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Family Milk Cow

how to take care of cows in winter
Family Milk CowHomestead How-to'sSmall Scale Farming

Cows In Winter 101 | How To Keep Dairy or Beef Cattle Warm and Happy

by From Scratch Farmstead November 27, 2022

When our formerly suburban family bought a milk cow, the list of questions was a mile long! At the top of that list, “How in the world do we do this in the winter?” Since then we’ve learned a lot by visiting farms, working at farms, and keeping our own cows in winter. We’ll break down the basics of winter cow care for both dairy and beef cattle.

Our Simple Winter Cow Setup

We keep a dairy cow and one or two of her calves on our 5 acre homestead northern Illinois. With little previous experience, we learned a TON along the way. But this small herd has survived the last several winters just fine.

Our setup is nothing special! Cows are hardy animals. Our cows are 100% grass-fed meaning they’re on pasture all growing season and fed hay through the cold months. 

This video shows more of our winter cow setup. 

Even when eating hay in winter, the cows are outside in a fenced paddock. Our stall inside our pole barn is only reserved for the coldest stretches, or when they are wet and need a place to dry off.

With the right food, water, and shelter, keeping your cows warm and happy all winter long is 100% doable!

How cold can cows tolerate?

Cows are happiest in weather between 40-60°F. They will generally hold up fine with temps reaching down to 18-20°F. Below that range, cows can start to experience the stresses of their cold environment and require additional care and management. If their needs are met, cows can handle temperatures down to zero or below.

Cows are warm blooded animals and keep a core body temperature around 101°F. Cows maintaining that body temperature will appear calm. If your cow exhibits behaviors like mooing excessively, they devour food aggressively and rapidly, or their milk supply or body weight is dropping, they might be in a stressed state from the cold.

cows in winter covered in snow

The biggest winter threat is when a cows coat of fur becomes wet followed by freezing temps. We’ll talk more about shelters below, but some access to a dry space without wind is a necessity. Without it, cows might not be able to dry off and bring their body temperatures back up on their own.

This is especially true with newborn or young calves. If a newborn calf is born in temperatures below 32°F, they will likely need to be brought into a barn or shelter to dry off and keep warm. Young calves should also be monitored closely and given access to dry shelter during their first few months. They aren’t able to moderate their core temps as well as an adult cow. 

That said, cows are built for the cold and capable of maintaining their own body temperatures to keep warm.

How do cows stay warm in the winter?

Cows have three ways to keep warm in winter: growing winter hair, thick and fatty skin, and through proper food intake.

jersey milk cow in winter time

Growing Winter Hair

In the cool fall months, cows start to grow a thicker and longer coat of fur. Their winter coat makes an excellent outer layer to help trap internal heat while shedding wind and other elements. But, as mentioned above, this coat is not impermeable and can be dangerous when wet. We like to keep close watch of the weather and make adjustments as needed. For instance, if a sleet or rain is coming followed by rapidly dropping temperatures, this might be a time where we’d preemptively open up barn access for them.

Thick and Fatty Skin

A cow can also prepare for winter by bulking up. Cows are naturally thick skinned which helps keep cold out and heat in. But you may also notice their desire to prepare for the winter months by increasing their food intake and storing up extra fat under their skin. This will improve their body condition and add yet another layer or protection from the cold.

Proper Food Intake

Cows are ruminants, meaning their stomachs are designed to digest and internally ferment grasses and other plants. Both of these processes – digestion and fermentation – naturally produce heat. This allows cows to heat themselves from the inside out if given enough food, which we’ll talk more about.

cow being milked by hand in the winter

Dairy Cows in Winter vs. Beef Cows in Winter

Dairy cows and beef cows don’t differ all that much. But because they’re bred for different functions, the cold does affect them in different ways.

Dairy Cows

Dairy cows are not only expending energy to keep themselves warm, but also to continue producing milk in the winter months. You might say they are pulling double duty. Some studies have shown a dairy cow will consume as much as 50% more during the winter months.

