MiniMoos?

[samie]

Anyone have a mini cow out there?

I am seriously thinking of getting one-supposedly they give 5 gal of milk a day

We have 2 rough acres

there is a video on them here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De3XjqPVa0g)

and a website
http://www.minicattle.com
thanks!

[lsg]

Don't weigh your milk before you get the cow. ;D A regular Jersey often doesn't give more than four or five gallons per day.

[samie]

Don't weigh your milk before you get the cow. ;D *A regular Jersey often doesn't give more than four or five gallons per day.

thanks! but that is fine with me there are only 2 of us

[Wyobuckaroo]

Read a short article somewhere that so many dairy cows are going to slaughter, because it is cheaper to sell them than produce milk.

They are very cheap individual milk cow, or hamburger.........

Have not tasted raw milk in so long. Or home made cottage cheese from raw milk. Do remember that it is soooooo good.

Just don't share with the neighbors so you don't get in trouble.

Wyo

[elemay17]

I have seen a few articles about these, we were thinking about getting one . We don't know much about cows though-I guess if they are like goats we would be alright!, curious to see what you find out about them. I noticed there were no prices on the website, curious how much one would cost.

[Deberosa]

We have a Dexter (at least until this weekend). The difference between the Dexter and the "mini cows" is that those cows have been bred into a miniature form while the Dexter is naturally small.

I've heard they come with the problems that can come with intentional intense breeding for one characteristic. And they are expensive!

Once we get moved I think I would want another Dexter although Kurt is looking at Galloways which are somewhat larger and not as good milkers I don't believe, haven't researched it. Dexters are great browsers and I'll really miss my Daisy for sure.

[samie]

thanks all-it sounds like a dexter is the way to go for me because they are naturally small not forced bred small

i saw some prices and yes as deb said they are expensive the cheapest i saw was about $850 and most expensive $2500

i love raw milk too-and no we wont share
the health food store here sells raw milk but it is $$$

[MooseToo]

right now i believe the "mini-cows" are still in the fad status and thus prices are artificially high -

deb - i read something interesting awhile back and that is that the new mini-jerseys and other dairy breeds are actually the original size for these animals that were first exported out of their homelands - and that the large animals we have now are actually "up-size" selection over the past couple of hundered years -

so the situation is exactly the opposite regarding "mini-cows" and "mini-dogs" - the mini-cows are simply being allowed to revert to their original dimensions -

[lsg]

We have a Dexter milk cow. *Her last lactation she gave over two gallons a day, when she first calved. *She later slacked off quite a bit after the grass was gone. *Not all Dexters milk that well. *In fact she did not milk well with her first calf, but she was pretty sick right before she had that calf. *I would say for two people a Dexter from a milking line would be a good choice. *That's just my opinion though.

[Anon001]

Anyone have a mini cow out there?

I am seriously thinking of getting one-supposedly they give 5 gal of milk a day

We have 2 rough acres


I think if you could get a mini-cow to produce 5 gallons a day, you would have a heck of a good cow. But, you must keep in mind that if it is not bred as a dairy cow, it will not produce any more milk that a mini beef cow....

I have always had Jerseys for milk cows, and at their peak I usually get between 5 and 6 gallons a day and that is with a high quality feed, additional protein supplement and other things... I keep "lick tanks" out for the beef cattle which is a free-choice protein supplement that the Jerseys also have access to.. or did. I am looking for another one... but your key to milk production (besides breed) is the protein. Milk production is heavily tied to protein utilization. Not only does it have to be the right quantity but a good quality as well. Other than that, I raise a lot of my own hay now. So, that cuts feed costs a lot.

Good luck. I hope you enjoy you mini. I bet once you get to drinking it, churning fresh butter, making fresh cottage cheeses, etc.. you will want a second or third mini..... lol