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Where is the best place to buy cattle? I am looking for two Dexters and am not sure where I should get them. I need cows that are good and reputable, but not too expensive. I don't care about breeding papers. I know nothing about cows, so will not really know what to look for when checking...

I just read an article about mini milk cows. Does anyone have any experience with these? Good or bad? Where to buy? Etc.!! Sounds like a nice alternative to goats for backyard dairy!! Ryan

Just read something about miniature milking cow breeds. Does anyone know anything about these? Where to buy? What breeds are best? If they are less destructive than goats? Ryan

So, do they eat the bark off of trees as well or just the saplings? Would it be easy to fence them out of young fruit trees? Ryan

Thanks for all of the information! I am really in a conundrum about which animals to get for dairy.... Im assuming cows are less destructive, but need significantly more to feed on!! I only have about 1.75 acre of pasture... Ryan

Does anyone on here keep sheep for milk? Which breeds are best? Are they as destructive to orchards? I know nothing about sheep!! Ryan

Wow!! I am not sure that I will be able to get goats now... I have like 40 mature Doug Firs and Cedars that I don't want dead....

I was first thinking about getting goats, but figures out they would probably kill my entire forest if I did!! So now, I am thinking cows. I have 2 acres of good pasture and a bit of forest - how many cows could this hold without having to supplement much feed? Will they eat my trees? How...

Tainted by the buck's milk eh? Darn it!! So they need to be in separate fenced pens? Will the goats even kill large 50 year old fir trees? For the fruit trees, what about strong gauge welded wire, kept up by t-posts and how far out should it be from the trees? Maybe I should get a cow...

p.s. appearance is not an issue for me...

Great suggestions. The qualities I am looking for are: good milk production, nice around kids, and least likely to destroy my fruit trees. I live in Western Washington (which is very mild) and I have 2 acres of beautiful pasture, with a bit of forest. I also have a small orchard that I need...

Hi I am looking to start a small goat herd on two acres of pasture land. I would like to be able to milk one female, keep one male for breeding purposes and then raise and sell the kids. What breed should I get? What age should I buy my goats at? Thanks!! Ryan

Nice - can you be more specific about the panel cages. What are they going to look like? Do you have pictures by any chance? What materials? Will welded wire work? How many t-posts? How far around the trees are you putting them? I don't really mind if they eat some lower branches once the...

I am planning on getting goats soon, but my intended pasture has an orchard in it. Is there anyway to keep goats from eating my trees: wrapping trunks with chicken wire? Small chicken wire fencing surrounding each tree? Or do I have to fence in the whole orchard? Also, do trees ever reach...

Thanks for the great replies! The horse manure is fresh so I think it will have a lot of seeds - maybe I will throw in some clover seed with it. Should I throw it on top or rake it in? What other seed will do well - alfalfa? wheat? I have TONS of dandelions in the field already - will the...

Hi everyone, I am going to be turning a very large lawn into pasture land for goats and was wondering how I should do it. I have free access to horse manure and am thinking about spreading it over the entire thing. I was thinking this would give it a bunch of nutrients and the seeds in the...

OK - how big of a risk is this disease and what do you think the most economical way of cooking a whole mess of scraps would be? Also is Trichinosis harmful to humans or just to the pigs? Ryan

Hey 20kids, Thanks for advice! I have been considering fencing, but have almost no money!! What is a solar powered fencer (is this an electric fence powered by solar?) How much money do these run? ALso, what is bushogging? Again, I appreciate the advice! Ryan

I know - I am worried there may be some sort of stupid legal hangup, but hopefully I can find a cool lunchlady who will just look past that... If not, maybe I will try local restaurants - they would probably love to cut down on there waste disposal bills!! Ryan

I work at a school and was thinking about buying some young pigs and then fattening them up on scraps from the school cafeteria - is this a reasonable plan? Would I need to supplement their diet with something else? Ryan