We have found it helpful to monitor our cows milk supply during the winter months to know if they are lacking anything in their diet and staying warm enough. A drop in supply may indicate they are expending the bulk of their energy to keep warm, therefore putting less energy toward milk production. Usually this tells us they need more food, minerals, or access to shelter.

milking a cow on a snowy winter day

The udder and teats of dairy cows are particularly vulnerable during the winter months. If exposed to too much cold or wind, their teats especially will become chapped and crack. This causes a lot of discomfort and can make them rather agitated while milking.

When we experience wounds on teats from the cold with our milk cow we know it’s time to offer her more barn access to get her out of the wind. With applying some healing salve or balm to the wounds, being gentle during milking, and giving her a dry, wind-free shelter, she’ll typically heal up within a couple days. 

Beef Cows

Beef cattle will also have increased intake needs during the winter months. Though, typically, less so than a dairy cow who is also producing milk. A beef cows food consumption will go up around 20-25% during the winter months.

Beef cows are also generally hardier than a dairy cow because of their larger frame and build. This allows them to keep their body temps up more easily in frigid temps with less needs and inputs.

What do cows eat in the winter?

Knowing that a cow will consume anywhere from 20-50% more food during the winter, what then do you feed them?

Often, their diet looks similar to what it does the rest of the year. A cow typically on pasture will most likely transition to a diet of hay. Hay is a mixture of pasture grasses and plants that have been cut, cured, and preserved for consumption past the growing season.

cows eating hay on 5 acre homestead

Cows can also be fed grains, or a combination of grains and hay. When hay or grains are in short supply, other supplements can be corn stalks, wheat straw, or soybean hulls. Alfalfa pellets or other protein supplements are also an option if their hay or feed is low in protein.

We feed our cows a high quality source of hay through the winter and have found that to be substantial for them. 

Water and minerals for cows in the winter

Having constant access to a clean and unfrozen water supply for your cows is an absolute must!

There are two common options. The most common is to add a submersible or floating heater to a stock tank. We have a submersible heater with a 100 gallon stock tank that we currently use a backup but has worked great when in use. The downfall of this setup is needing to run buckets of water out to fill it if you don’t have a frost-proof hydrant right next to it.

The second option is an automatic waterer that utilizes geo-thermal heat and/or a heater to stay unfrozen through the winter. There are many different manufactures or automatic waterers, but we use a Jug – check out our full Jug Waterer Review. We absolutely love it and it is a lifesaver, especially in the winter months!

heated automatic jug waterer in winter

Salt and minerals are another big nutritional need that arrises every winter. Their need for minerals especially seems to spike when the cold sets in. So make sure you have a fresh supply of salt and minerals available to them.

We buy a salt block and mineral block that they have access to all year. Even if they have an older salt or mineral block, we’ve found it important to refresh their supply heading into winter. The blocks have a tendency to get worn out, even if they still look new, during the summer months. One trick is to split a block in half with a hatchet to give them access to the fresh salt or minerals in the center.

salt and mineral blocks for cows

Do cows need shelter in the winter?

The short answer is, “yes.” But not necessarily all the time. We have found that cows prefer to be outside when they can and so we try to reserve access to our barn shelter for only when weather conditions turn extreme. That said, if you have a suitable barn setup, you can certainly give them as much access to it as you’d like.

Observation is your greatest tool when it comes to allowing your cows to have or not have access to a barn or other shelter. During the winter months, we keep close watch on the weather and the cows themselves to know when it’s time to open up the barn for access.

family milk cow in front of barn

The other day the thermometer showed -2°F so we opened up the barn for our milk cow overnight. The next morning she greeted us outside for her morning milking, so we just milked her outside!

Winter cattle shelter requirements

Typically, a shelter with at least 3 sides and a roof is a minimum requirement for proper protection from wind and precipitation. Within the shelter, you’ll want to make sure the floor stays dry with proper bedding like straw.

