About our cows
We love all things dairy. Our farm is a simple rustic Ozark farm with very little infrastructure. We rely heavily on electric fencing and the cows are expected to stay in a single strand of poly wire. I don’t have a milk barn, so the cows are haltered, tied, and milked one by one. We also expect them to be fairly calm and friendly because there’s any number of children, puppies, cats, and chickens underfoot almost constantly. Occasionally the goats/sheep/or pigs escape and the cows aren’t supposed to freak out over that either.
The cows are on pasture 24/7, unless there’s an unusual situation and they’re in a dry lot briefly. Calves are separated from the cows simply for ease of handling and I’m able to give calves better care when they’re not the “little guys” in the herd. Our cows are 100% grassfed! We feed pelleted Alfalfa to the milkers while milking. During the winter the cows have access to free choice local hay. The cow’s health and vigor is very important to us, I am not opposed to using antibiotics if a situation calls for it. Generally we find good success using an herbal mixture, probiotics, and homeopathy on anything that needs treated. I’m an avid believer in free choice mineral and low stress handling.
Most of our cows are a2/a2, I feel the a2 theory is flawed, but many customers are looking for either a2 cattle or milk. The AI bulls we select are a2.
I grew up milking a family cow, and we’ve hardly ever gone without at least one cow milking in the last 15 years.
Over the past nine years (2013) we’ve built a side business of training and selling family milk cows and nurse cows. We’ve had the opportunity to help so many families get started with their first cow and met so many wonderful people. Many of the local raw milk sellers in our area are repeat customers when they need another milk cow.
Frequently Asked Questions about our Dairy cows
Are your cows easy to handle?
Yes they are.
Almost all our cows are halter broke and easy to catch and lead. We expect them to be manageable by our children.
Are your cows milked by hand?
No. Politely no. However, we do often have cows available that have good sized teats with wide teat canals that are very well suited for hand milking. We will also let you know how well or poorly a cow would hand milk.
Are your cows grain free?
Yes!!Milking cows and growing calves receive additional alfalfa at chore time. Our pastures provide a wide variety of forages. Health is of utmost importance to us.
Are your cows a2/a2?
We only test the best cows. Most of our cows are a2/a2. If you specifically need a2/a2, just ask!
Are all your cows Jerseys?
We do have some Jerseys. Most of the cows we sell are Jerseys. Our keeper herd however, includes Brown Swiss, Ayrshire, Milking Shorthorn, and a lovely Red Holstein (a2/a2 in the photo).
Do you vaccinate your cows?
We vaccinate with the calf hood vaccine because there’s a limited timeframe (6-12 months) that it can be given. It simply makes transport easier and is required for many shows. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime vaccine and boosters are not needed. We do not currently use any other vaccines.
What do you use for fly control?
Our cows typically don’t have much trouble with flies because their pasture is constantly rotated. We also use a fly control mineral in the summer and occasionally a natural permerithrin spray.
Do your cows have barns for shelter?
Our cows are exposed to the elements 24/7. We do have lots of trees and they always have access to them. Trees private shade, coolness, windbreaks, and minimal protection from snow. Calves not in the pasture have access to small shelters.
What mineral do you use for the cows?
We use the best loose mineral we can get locally. We also provide sulfur blocks (helps with tick control) and cobalt block.
What kind of milker should I get?
Go for quality. DeLaval, PartsDepot, Hamby, Simple Pulse, Conde, are quality. They often cost over $1000 and will probably still work like new when you retire, maybe even when your grandchildren retire. They also hold value exceptionally well. Don’t skimp on your milker.
How long will it take to learn to hand milk quickly?
Within three weeks of daily milking your muscles should adapt and your speed improve. Some cows milk easier than others, so if you intend to hand milk make sure to “try out” your cow before buying her. Some cows improve with age or later lactation, but the changes will be minor. Once you’re experienced, you should be able to milk 3 gallons in less than 30 minutes. Hand milking can be a pleasant, nostalgic experience.
“My cow’s utters are too short”???
Utter—A manner of speech.
Udder—mammary system of a milking animal.
A cow has one udder, four teats. Goats and sheep have one udder, two teats (normally).
How long does raw milk stay sweet?
How cold do you keep it? Because raw milk is, well, raw, it’s full of bacteria. Usually good bacteria. This is what turns milk into cheese and milk into yogurt. Bacteria live on the lactose—the milk sugar. Bacteria activity is slower the colder their environment is. Once bacteria eat all the lactose the milk becomes “sour”. At 36 degrees, we’ve had milk still be sweet 6 weeks from milking. Normal fridge use is 10-14 days.
How do you breed your cows?
I attended a cattle reproductive school and learned the skill of artificial insemination many years ago. I AI our cows to frozen semen. We don’t keep a breeding age bull with the cow herd because we have registered cows of multiple breeds.
We also have a registered Jersey bull that’s A2/A2 and healthy to use in our Jerseys or if I’m too busy to AI.
When should I dry off my milk cow?
Ideally she’ll milk until 60 days before calving. Sometimes they choose to go dry earlier. If they’re milking under 3 gallons a day, you can quit milking. Remember to quit feeding extra feed when you dry off. If the cow is in poor body condition, you should improve her condition before dry off.
How do I get my cow to letdown her milk? I’m calf sharing.
The short answer is to take away her calf. If you don’t want to do that (calf sharing has benefits), pen the calf separate overnight. Preferably where she can still see her calf. Provide water, hay, and calf starter for the calf. In the morning, milk like normal. Once you can’t get any more milk, put your calf on a halter and let him nurse until she lets down. You’ll notice the calf switching teats rapidly, then he’ll suck longer. Pull him away immediately. Wipe off her teats and finish milking.
How do I take care of my fresh warm milk?
Filter. Jar. Chill.
We use the cone shaped stainless coffee filters, and place the filter in a jar funnel.
Sooner is better. You can use an ice bath to chill milk more quickly. Mark your jars with a numerical date. A black Sharpie works well for this, it washes off easily with a soapy cloth.
My warm milk filtered slowly/had clumps in it?
Check for mastitis. Flakes, tenderness, swelling, can indicate mastitis or injury. I’ve had good success treating mastitis with Mastoblast, Synergy animal products also has a whole line of natural treatment. Spectomast, Quartermaster, and Penicillin work from a conventional standpoint. Don’t waste time using Today or Tomorrow.
Mastitis can come at anytime. Cleanliness and regular complete milking is the best preventative. If you dairy long enough, you will experience mastitis.
Where do I buy … products???
Mastoblast—Amazon, ValleyVet
Synergy—website
Halters or collars—ValleyVet or JeffersPet
A2 testing—Central Star lab, Neogen , Texas A&M.
Health testing—Central Star, Delta Diagnostics. Etc
AI supplies—Select Sires, Stgenetics, Accelerated genetics
Check your local feed store, they can be an excellent resource!