Cost effectiveness of a dairy animal? and Time involvement?

[promiseacres]

Ok I have 4 acres (2 in pasture) and a DH who has the ability & equipment to make hay. With the possiblity of milk rising to $8/gallon and my DD turning 1 next month so another milk drinker added to the mix I've been contemplating adding a dairy animal, either goat or mini type cow to our critters. I know how to milk though it's never been pleasant due to tendonitis....but if it was once a day I know I could do it. Plus I'm a SAHM now so I know time wouldn't be too big of a factor, though I would worry about if/when we wanted to travel. but we haven't taken a vacation in like 8 years...plus I figure if I have to have someone feed the other critters how bad could it be to milk 1-2 goats or cow?

I'd love to hear from others who milk their cow/goats. and if it's even cost effective with current milk prices (we can use 3 gallons a week now), could possibly drink more but we limit due to cost.

Thanks!

 

[Pearce Pastures]

With goats or cows, you will have to have a way to breed them to keep them in milk. I would imagine the cost of keeping a cow would be more than a few goats but I have not ever raised cattle so

We drink goat milk for a good part of the year. Two Nigerians in milk is plenty for our family of five to have milk and make cheese occasionally (and sometimes we had extra that we gave to our pets).

First, I'd consider the up front costs. You would need to purchase say 2--4 does, so you could stagger their kiddings to keep you in milk [so depending on what type of goat you get and from where you buy it, could be $150 to over a thousand dollars to get those]. You would also need to find someone with a buck to use for breeding [stud fee involved there $24-$75] or would need to buy either two bucks or a buck and a companion wether [varies greatly there so guessing $100-$500]. Then there are supplies---a milking stand (which you could build), hay feeders, buckets, milking pails, strainers, storage containers, the cost of which really depends on what you already have available and what you want to buy.

Second, there are maintenance expenses for the animals. Vaccinations ($5), twice yearly fecals exams ($15), medications (really depends on the animals needs---I estimate that we spent less than $50 this year but sometimes it is more), hoof shears ($15). Feed: hay you can make, which is great. We have 7 goats and go through 2-3 bales per week. We also supplement minerals ($9 per bag), and a daily ration of feed, plus when the does are in milk, we give them alfalfa pellets too.

Milking twice a day does take a toll on you wrists and hands, and some people have purchased milking machines that work well but are another expense. My DH and I take turns milking which helps.

So is it worth it? Yes for us. I like that we have our own milk supply, we love our animals and enjoy having them, and milking is fun. Is it cost effective? 3-4 gallons of milk might end up running $8 each, so $24- $32 a week. That seems really expensive but I guess I'd have to sit down and really add receipts for all of our costs to see if this is less pricey.

 

[Roll farms]

Even mini cows will give 1-2 g. of milk a day (some more) and true 'dairy' breeds of mini cows are expensive....so you would probably end up w/ more milk than you need from a cow, more output costs for the animal, and they def. eat and poop more than goats....bigger, messier piles, too.

(We had a few mid and mini-sized jerseys before deciding we really prefer goats....a lot).

I have Nub does who produce right at 1 g a day - perfect for drinking and cheesemaking for a small family. We much prefer the taste / higher butterfat of their milk.
I have an Ob doe who produces 1.5 g a day....great for feeding extra babies (pigs, pups, chickens, etc.).

Just get an animal from DAIRY lines, emphasis on milk ahead of show. Some show does are great milkers, too...but def. not all of them.

We sell our 'family milker' quality bottle-baby doelings for around $150.00 ea.

Be leery of anyone selling a doe in milk. Most of us keep our 'good' milkers, it's the low-producers, kickers, heifers, stupids, etc. we tend to sell.

You *may* find a great doe in milk but generally unless it's a show herd who didn't like the udder / conformation....the 'bad' milkers are the ones for sale reasonably.

If I sell a good doe in milk....she's gonna cost ya.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Both above posters have given you good info.

Yes it can be expensive, but I've done everything "on a budget" and purchased most stuff off craigslist for almost free. (My milking stand was $20 bucks).

The biggest expense is the animals themselves. I have 5 registered purebred Nubians and each one was roughly $400 each (in milk). They are top of the line from showers but didn't quite fit up to par, example is that one has a "belt" of color which that particular breeder doesn't like, and another didn't quite have as straight of a topline as they liked. That being said they are great goats and great milkers and I am not looking to win any shows (yet).

My 5 girls give me about 3-4 gallons a day... MORE than enough for a family.

Another thing mentioned was the breeding. If you don't keep your own bucks it can get really expensive really fast. Between gas, stud fees, and boarding costs I spent almost $1000 getting my five girls bred this year. (Not to mention the time). Next year we are definitely getting a buck so I can do it here at home. Then you also have to worry about what your going to do with all the babies, sell 'em? Keep 'em? Eat 'em?

Just thoughts.