A stall inside a barn is ideal as a winter cattle shelter. Barns have a roof and can typically be closed up tight to keep out drafts and maintain heat. A simple lean-to structure is also commonly used with a roof overhead and at least three solid walls for sides.

When in a pinch, a more basic approach might be to setup t-posts or fence posts and fasten pallets or plywood to them to make a wind barrier. Trees or bushes can also help provide a wind barrier or shelter for animals in the winter months.

Where do cows sleep in the winter?

On still winter nights, cows will most likely choose to sleep beneath the stars like they would  the rest of the year. On windy nights you’ll find them huddled up close to a windbreak to block the chilly wind. Or on wet nights they’ll likely seek out shelter and dry bedding to keep warm and dry.

As we’ve found out with our milk cow, they’ll often lay right in a warm pile of poop to keep warm! Cows just tend to be a little messier in the wintertime. So, if you have a milk cow especially, you may need to plan for a little extra time to clean them off.

Winter Cows Can Be Happy Cows!

So, yes, there’s some extra things to think through and monitor in the winter. But your cows will be fine and dandy if you make sure their basic needs of food, water, and shelter are being met. 

You don’t need pristine barns or an elaborate winter setup. Cows know how to keep themselves warm and stay happy and healthy all winter long!

Your management and care will play a vital role in that! Keep close watch on them. And keep close watch on the weather. Learn what helps them thrive over time and make adjustments quickly when you notice something is off.

family milk cow next to a big red barn

What about you? What patterns have you noticed in your cows in the wintertime or what have you found most helpful to let them survive and thrive through the cold winter months? We’d love to hear in the comments!

Some of the above links are affiliate links. This means we earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. We are so appreciative of your support!


To learn more about a family milk cow or keeping cows on your homestead, check out:

Owning a Family Milk Cow Basics
Simple Cow Milking Process For Beginners
How Many Cows Per Acre On A Small Farm
What To Know About Rotational Grazing On A Small Scale
Calf Sharing – How to Add Flexibility to Your Homestead
Breaking Down The Cost Of A Family Milk Cow

November 27, 2022 0 comment
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easy raw milk recipes for the home dairy
Home DairyNourishing Recipes

36 Easy Raw Milk Recipes To Use Up Extra Milk

by From Scratch Farmstead October 20, 2022

After getting our family milk cow three years ago, dairy has made up a way higher percentage of our overall diet. But the good news is that there are so many delicious ways to use this nutrient dense, creamy goodness. We will share over 30 raw milk recipes and ways that we put all that fresh milk to use.

We Had Never Milked a Thing in Our Lives…

Before getting our family milk cow, Thimble, neither of us had ever milked an animal in our lives. We had been purchasing fresh milk from other farms for years and would occasionally mention to each other “one day wouldn’t it be great to get our own milking animal?” 

our simple cow milking process

Our far-off dream became a reality when some new friends of our decided they wanted to get rid of their family milk cow and asked if we would like to purchase her? 

Long story short, with no experience with any dairy animals, cows, or land of our own, we found ourselves new owners of a lactating jersey cow and another companion heifer. You can read more details about that story and our family milk cow in our post – Owning a Family Milk Cow Basics.

Dairy Goat vs. Dairy Cow

When we were considering the decision of whether or not to purchase our family milk cow, all of the resources and advice we sought out told us that we would be far better off starting with dairy goats. We analyzed the pros and cons of both but ultimately jumped right into cow ownership right off the bat. For us, we are so glad we did.

However, there is definitely a lot to consider in this decision and both dairy goats and cows (and sheep for that matter) provide beautiful, nutritious, and delicious milk.

But when you decide to get into home dairying, all of the milk can be overwhelming. So, let’s jump into some raw milk recipes and ideas for using up all of that milk! And many of these raw milk recipes can be used with pasteurized milk as well.

