I have an acre of land and currently have about 20 chickens, 3 pea-fowl, and of course a little dog who thinks hes a roo. I am currently thinking I would like a dairy animal. Was thinking of a couple of dwarf goats but think I would prefer a small cow. Do they have to be kept in pairs. Any animal we have end up as pets. Would a half acre support a dexter or should I try to get a miniature breed? Can they be kept around chickens? Is there a commercial feed that works for them in winter? How much hay do they go thru? I am thinking of one female and to do the AI thing to breed her...and sell any calves. I couldn't butcher my own I am too wimpy. However I would have no problem sending one to be butchered . So what breed would be good as a docile pet and moderate milk. I know byc has been a great resource over the last few years so I knnow this site is gonna be great. Also only the back 1/2 acre is fenced right now. Do cattle take well to being tethered in different spots of the yard.
researching....
- Thread starter naughty
- Start date
Southern by choice
Herd Master
1/2 -1 acre will not be enough. You may want to check your local laws...animal units per acre etc. Some places will use weight like 1000 lbs to acre. Watch for zoning also.
As you research take into consideration how much milk you will use/need vs what will be produced. More often a cow, even a mini, will produce way more than what can be used. The sale of raw milk is prohibited in many states so look at those laws pertaining to your state and the regulations. A dairy goat may end up being a better choice for your small area.
As you research take into consideration how much milk you will use/need vs what will be produced. More often a cow, even a mini, will produce way more than what can be used. The sale of raw milk is prohibited in many states so look at those laws pertaining to your state and the regulations. A dairy goat may end up being a better choice for your small area.
OneFineAcre
Herd Master
x2Southern by choice said:
I think you should go with your original thought and get a couple of Nigerian Dwarfs.
You have a small plot. You will end up mostly feeding hay. Their small size and superior feed conversion ratio makes them ideal for small plots.
WildRoseBeef
Range nerd & bovine enthusiast
Stick with the goats. You'll need at least twice what you own now in order to own a cow--regardless if it's a pet or not--unless you want to turn your barnyard into a barren, grassless patch of land that will force you to end up buying feed for ALL your animals. You will be feeding hay 24/7/365, since there will be very little to no room for pasture, and even for a miniature cow, she can still eat a lot, a lot more than a couple of goats put together will! Figure about 2.5% of her body weight per day (in dry matter ration) that she'll eat of hay. So let's say a miniature cow weighs around 500 lbs. 2.5% x 500 = 12.5 lbs per day DM. If the hay's about 20% moisture she may eat up to 14 or 15 lbs of hay per day. Lactating, she'll be eating around 20 lbs per day. So 20 lbs per day x 365 days in a year = 7300 lbs of hay per year. And that's just a ballpark estimate, the numbers can go either way depending on her needs, the weather (temperature, storms), the quality of the hay, etc.naughty said:
I personally strongly disagree with tethering a cow just as a means of confinement. If they're tethered for halter training for a 4H show that's different, but it's just that they have a much higher chance of getting tangled and caught up in the rope they're being held by than getting tangled up in a barbed wire fence. They can also pose a hazard for you, like you have a risk of tripping over the rope, the rope could snap and the cow escapes if she's really, really needing to, and it's only for those cattle that are REALLY docile and have no problem with being handled and touched on a regular (daily) basis by people. And no, there are many cattle that don't take being tethered very well, especially those that won't let you near them or have never been trained to accept a collar or halter. It's just better (and safer!!) to keep them in a fenced area, be it a permanent fence or a temporary electric fenced area. There's no problem with stringing up a strand of hot-wire in a particular area to let a couple cattle graze down.
But really, in your situation, unless you can find some land that is at least 5 to 10 acres in size, you're better off with getting goats.
