Need help choosing a breed

[NorthernAZ]

Hello everyone,


We are looking at heritage breeds trying to find a cow that would fit our needs. We don't want a ton of milk (there are only 2 adults and 1 child in our little family), we would like the milk to have a high fat content (not necessary, but a definite plus), we want a docile breed and we need a cow that can forage on desert-type scrub. We know we will have to supplement heavily. We live in northern Arizona (over 5,000 feet above sea level), the summers here are not very hot, we get snow (so needs to be a cold-tolerant breed) and our winters are long. We have Ponderosa Pine Forests all around (literally, 2 miles away from our property), but we are at a slightly lower elevation and have more of a scrubland kind of desert ecosystem. No lush grass will ever be a possibility around here. A goat would be a better fit for this kind of environment but I very much detest goat milk....so we are searching for a cow breed that would fit in our niche. Does the right breed exist for this environment? I know there are countless range cattle here in AZ, but I don't know what breed they are. We don't own a trailer, so it would be necessary for the breed to be available locally within AZ or the 4 corners area.

Are we out of our minds thinking we can add a cow to the farmily in this type of habitat and with so many pre-reqs?


Thanks in advance for any info you may give us!

 

[greybeard]

I would think, you'd need a mix breed with good foraging traits, and a LOT of ground clearance to keep her udder/teats out of the prikly things that grow in your environment. Brahma influence would take care of both traits, but 'might' detract from your specified "docile" requirement, tho I have seen many really calm brahma cattle. (their mean reputation is mostly ill deserved). Barama/Jersey might work ok, depending on what you have to work with as far as ground cover goes.

 

[Royd Wood]

Consider Galloways - heres a link for the Belted Galloways in your area http://www.beltedgalloway.org/

Families do use the Galloway for milk but it is more known for top quality beef

Good luck with whatever you choose

 

[NorthernAZ]

Thanks for the suggestions!
Would a Brahma or Brahma cross handle winters well? I thought they were a warmer breed. I absolutely love the way they look. And Jerseys just have such sweet faces......what is their temperament like?
I had looked into Galloways a few months back....are they docile animals? Thanks for the link! One of the for sale ads on there is only 2 hrs away. I foresee a day trip to visit some cows.

 

[Royd Wood]

Galloways can be very docile and easy to work with. I have hand milked one here with ease but like any cattle breed you need to work with a calf right from day one. If you make friends with the calf in that first week then you have a friend for life.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

Go for Texas Longhorns. Longhorns have actually been naturally selected to live in country like yours, and they are very tough animals, not to mention quite docile.

 

[NorthernAZ]

Thanks for all the input. I will consider them all and see what breeds are available around here.

Do you think a Dexter would do well in our kind of environment? I like that they are smaller and thus have a lesser environmental impact.

 

[greybeard]

I always forget about Longhorns and to be honest I don't know anything about them except that currently, they are selling dirt cheap compared to other breeds--at least around here. Seems lots of folks got them as a niche breed--a conversation piece or something and are now finding they can't afford to feed them this winter. I can buy 2 Longhorn heifers for the price of a single Red Brangus, Hereford, or Beefmaster. I could get 3-4 for the price of a good Jersey.

Brahma: Contrary to popular belief, it does get quite cold in India and parts of Asia where they originated. It also gets pretty dang cold in the Texas panhandle and lots of snow from Abilene northward and there used to be lots of Brahma cross in that country--I haven't been out there lately. They are just a hardy breed altogether, but again, they aren't always the most docile of breeds. Like all others, temperment varies.

And I reiterate, that I am NOT knowledgable regarding dairy cattle at all.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

Thanks for all the input. I will consider them all and see what breeds are available around here.

Do you think a Dexter would do well in our kind of environment? I like that they are smaller and thus have a lesser environmental impact.

How do you explain that? Like as far as manure output is concerned and feed efficiency or what? Dexters are good if you are looking for a family milk cow, but I don't know how they will fit into your type of environment. From my limited point of view, you may find yourself supplementing more with a Dexter than with a Longhorn. (And there are folks who raise Longhorns up here in Alberta that are out in the snow and cold (shelter is only some trees and a few sheds), so don't go thinking they're not tough enough to withstand winters in Arizona.)

If you want some information on cow size in relation to feed efficiency, I would suggest checking out the link below about it. Just because a particular bovine is small doesn't necessarily mean that it will "have a lesser environmental impact."

http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=14875

 

[NorthernAZ]

Thanks for all the input. I will consider them all and see what breeds are available around here.

Do you think a Dexter would do well in our kind of environment? I like that they are smaller and thus have a lesser environmental impact.

How do you explain that? Like as far as manure output is concerned and feed efficiency or what? Dexters are good if you are looking for a family milk cow, but I don't know how they will fit into your type of environment. From my limited point of view, you may find yourself supplementing more with a Dexter than with a Longhorn. (And there are folks who raise Longhorns up here in Alberta that are out in the snow and cold (shelter is only some trees and a few sheds), so don't go thinking they're not tough enough to withstand winters in Arizona.)

If you want some information on cow size in relation to feed efficiency, I would suggest checking out the link below about it. Just because a particular bovine is small doesn't necessarily mean that it will "have a lesser environmental impact."

http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=14875

Thanks for that link! WildRoseBeef, I really love how willing this board is to sharing information with newbies. I've noticed there are a few posters that always share their experience as well as facts in the myriad of threads I've been reading lately. What a great bunch of people!

What I meant by environmental impact is broken up into a few factors. With less body mass, the cow would compact soil much less than a heavier cow. With a smaller size, a bit less land would be needed (debatable, depending on feed efficiency), and there would be less ecosystem disruption as a whole. Where we live, desertification is a big problem, as many people have overgrazed the area and now we are loosing topsoil. In addition, cow steps kill sprouting native flora (pines, scrub, etc.) and make it more difficult for seedlings to live past germination due to soil compaction (so they sprout but can't develop a well-suited root system). Cows are not native to this area, as you know, and so they cause a horde of issues at the ecological level. They eat things that pronghorn, deer, or elk would eat and change the biodiversity by only allowing those flora species that can withstand their "abuse" flourish and take over the landscape. If, let's say, a smaller cow would be less efficient (meaning take more resources to be in good shape?), then it would defeat the purpose, like you said. It makes me wonder how much supplementation with hay would be worth it if one has a less efficient cow. I guess it comes down to what the owner is willing to put up with. But one of your comments on the thread you directed me to really resonates with me, and that is intimidation. I would surely fall into that category and would feel more comfortable with a smaller animal as opposed to one that towers over me. I've never owned a cow and really value the input shared in this board. Most days I'm in a lab working at the scope or writing papers, so the "been there done that" advice that is given here is priceless to an inexperienced hopeful.