Raw Milk Recipes Beyond Fresh Drinking:

Yogurt

Making homemade yogurt was the first of these recipes that I learned long before we had our own dairy cow. While there are several ways to make it, our go-to method for simple yogurt making is in the crock pot. No thermometers required.

homemade yogurt from a crockpot

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is the process of straining the whey off of yogurt to make it much thicker. Here is a simple to follow tutorial to make your own Greek Yogurt from your raw milk yogurt at home.

Kefir

Raw milk kefir is known for robust probiotic benefits, is simple to make, and doesn’t need to be heated so it keeps the milk completely raw. You do need to find a source of kefir grains to get started. Ask around – maybe you can take some from a friend or someone who already has their own kefir going. Otherwise, you can purchase dehydrated grains. Cultures for health is a great source for these dehydrated grains if needed. 

Butter

One of the biggest perks of fresh raw milk (at least for cows) is the natural separation of the cream to the top, perfect for butter making! Our favorite way to make it is in a blender with this recipe – How To Make Butter From Raw Milk In A Blender.

spreadable homemade raw milk butter

Ghee

Ghee is the process of separating milk solids from butter making it lactose and casein free. A great choice for those with a dairy intolerance. This is a simple tutorial to make your own ghee from fresh milk.

Sour Cream

Traditional sour cream is essentially a cultured cream. Most recipes call for purchasing a specific culture for sour cream but we like to just use what we have. This recipe make a delicious, creamy sour cream just using cream and yogurt to culture.

Crème Fraiche

Crème Fraiche is another traditional dairy food made from cultured cream. Simply culturing cream in buttermilk will result in a delicious crème fraiche.

Whipped Cream

Whipped cream is a prized and celebrated food in our house. Move over cool whip, homemade whipped cream is simple to make at home oh so tasty. Or, if you want to bring your whipped cream to the next level, our whipped cream dispenser makes it super easy and extra fun!

homemade whipped cream from raw milk
whipped cream on top of cupcakes

Buttermilk

Buttermilk is another variation of a cultured milk product, common in traditional cooking and baking. All you need is your milk and a culture to get started, this recipe shows you how.

Raw Milk Recipes – Cheeses:

Fresh Mozzarella

Mozzarella is the gateway cheese for many. It definitely was for us. It comes together in just an hour and is a great cheese to get started with!

freshly cut authentic mozzarella cheese

Feta Cheese

Feta cheese is another great beginner friendly cheese. You do need a special starter culture to get going but with the right ingredients, you can definitely whip up your own homemade feta with raw milk.

Ricotta Cheese

The beauty of ricotta is that you likely have everything you need in your fridge already and it can be made in less than an hour! Here’s a great tutorial to make your own ricotta.

Farmhouse Cheddar

If you are looking for an entry point into the world of hard cheese, look no further. This raw milk farmhouse cheddar recipe is about as simple as it gets. Shred it up and it’s the perfect addition to any pizza, soup, or salad.

sliced farmhouse cheddar cheese

Paneer

Paneer is a soft cottage cheese from India. Again, no special ingredients are required for this raw milk recipe – just your milk and something to acidify your milk like lemon juice or vinegar to separate your curds and whey! 

Cottage Cheese

The magic of separating milk into the curd and whey continues with another raw milk recipe favorite! Cottage cheese is a favorite of many and it is surprisingly simple to make at home.

Cream Cheese

What’s not to love about cream cheese? Especially when you make cream cheese at home with raw milk, it’s not just delicious but it’s super nutritious as well. 

Raw Milk Recipes – Dessert:

Ice Cream

When it comes to dessert, homemade ice cream is about as easy as it comes. Mix together a few basic ingredients and pour it into an ice cream maker and 30 minutes later, creamy and delicious homemade ice cream!

vanilla raw milk ice cream

Dulce de Leche

Dulce de Leche is a favorite for us around the holidays. It makes a great gift for neighbors and friends. Cook down milk with sugar and the result is the most ooey gooey caramel you’ve ever tasted. 

Rice Pudding

Old fashioned rice pudding is about as comforting of a dessert as it gets and a great way to use up a bunch of milk.

