Re: goat vs cow

[Guest guest]

In all the years we have had cattle, we've never once had to trim hooves. Cows just don't need it generally. A cow that has foundered in the past will need constant hoof trims. Cows kept on lots will need hoof trims. Pastured cows keep their hooves worn down for the most part. DixonOzark JewelsDairy and Meat GoatsBoers, Nubians and Lamanchashttp://www.freewebs.com/ozarkjewels/Morningland Dairy Raw Milk Cheeseswww.morninglanddairy.com

Subject: goat vs cowTo: RawDairy Date: Friday, April 9, 2010, 9:01 PM

Hi,I've been a member for a while, but not exactly active on this site. I have a small herd of dairy goats & enjoy them very much but have been wondering if I'd be happier with a cow for milk. I like goat milk but would like to have milk more year round. Would anyone like to weigh-in on the benefits of one versus the other? Right now the only concern I have with owning a cow is trimming her hooves. Can I do that myself? Thanks all!

[Guest guest]

That has been our experience also. But I have to add that less than optimal diets or nutrient deficiencies in the forage can create an issue with hooves where trimming becomes necessary. In all the years we have had cattle, we've never once had to trim hooves. Cows just don't need it generally. A cow that has foundered in the past will need constant hoof trims. Cows kept on lots will need hoof trims. Pastured cows keep their hooves worn down for the most part. DixonOzark JewelsDairy and Meat GoatsBoers, Nubians and Lamanchashttp://www.freewebs.com/ozarkjewels/Morningland Dairy Raw Milk Cheeseswww.morninglanddairy.com From: jrshops <ponderochacharter (DOT) net>Subject: goat vs cowTo: RawDairy Date: Friday, April 9, 2010, 9:01 PM Hi,I've been a member for a while, but not exactly active on this site. I have a small herd of dairy goats & enjoy them very much but have been wondering if I'd be happier with a cow for milk. I like goat milk but would like to have milk more year round. Would anyone like to weigh-in on the benefits of one versus the other? Right now the only concern I have with owning a cow is trimming her hooves. Can I do that myself? Thanks all! Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.Kurtis Stavenwww.wildthingorganics.ca

[Guest guest]

Goats are, on average, much more efficient than cows; that is, you need to feed less for the amount of milk produced.  Goats are easier for most people to handle, just due to their sheer size difference.  And goat milk has nutritional benefits, of course.  That said, if you really want a cow (I love both!!) you might consider one while retaining your goats and compare for yourself.

If you want to change simply for year round milk, consider breeding your goats to freshen apart--we breed over a 4 month span which gives us pretty much year round milk.  Some breeds are much more seasonal than others (Nigerian Dwarfs are smaller and thus you might need 2 good milkers to equal a good milking full size, but they eat half as much as well and will breed year round!).

Another practice we use is to freeze excess milk when it is plentiful and then we have some for the lesser production months.  We rotate our frozen supplies so nothing gets more than 4 months old, and find that it still is as good as fresh (nutritionally, as well) if quickly frozen and then quickly unfrozen (we use a hot water bath to thaw). 

But again, I love cows and goats---it really does come down to what will work best for your situation (pastures, who is handling, etc) and personal preference!Diane Kvery THANKFUL homeschool Mom to 9 blessings in

Christmas, FLHeart of Christmas Farms, LLChttp://hocfarms.com

 

Hi,

I've been a member for a while, but not exactly active on this site. I have a small herd of dairy goats & enjoy them very much but have been wondering if I'd be happier with a cow for milk. I like goat milk but would like to have milk more year round.

Would anyone like to weigh-in on the benefits of one versus the other? Right now the only concern I have with owning a cow is trimming her hooves. Can I do that myself?

Thanks all!

__.

[Guest guest]

If your only problem with the goats is that you want year round milk then

stagger breeding. One cow will not give you any more year round than your goats.

We have both and I must admit to liking the goats better. If they get unruly I

can grab them by the collar and make them do what I want. Not possible to " yank "

a 1000 pound cow.

When the goats kid I can let the babies be on mom for the day to roam out in the

woods. They will come back and babies will go one way, moms the other and be

reunited in the morning after I get the milk. When the cow calves I have to take

the calf away as soon as possible (within hours). If we let the calf back out

with mom she will take it to the farthest corner of our property and not come

back with it. We've tried many different methods and nothing has worked. Am

still open to suggestions.

If a goat needs vet help I can toss it in the back seat of the car or in our van

and go to the vet. If a cow needs vet help we pay $90 to get the vet to come to

the farm (and then add the treatment fees) and sometimes it is a few days before

they get here.

Goat have tidy little poops. Cows have big old cow pies that can engulf your

sneakers.

When a goat doesn't want to be milked I can keep her still. When a cow doesn't

want to be milked I end up with huge bruises from her kicks. We have two " kick

stop " things, neither is fail safe.

All that said we have the two cows because we both prefer butter from cows

(white butter just doesn't look right) and Larry prefers cheese from the cow's

milk.

Belinda

>

> Hi,

> I've been a member for a while, but not exactly active on this site. I have a

small herd of dairy goats & enjoy them very much but have been wondering if I'd

be happier with a cow for milk. I like goat milk but would like to have milk

more year round.

> Would anyone like to weigh-in on the benefits of one versus the other? Right

now the only concern I have with owning a cow is trimming her hooves. Can I do

that myself?

> Thanks all!

>

[Guest guest]

You dont have to breed goats every year and you can milk year round without the

loss of milk quality that you have with cows. Many people do this - you have to

have a goat that is a persistent milker though. You can tell this by just not

breeding anyone and the ones that are still milking well in December/January

(they will drop off some though) will pick back up in production in the spring.

There are folks that have had the same doe in milk for 3 or more years at a time

with the doe averaging a good 6 pounds a day. You have to feed good forages

(this does not have to be alfalfa by the way) and keep their mineral program

high but it does work well.

I like cows and goats - I have a nubian raw milk dairy in Oregon and my jersey

just freshened - but find goats easier to handle in general for daily milking -

when a goat steps on your foot it just isnt that big of a deal LOL. YMMV

Aliza

Some Kinda Wonderful Farm

Ashland, Oregon

>

> >

> >

> > Hi,

> > I've been a member for a while, but not exactly active on this site. I have

> > a small herd of dairy goats & enjoy them very much but have been wondering

> > if I'd be happier with a cow for milk. I like goat milk but would like to

> > have milk more year round.

> > Would anyone like to weigh-in on the benefits of one versus the other?

> > Right now the only concern I have with owning a cow is trimming her hooves.

> > Can I do that myself?

> > Thanks all!

> >

> > __.

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I think a huge advantage to cows' milk is that you can skim off the cream. In

times of plenty, you can skim the cream make and freeze butter, then feed the

skim to chickens or pigs.

Plus I've found that cows are way easier to keep in a fence than goats.

But a cow does still have to dry off for at least a couple months each year.

Best of luck!