- Thread starter
- #21
woodsie
Loving the herd life
Well Bella and her calf Beef are home and have settled in nicely. She didn't know what to do with a field full of grass at first but now she is always hiding in the weeds munching on alphafa or grazing in the field. Beef (the holstein calf) thinks he's a racehorse and runs laps and races up and down a field with incredible speed and energy. I am sure he would love to play with my dogs and goat but mama doesn't really like the racing with the dogs and goats and then is galloping with her huge udder down the field too...funny sight but not exactly good for a middle age milker so they are in their own field at the moment.
We are planning on adding a milking machine soon as I don't mind milking by hand but the rest of the family is unable to milk her out and everyone is nervous is anything ever happened too me they'd be hooped...I say, they'd figure it out. Before I got the hang of it I was milking her 4 times a day in order to keep her from bursting...soooo much milk, for an rookie handmilker but we got through it, and now I milk 1 to 1.5 gallons twice a day and Beef gets the rest.
We are making cheese, yogurt, butter, sour cream (to die for) and much more and loving the results. Even my mom and brother that were previously unable to drink milk have to problems with the unpasteurized milk. My 5 year old daughter faithfully comes out with her own pail and gets a few squirts in her OWN pail and is making her OWN sour cream....too cute and I am amazed at her dedication and determination. So all in all it is great, oh plus I made a new friend who comes over and helps me milk 2 times a week and then helps me in my garden in exchange for the milk....my garden is finally weeded....who knew my garden would benefit from getting a cow!
We are planning on adding a milking machine soon as I don't mind milking by hand but the rest of the family is unable to milk her out and everyone is nervous is anything ever happened too me they'd be hooped...I say, they'd figure it out. Before I got the hang of it I was milking her 4 times a day in order to keep her from bursting...soooo much milk, for an rookie handmilker but we got through it, and now I milk 1 to 1.5 gallons twice a day and Beef gets the rest.
We are making cheese, yogurt, butter, sour cream (to die for) and much more and loving the results. Even my mom and brother that were previously unable to drink milk have to problems with the unpasteurized milk. My 5 year old daughter faithfully comes out with her own pail and gets a few squirts in her OWN pail and is making her OWN sour cream....too cute and I am amazed at her dedication and determination. So all in all it is great, oh plus I made a new friend who comes over and helps me milk 2 times a week and then helps me in my garden in exchange for the milk....my garden is finally weeded....who knew my garden would benefit from getting a cow!