Junket

Junket is a traditional dessert filled with natural gut healing probiotics. If you are looking for something that is both sweet and nourishing, give junket a try!

Pudding

Growing up we only ever made pudding from a box. I had no idea how easy it was to whip up with some milk and a few common pantry items. This simple chocolate pudding is well loved in our house.

chocolate pudding with whipped cream chocolate crumbles

Pots De Crème

Pots De Crème – literally meaning pot of cream – is a French Recipe, rich and delicious usually served in individual cups and just the thing for your next dinner party.

Custard

Custard is a perfect homesteading sweet treat. Made with milk, eggs, and honey or maple syrup, it combines all the things you may just already have in abundance.

Raw Milk Recipes – Breakfast:

Porridge

Porridge can be made so many ways, but the idea is the same combining some sort of grain with milk or liquid to produce a thick and hearty bowl of goodness most commonly served for breakfast.

bowl of cornmeal porridge with cinnamon

Overnight Oats or Baked Oatmeal

Soaking oats in a milk or fermented milk like yogurt makes the oats much easier to digest and tastier in our opinions. Our soaked and baked oatmeal is a breakfast favorite.

baked oatmeal with fresh ground cherries

Pancakes

If you make a big batch of pancakes to serve a crowd on Saturday morning, you know you’ll likely need a good amount of milk or buttermilk for the best pancakes in town.

sourdough starter pancake stack with butter

Dutch Baby Pancake

A Dutch baby pancake, or puff pancake as it is more commonly referred as in our house, is a really fun, easy, and delicious way to start the day.

monster poof pancake

Buttermilk Biscuits

Milk or buttermilk is a key ingredient in making the perfect towering and flaky biscuit to go with some sausage gravy or a breakfast sandwich.

Raw Milk Recipes – Entrees:

Alfredo Sauce

Until getting our family milk cow, I’d never made alfredo sauce. But now it is a well-loved staple in our house featuring butter, cream, and cheese – all the best that raw dairy has to offer!

Cream Based Soups

Creamy soups are a great way to incorporate extra milk. Like this creamy potato soup. You’ll never need to buy a canned “cream of” soup again.

cheesy potato soup

Mac and Cheese

Another food that I only ever ate out of a box growing up. But homemade mac and cheese is so much more of a delicacy and easy when made from scratch. The perfect recipe for using raw milk.

Raw Milk Recipes – Beverages:

Smoothies

Smoothies are a great way to start the day or a quick snack for anytime. Mix raw milk, yogurt or kefir with a variety or frozen fruits, protein powder, even raw egg yolks. The possibilities for a nutrient dense smoothie are endless. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Milk Shakes

Either go the traditional ice cream route or mix raw milk with frozen banana and cacao powder – a delicious milk shake is hard to resist and the homemade version can be a way more healthful treat.

fresh cow milk

Lattes/cappuccino

Fancy coffee drinks aren’t just for Starbucks. Make a healthier version like this pumpkin spice latte at home.

Hot Chocolate

Move over Swiss Miss. Use your raw milk to make this delicious homemade hot chocolate.

Chocolate Milk

Nothing makes our kids happier than whipping up a fresh glass of homemade chocolate milk. Throw in an extra egg yolk and this nutrient dense drink is way more beneficial than just a satisfying treat.

Some of the above links are affiliate links. This means we earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. We are so appreciative of your support!

Are there other ways to preserve milk?

If you are still overflowing in milk and need a way to preserve it, there are options! Our favorite way to preserve milk is to freeze it. Before we wean our milk cow prior to calving, we like to stock up on our stores of frozen milk to keep us in milk until she calves again. 

To Freeze simply store in milk safe containers, making sure to leave proper head space or using a container that can expand. Milk will expand when frozen and we have definitely broken glass jars this way.

milking family milk cow

Alternatively, it is possible to can or dehydrate milk into a powder for long term storage. But you would lose some of the benefits of raw milk in those processes.

