ohiogoatgirl
True BYH Addict
Hello
I'd like to preface this by saying if I do end up getting a cow it will not be for at least two years.
I have sheep and am working on changing over things with them and expanding paddocks. I would like to get a cow (or two) for milk. I grew up with milk goats and there is lots of dairy cow farms around here. I think I want a jersey or other smaller breed. I was considering if I would need two cows or if having one cow would do okay with the sheep. If I had two cows I could alternate breeding them but I'm not currently committed to the idea of milking all year.
As for the calves, I would feed out a steer and probably sell the rest until I needed to start feeding out another steer.
The big wrench in my thinking currently is that I wouldn't want cow/s in my sheep barn. So I'd have to use some kind of half door to keep the cows out but let the sheep in. And have a cow shed on the side of the barn.
I would most likely get the heifer(s) young and try to introduce them to the sheep. I would want them to at least be amiable enough to be kept together as needed. I think if I got two then I'd rotate them with the sheep in a lead-follow system to help stop parasite cycles.
I'm sure there is more I haven't thought of yet but I find it helps me to post like this as I'm thinking about it.
Love to hear what has/hasn't worked for others.
I'd like to preface this by saying if I do end up getting a cow it will not be for at least two years.
I have sheep and am working on changing over things with them and expanding paddocks. I would like to get a cow (or two) for milk. I grew up with milk goats and there is lots of dairy cow farms around here. I think I want a jersey or other smaller breed. I was considering if I would need two cows or if having one cow would do okay with the sheep. If I had two cows I could alternate breeding them but I'm not currently committed to the idea of milking all year.
As for the calves, I would feed out a steer and probably sell the rest until I needed to start feeding out another steer.
The big wrench in my thinking currently is that I wouldn't want cow/s in my sheep barn. So I'd have to use some kind of half door to keep the cows out but let the sheep in. And have a cow shed on the side of the barn.
I would most likely get the heifer(s) young and try to introduce them to the sheep. I would want them to at least be amiable enough to be kept together as needed. I think if I got two then I'd rotate them with the sheep in a lead-follow system to help stop parasite cycles.
I'm sure there is more I haven't thought of yet but I find it helps me to post like this as I'm thinking about it.
Love to hear what has/hasn't worked for others.