized Jersey Cow for example, needs about 2.5 acres of land to support its feeding requirements, even with supplemental hay in the winter months. A large Jersey weighs from 1,200- 1,500 pounds and needs additional nutrition and supplements when she’s pregnant and milking.
Housing requirements are stout fencing, and a cow shed or stall, a milking parlor that can be kept clean and sanitary for the health of the cow and cleanliness of the milk, even more important if the milk is being used for human consumption.
Speaking of milk, as mentioned above, a full-sized Jersey in peak milk production can produce 8-10 gallons per day.
Miniature dairy breeds by comparison only require ½ -1 acre per cow, weigh upwards to 600 pounds, and produce only 2-4 gallons daily. They eat about ⅓ of what a full-sized Jersey consumes, in pasture, hay and supplements.
Housing requirements are the same, but think of it as more scaled down. Several mini cows can live in the space that one full-sized cow would occupy.
Dairy cows are by nature docile and relatively easy to handle and relatively tame for milking. The miniature breeds are no exception. As with all prey animals, time and repetition with patience is needed to tame a young cow and teach her to stand for milking. Most dairy farmers begin training when the calves are small, teaching them to stand tied to be brushed and touched all over. Later, when they’re first fresheners being milked for the first time, it’s part of their usual routine and they easily fall into their new role as the family milk cow.
Miniature Cow Breeds:
- Jersey – The most popular of the miniature dairy breeds. See chart above for sizing.
- Dexter This breed is a multi-purpose cow, used for meat and milk.
Photo by Bell Fourche Farm
Miniature Hereford – A multi-purpose cow used for meat and milk. A milking miniature Hereford will produce up to 5 gallons of milk per day
Photo by Ohio’s Country Journal – Herefords
Miniature Zebu – These are used as draft animals, and for meat and milk. When calf-sharing they produce about a gallon of milk per milking.
Photo by Oklahoma State Breeds of Livestock -Zebu
Highland Cow – Another multi-purpose breed, they don’t thrive in all climates due to their shaggy coats. They will produce around 2 gallons per milking.
Photo by Texas Monthly
Pros and Cons of Miniature Dairy Cows:
Pros:
- Economy of feed
- Smaller space requirements
- Ease of handling
- Overall cost
- Lower milk production
Cons:
- Miniature cows are more expensive to purchase
- May have difficulty breeding and birthing
- May be difficult to hand milk for larger hands
- May be more susceptible to predation
- Cows must be bred to keep them in milk
- There may be stud fees involved in contracting the services of a bull
- Artificial insemination does not guarantee pregnancy and can be expensive to repeat.
Be prepared to spend lots of time with your family cow, and practice having them stand to be groomed and milked. You will need to bathe them and wash their udder and keep your milking parlor clean and sanitary, especially if the raw milk is going to be consumed by humans.
Many states have laws regarding the sale of raw milk, so be sure you educate yourself on your local rules if you intend to sell milk or milk products.
You will also need the services of a small bull from time to time, or attempt artificial insemination through your veterinarian. Some miniature dairy cow owners will cross-breed with another type of multi-purpose bull such as a Dexter or miniature Angus. This infuses new genetics into your herd, and instills what’s known as “Hybrid Vigor” in the offspring of this breeding. So if you want to keep your family dairy cow in milk, you can plan ahead and raise the calf for the freezer. Not everyone will want to do this, but it’s a great step towards food sustainability and food security on your homestead.
It’s recommended that you do research around these topics before you purchase your miniature dairy cow to avoid sticky situations in the future. It’s important that you do your homework and manage your expectations for owning a miniature dairy cow. Start small (no pun intended), and see how it goes. A miniature cow might just be the perfect fit for your homestead. Having a family cow can be fun and rewarding, and a miniature dairy cow is a great way to get started on your milking journey.
Look for other small dairy farmers in your county and state. Go to auctions, fairs, sales, and other events where farmers and ranchers gather. There are cattlemen’s associations, livestock associations and other farm and ranch guilds. Look at the feed store bulletin boards and even your local Craigslist. Your local large animal veterinarian is also a great source for information and education about farming miniature dairy cows. Once you are in that circle of people, there are a lot of potential opportunities for you to learn from their lives and experiences.
There’s more to keeping a family cow than simply sticking it in a pen with some hay. You need to know what to do in case of illness or injury, what to expect with breeding and calving, and other regular veterinary issues that might arise. With proper planning and forethought, you can make informed and sound choices about the animals you will be raising on your homestead and truly enjoy the experience.
Here at http://homesteadeducationchannel.com/, we are dedicated to helping you find resources, education, and information regarding all aspects of the homesteading lifestyle.