Go Forth and Use Your Raw Milk

When it comes to raw milk, there are no shortage of raw milk recipes to put that creamy and nutritious deliciousness to use. We hope you will be inspired to give some of these a try!

October 20, 2022 0 comment
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family milk cow being milked by hand
Family Milk CowHomestead How-to's

Owning a Family Milk Cow Basics

by From Scratch Farmstead February 20, 2022

We break down the basics of everything you need to know about owning a family milk cow and the simple methods we use on our 5-acre homestead.

If you are new to the idea of owning a family milk cow, you are not alone. But if our once suburban family can do it, so can you!!

Our Experience Owning a Family Milk Cow

We have been buying raw milk, straight from local farmers for the last 10 years. When we started, we couldn’t believe how much fullness, flavor, and nutrition we had been missing out on from only ever drinking pasteurized skim or 2% milk.

Milking animals provide so much farm fresh dairy goodness and have become a staple for many homestead families. But if you’ve never had a milking animal before, where do you begin? This was us. We scoured the family milk cow handbook, bounced around the internet, and gleaned whatever information we could from others with experience. The real learning has come while owning a family milk cow the last two years.

Keep in mind that we are not trying to tell you what you should do. We are simply sharing what we’ve found to work for our family and what our experience has been along the way.

Our strategy with most anything is to keep things really simple and basic, which I think you’ll see in how we raise our cow. We don’t have an extravagant setup, keep costs really low, and milk at a pace that seems healthy and sustainable both for our cow and our family.

homestead cows on pasture

How we got our Jersey milk cow?

We met a family with a single milk cow and worked our way into their weekly rotation of getting milk. She was a Jersey (named Thimble), a heritage milk cow breed, known for their abundant cream content. It was the best milk we’d ever tasted and we loved experimenting with all sorts of new dairy based, from scratch recipes. Like our homemade ice cream and crockpot yogurt. Yummm 😊

One day, Joelle learned when picking up milk that the high school daughter who took care of the cow and milked her didn’t have time any more to milk and needed to rehome Thimble. Joelle’s quick response of, “Oh, I’ve always dreamed of having our own milk cow some day!” was a tad premature considering we had never milked a thing in our lives.

But when she came home and told me about it, I had a hunch it was an idea that wouldn’t simply fizzle. The next month we soaked up as much information on milk cows as we could. It left us wondering how in the world we could integrate milking and caring for a cow into the rhythms and routines of our young family.

Book learning only takes you so far. The rest we’d need to learn as we went. After saying “Yes!” and a single milking lesson, we found ourselves responsible for this 800 lb. lactating mama.

We were reminded along the way that most people just getting into farming wouldn’t start with a family milk cow. Maybe a milking goat would be more appropriate? But Thimble came into our life at just the right time and in just the right way. She brought consistency and confidence to our world when we most needed it and we have never questioned our decision, even when the odds seemed stacked against us.

family milk cow next to a big red barn

What is our farm setup?

We have a bit over 5 acres in northern Illinois. There’s a small pole barn with a single animal stall large enough to house a few cows. That stall has a door that leads into a roughly 1/2 acre pasture with a permanent fence around it.

This fenced pasture is where our cows stay all winter. Cows are hearty animals. Our first winter we only opened the barn for them on the extremely cold days – 0 degrees or below. We learned the hard way that this led to our milk cows’ teats getting chapped and cracked from the wind. No fun for anyone!

This year, we opened the barn at more like 20 degrees or below and have not had this issue at all.

From roughly May through November, when grass is growing, we have the cows on pasture. Our back field is unfenced and roughly 3-1/2 acres. We use a rotational grazing setup with moveable electro netting fence where the cows move to fresh pasture about every other day.

This system takes a fair amount of monitoring and managing, but both our cows and pasture have responded really well to it. And that size of pasture seems to be right for our 2-3 cows, depending on where we are at with calving and culling.

family milk cow and calf in front of barn

What do we feed our family milk cow?

