I'm Probably Getting a Cow, What Should I know about them?

[Lilac The Cow]

We are getting a Holstein or Highland. We're going to try to keep it as a Pet. What should I know? About owning them, i know they can be expensive. And i know a bit about the breeds

 

[Baymule]

Will it be male or female? If male I’m sure you will have it castrated as keeping a bull is dangerous. If female, will it be a milk cow?
How much land/room do you have for the cow. What is your general location and climate?

 

[canesisters]

If it's going to be strictly a pet, I would suggest a steer. A cow will have a very loud & possibly fence-testing heat cycle every month.
In general, steers from the beef or 'dual purpose' breeds make better pets. Very often, a male from a dairy breed was bottle raised. This makes them super cute as babies but they have generally never experienced any of the "herd discipline" & can become very pushy as 600-1000lb adults unless you are very careful with their training.

 

[Lilac The Cow]

Will it be male or female? If male I’m sure you will have it castrated as keeping a bull is dangerous.

Probably female, Bc i think i was going to try to Show them in 4-H. So, i' nee to Raise Calves

If female, will it be a milk cow?

I she has babies. We haven't really got that far into planning

How much land/room do you have for the cow. What is your general location and climate?

We have a couple acres. We are going to Buy a couple acres from our Neighbors, i think. Or rent our Neighbors Barn an Pasture


Sorry, if something oesn't make sense. My f an d keys are broken, i ha to copy an paste

 

[Lilac The Cow]

If it's going to be strictly a pet, I would suggest a steer. A cow will have a very loud & possibly fence-testing heat cycle every month.

Thank you! I never thought o that

In general, steers from the beef or 'dual purpose' breeds make better pets. Very often, a male from a dairy breed was bottle raised. This makes them super cute as babies but they have generally never experienced any of the "herd discipline" & can become very pushy as 600-1000lb adults unless you are very careful with their training.

i have a little iea what the Training will be. But, this will be my irst time Owning a Cow. So, I you have Training Tips or Tricks. That woul be Great

 

[canesisters]

Thank you! I never thought o that

i have a little iea what the Training will be. But, this will be my irst time Owning a Cow. So, I you have Training Tips or Tricks. That woul be Great

Do you have any experience with horses? Much of the ground work will translate. Assuming you start with a calf, halter training asap - using a cow halter. Positive reinforcement & giving to preasure. Halter before feed. Halter before grooming. Halter before leading to pasture... remove halter for turnout.
Tying - let him fight a STURDY post while you supervise nearby without interacting unless Necessary. Once he is standing quietly, you can 'rescue' him & make sure the session ends with a positive experience.
All the usual stuff.
The hardest thing for me to learn was that horses 'play' with their feet. They run, dance around, paw, strike, etc. Cows 'play' with their heads. They push, butt, pin to the ground. Just as you would never let a colt strike at you in 'fun', you never let a calf head butt you or rub its forehead against you.
Lots of people teach steers to pull a cart or to be ridden. They are amazingly good jumpers.....

 

[Baymule]

@4-Hgirl just went to show and did very well. I think she could be very helpful to you.
Since this is your first cow, I suggest a steer. Normally after the show, steers are sold at auction. You take the money and set it aside for the next year. A cow that comes in heat every month, bawling and testing fences, trying to get out and go find a boyfriend, might be a bit much for starters.

You can also raise a pig for 4-H and it would be smaller, take less room and be a good starter project.

 

[Lilac The Cow]

Do you have any experience with horses?

I've been riing or 6 years, Almost 7. I have never Traine them, but. I have Experience

Much of the ground work will translate. Assuming you start with a calf, halter training asap - using a cow halter. Positive reinforcement & giving to preasure. Halter before feed. Halter before grooming. Halter before leading to pasture... remove halter for turnout.
Tying - let him fight a STURDY post while you supervise nearby without interacting unless Necessary. Once he is standing quietly, you can 'rescue' him & make sure the session ends with a positive experience.
All the usual stuff.
The hardest thing for me to learn was that horses 'play' with their feet. They run, dance around, paw, strike, etc. Cows 'play' with their heads. They push, butt, pin to the ground. Just as you would never let a colt strike at you in 'fun', you never let a calf head butt you or rub its forehead against you.
Lots of people teach steers to pull a cart or to be ridden. They are amazingly good jumpers.....

Thats Amazing! Thank You!

 

[Lilac The Cow]

@4-Hgirl just went to show and did very well. I think she could be very helpful to you.

Thank you! I'll ask her

Since this is your first cow, I suggest a steer. Normally after the show, steers are sold at auction. You take the money and set it aside for the next year. A cow that comes in heat every month, bawling and testing fences, trying to get out and go find a boyfriend, might be a bit much for starters.

I on't know i i am going to show Cows or Sure (I'm going to start with Chickens an then my Rabbit). But, my dad used to have cows. So, i've been asking him or some Tips an things. I'll ask him i we can get a Steer

You can also raise a pig for 4-H and it would be smaller, take less room and be a good starter project.

I want a Pig, but. My parents won't let me, they say they are too Messy

 

[4-Hgirl]

If you want a pet get a heifer. You can show her and they are better pets then steers. Steers are harder to feed because once the show season ends the steer is normally finished if you keep a finished steer then it will be harder to feed. If you wanted a steer you would just have to feed them a lot less then what I would feed mine and it would be easier to just finish your steer. Some heifers will act crazy when in heat but we have 3 cows and 2 heifers they have never acted crazy they only jump on each other but they have never broken anything and they are not very loud. they are really nice you can just walk up to them and they are as nice as always. If you plan on breeding her you have to feed her less grain during breeding season and when they are pregnant If you have a fat heifer calving she will probably have problems and will need help. Even if you don't breed a heifer you still can't feed her too much or she will finish like the steers.