farmerjan
Herd Master
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2016
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- Location
- Shenandoah Valley Virginia
Mini cows have their plusses... and minusses.....They are very expensive in comparison to the equivalent (or equal) in "normal size" cattle. There is no value as a cull cow if you were to sell at say a normal stockyard/sale barn. Unless you are going to put it in your own freezer. They have more breeding and calving problems than a full size animal and they have enough problems..... sometimes you won't have a problem for years and years, sometimes it seems like Murphy's law... if it can go wrong it will. And there is alot more money tied up than with a chicken. Even with some of the higher priced rarer purebreds.... I have had show birds of over 50 years......
They are cute, they sell well as breeding animals for people that want to have "mini's". They eat less, they produce less which can be a plus. They need less room.
They are great for someone who really likes them. There are how many different breeds of chickens???? Something for most anyone.... Same for the cattle.
If you are considering multiple species, fence for the smallest, hardest to contain species. "Field fencing" is good for cattle. It is a 6" upright stay; some is 12" stays. 48" tall most often. It will contain sheep and goats, but they can put their heads through it and get stuck especially if they have horns. Chickens can get through it. 2x4 goat/sheep/horse/no climb fencing will keep most everything in. More expensive. Probably double the cost, or more. I don't know if it comes in different heights. the "4 foot height" is pretty standard.... I think it is actually 47" but I'm talking generalities.
If you are contemplating Vermont or Maine, then you are looking at 6+ months of hay.... Your growing season is 4-6 months in a good year. Here in Va we figure 8 months good to fair pasture.... mid-April to Oct/Nov... all according if we can do good rotational grazing and can stockpile grass for late fall/winter grazing. Depends on the amount of rainfall, and temps......
Hay and grain standard if there is not real good quality grazing. You have to learn to be a grass farmer.... and manage the grass....
With 10 acres, you will have to plan on only 2 or 3 animals and still realize you will have to feed hay for 6 months. They cannot be shortchanged with trying to just keep warm in the cold temps up there. Not to mention being able to produce milk or gain to become a beef down the road.
I am originally from CT, cousins were dairy farmers in VT, family in NH. I wanted to go north, but realized that the growing season was much better in Va and still able to have mountains, and winter.... but not so much, or lasting so long. Born and raised in Stamford, CT., lived outside Newtown for nearly 10 years and then moved south. Spent a good part of my life as a kid in VT with family.... and family owned properties. Loved the Green mountains, but realized that it was too hard to make a living there as a farmer; this was back in the 1980's..... unless you could own the property outright without a mortgage..... even it is very tough to make it.
I am not trying to be negative.... go into this with your eyes open and you will have the best chance of surviving and even thriving. Starting now is the smartest thing you are doing to learn.
Check with your local extension service.... see if they offer any classes, seminars.... and sign up and go to them ( or on line or whatever they are doing)..... volunteer with a 4-H club or FFA..... get some "dirty hands on" experience. Find out if you even like working with whatever breed you are interested in. I am not a goat person.....don't hate them, but just don't care for them. Many are not cattle people. Then you also have to consider the size and what you are comfortable with working with. How tied down do you want to be.... dairy cows and goats need milking.... meat breeds, beef cattle, are not as labor intensive on a day to day thing. Sheep are a different story than goats.... wool or hair breeds..... I like sheep.
Hogs are one of the faster turn arounds for meat in the freezer from a piglet.... but you have to have good fences.....
Lots to consider.....
They are cute, they sell well as breeding animals for people that want to have "mini's". They eat less, they produce less which can be a plus. They need less room.
They are great for someone who really likes them. There are how many different breeds of chickens???? Something for most anyone.... Same for the cattle.
If you are considering multiple species, fence for the smallest, hardest to contain species. "Field fencing" is good for cattle. It is a 6" upright stay; some is 12" stays. 48" tall most often. It will contain sheep and goats, but they can put their heads through it and get stuck especially if they have horns. Chickens can get through it. 2x4 goat/sheep/horse/no climb fencing will keep most everything in. More expensive. Probably double the cost, or more. I don't know if it comes in different heights. the "4 foot height" is pretty standard.... I think it is actually 47" but I'm talking generalities.
If you are contemplating Vermont or Maine, then you are looking at 6+ months of hay.... Your growing season is 4-6 months in a good year. Here in Va we figure 8 months good to fair pasture.... mid-April to Oct/Nov... all according if we can do good rotational grazing and can stockpile grass for late fall/winter grazing. Depends on the amount of rainfall, and temps......
Hay and grain standard if there is not real good quality grazing. You have to learn to be a grass farmer.... and manage the grass....
With 10 acres, you will have to plan on only 2 or 3 animals and still realize you will have to feed hay for 6 months. They cannot be shortchanged with trying to just keep warm in the cold temps up there. Not to mention being able to produce milk or gain to become a beef down the road.
I am originally from CT, cousins were dairy farmers in VT, family in NH. I wanted to go north, but realized that the growing season was much better in Va and still able to have mountains, and winter.... but not so much, or lasting so long. Born and raised in Stamford, CT., lived outside Newtown for nearly 10 years and then moved south. Spent a good part of my life as a kid in VT with family.... and family owned properties. Loved the Green mountains, but realized that it was too hard to make a living there as a farmer; this was back in the 1980's..... unless you could own the property outright without a mortgage..... even it is very tough to make it.
I am not trying to be negative.... go into this with your eyes open and you will have the best chance of surviving and even thriving. Starting now is the smartest thing you are doing to learn.
Check with your local extension service.... see if they offer any classes, seminars.... and sign up and go to them ( or on line or whatever they are doing)..... volunteer with a 4-H club or FFA..... get some "dirty hands on" experience. Find out if you even like working with whatever breed you are interested in. I am not a goat person.....don't hate them, but just don't care for them. Many are not cattle people. Then you also have to consider the size and what you are comfortable with working with. How tied down do you want to be.... dairy cows and goats need milking.... meat breeds, beef cattle, are not as labor intensive on a day to day thing. Sheep are a different story than goats.... wool or hair breeds..... I like sheep. Hogs are one of the faster turn arounds for meat in the freezer from a piglet.... but you have to have good fences.....
Lots to consider.....
for what its worth, i didn’t think you were being negative.
many of us, have jumped in and then learned later.... sometimes to financial disasters, sometimes with luck and learning as we/they go....