About two-thirds of the year during the growing season our cows diet consists of fresh pasture. Cows are ruminants, meaning grass, or most anything green, is their natural diet. They will eat grasses, legumes, weeds, herbs, vegetables, and leafy plants like wild grape vines and mulberry trees are especially sought-out treats.

During the winter, we transition them to hay, which is essentially dried, preserved, and bundled pasture. You may have to do some searching for a good hay supplier to last you through the winter. We are SO grateful to have neighbors we exchange milk with in return for hay. Keeps the cycle going!

We also give them a salt block and supplement block that they always have access to for minerals they are not getting from their diet.

jersey milk cow and calf grazing

Do milk cows need to be fed grain?

Many would tell you “yes,” but our experience has been that they do not need grain. Our milk cow had been receiving a small amount of grain during milking from her previous owners. The general advice we received was that they needed grain. This is both to keep them conditioned (the farming term for looking good and not too thin) and to keep their milk supply up.

So, we started with grains during milking as well. However, we don’t milk for peak production, and the more we read the more we considered an all-grass diet to be the most natural option. So, we removed all grain from her diet and were really happy with the results. Not only has her milk supply stayed consistent but her overall mood and temperament has improved tremendously.

When milking while receiving grain she was fidgety and we were constantly on milk pail patrol trying to avoid a spilt bucket. Since removing grains, she has mellowed and is as chill of a cow as you can imagine. She almost never moves while milking and it’s been over a year since she’s kicked the bucket!

milking cow with kids

What is the process of milking and how much time does it require?

We should preface this with everyone has a milking routine that works for them, and it does take some time to learn what works best for you, your family, and your cow. We should also mention that Thimble came to us having been trained to milk only once a day. Most dairy cows are milked twice a day for top production. But for a homestead scale, we have found once a day milking to be just the right scale and commitment of time for our family.

Joelle is our milker and start to finish, she spends about an hour every day milking. This includes:

  • Haltering our milk cow and tying her off to a fence post.
  • Cleaning her teats and stripping them, which is simply discarding a couple squirts of milk from each teat to clear out any bacteria that may have built up.
  • Milking her out fully.
  • Taking the milk back in to be strained with a strainer and clean dish towel.
  • And all the cleanup of milking equipment.

After some practice and gaining efficiency, the milking part takes only about 15-20 minutes. Starting out, you’ll definitely feel like it’s taking forever and can expect it to take at least double that.

milking jersey cow by hand

What equipment do you need for a family milk cow?

You will hear a lot of different opinions and answers to this question. We like to keep it simple and portable. Here’s our basic list:

  • Halter
  • Milk bucket
  • Milk pail with lid
  • Old rags for cleaning teats and udders
  • Bucket for warm water for cleaning (also doubles as your milk stool!)
  • A strainer
  • Assortment of clean dish towels for straining
  • 8 cup Pyrex measuring cup with pour spout that strained milk goes into
  • Many half gallon sized mason or milk jars

That is really it. You’ll see lots of different stanchion setups and milk machines out there. But we like the slow pace and natural connection to your animal when milking by hand.

Some of the above links are affiliate links. This means we earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. We are so appreciative of your support!

Family Milk Cow

Don’t you need to get your cow bred to keep lactation going?

Yes! Most milk cows are bred every year. If you’re new to having animals, this part can be very intimidating. But don’t let it scare you. Calving is such a fun part of having a family milk cow!

Cows have a 9-10 month gestation and most commercial dairies have them bred 3 months after calving so they calve every spring. Our experience is that we have not been able to track any signs of heat after three months. With our cows, heat has become obvious only when it’s closer to when the calf weans, which, for us, has been around 10 months after calving. This puts us on a roughly 18-month calf cycle.

newborn calf drinking off mama

There are two breeding options; 1) breeding with a bull, and 2) breeding through artificial insemination (AI). We have done AI twice now. The first time she had a heifer by luck of the draw. This time, we had a sexed AI done, which we are hoping means there’s a good shot we’ll have a pure Jersey heifer to potentially raise as another milk cow.

Both AI’s we had done by a local dairy farmer we reached out to. They have lots of experience, usually have the equipment on hand, and will likely give you a reasonable price. You can contact your local Vet and I’m sure receive great care and service, but can expect to pay significantly more.

AI for jersey milk cow

How do you know when your milk cow is in heat?

You just know! Mooing constantly. Pacing the fence. That glazed-over look in their eye. It took us some time to know for sure, but the more you learn their personality and mannerisms, the more their heat cycles stand out. They cycle every 21 days. Another surefire sign if you have other cows is when they mount each other. 

How much does it cost to own a family milk cow?

Again, we are going at this from the approach of simple and affordable. Here is the rough breakdown of our costs:

  • 3 yr. old lactating Jersey – $800
  • Accessories (halter, buckets, jugs, etc.) – $150
  • Artificial insemination cost – $50
  • Year supply of salt & mineral blocks – $50
  • Hay per winter for one cow – approx. $1,000

As we mentioned, we barter for the hay, but the above breakdown has made owning a family milk cow extremely affordable for our family. You may pay more for a good milk cow, but somewhere in the $800-$1200 range has seemed average from doing minimal research.

Depending on what you already have at your farm, you may need to purchase some other supplies too. For example, we bought a used Jugg waterer for $350, that our animals share and is heated for a winter water source. We also have a couple other water troughs we’ve purchased along with a fair amount of used Premier 1 electro netting and supplies we’ve picked up. We’ve probably spent around $1,200 on moveable fencing, but saved a ton buying used.

three cows eating hay

What do you get from a family milk cow?

We get around 1.5 gallons of milk every day. This can vary significantly based on breed of cow, diet, and other factors. But for our family of 5, this is a perfect amount. With it, we always have fresh milk to drink and enough left over to make a steady supply of butter, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and any other dairy treat we fancy. We don’t need to buy any of these items from the store.

That amount also allows us to be generous and share any extra we have with family, friends, and neighbors. The community of people who appreciate raw milk are our favorite people to get to know!

The continuous breeding cycle of a milk cow also gives you a calf, which can be raised for meat or another milk cow. We already have one calf we raised and is now in the freezer and another scheduled to be processed this fall. The current calf we are expecting to arrive in the spring will be a pure Jersey that we are considering raising as second milk cow, or selling as a milk cow.

wheel of homestead cheddar cheese

Is a family milk cow right for you?

If you’ve gotten this far, you are probably in the serious download stage of milk cow information and trying to decide if it is right for you. Our hope is that this basic overview has given you a realistic picture of the costs and commitments involved.

We don’t know your situation, but we can honestly say it has been one of the best decisions we have ever made. Our milk cow, Thimble, is like part of the family and it’s nearly impossible to imagine life without her.

But you probably still have more questions! Or maybe something you read wasn’t clear. We want to hear from you! Please drop a comment below and reach out to us. We’d love to interact and help you make the right decision for your family.

Happy milking!

 

Want more gardening and homesteading inspiration?

This post is part of a collaboration with other homesteaders doing really sweet things to live life from scratch. We’d love for you to meet them!

Krista Dowding from Hilltop in the Valley – How To Start a Homestead for Special Diets

Janelle North from Crowded Table Farmstead – What You Need to Start Garden Seeds Indoors

Hollyn Franklin from Our Simple Graces – How To Start A Suburban Homestead

Ashley Bremer from The Funny Farm Assistant Manager – My Family Milk Cow is Calving Now What

Anna Bodine from Canfield Creations – Homesteader Series -1- Beginner Starting Seeds

 

cows on pasture with sunrise

February 20, 2022 10 comments
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Hi! We are Jim and Joelle. We love sharing homestead how-to’s, from scratch recipes, and natural do-it-yourself projects to help you nourish your family. To learn about our story, click the image above!

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