When our first daughter was about three months old, my husband and I moved to his grandparents farm. Fast forward four months of living on the farm, we got our first milk cow. I had zero experience, no clue what I was doing, only the feeling I couldn’t shake that one: I wanted my family to have the health benefits of raw milk and two: I really really wanted a cow. Fast forward 4 years, to present day, and that decision of getting a family milk cow was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.
Today, we have a herd share program where people in our community can become a member of this herd share program and get access to our raw milk. Our one milk cow, turned into getting another and then another. Cow math – if you will, and we now have a small herd of Jersey dairy cows. My inexperience of farm life has morphed into knowing my cows like the back of my hand. Trying to get a milking machine on a cow when I first started was stressful and frustrating, today I can put a milker on in less than 30 seconds ( assuming cow behavior is good of course).
I do not say these things to boast, I say them to show how the Lord has carried me and my husband through that first decision of getting a milk cow. Milking our cows has become mainly my responsibility, and is one of my favorite parts of the day. The Lord has grown me In ways I didn’t know were possible. With that said, my hope with this post is to shed some light on what it’s really, truly like to have a milk cow. The highs, and the lows, of what it could be like if you too can’t shake the feeling that your family needs a dairy cow.
Involving Children With the Family Milk Cow
My husband and I have three beautiful children, and they are 100% a part of our daily milking routine. Most mornings it’s me and my three babies milking the cows. Bringing them along has taken some trail and error of what works for me, and what keeps them safe.
From the time they were born, after I’ve had time to rest, I put them into a baby wrap on my chest to milk the cows. They’re one: secure, safe and close to me (if you’ve had babies you know how much babies want to be close to their mama). And two: allows me to use both hands freely. Usually my babies have fallen asleep for the majority of the time it takes to milk.
Once they get about 5-6 months old I use a barn stroller to put them in. I try to keep them in my baby wrap for as long as possible but once they get bigger it just isn’t a good option anymore. They’re more active, want to see what’s going on, and truthfully are heavier and harder on my back. It just becomes a matter of their safety when working so close to cows.
I call the stroller my “barn stroller” because that’s just what it is, it gets dirty from mud, cow manure, and who knows what else living on the farm, haha. So if you have the inkling to get a milk cow and have babies, definitely get a barn stroller! You can get one from the thrift store super cheap. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just something to securely hold your baby.
Encouragement for Including Your Children
Having children and wanting a family milk cow should not hinder you or make you doubt if getting a cow is a good idea. If the Lord places it on your heart, it’s for a reason, if I, who had zero farm experience, can get to where I am today with three kids four and under, so can you.
My babies do not stop me from pursuing what the Lord has given me to do. They are a part of everything I do, and I just find ways to include them in my milking routines. And you know what? When my babies aren’t little anymore, can you imagine how much fun it’s going to be? I imagine the conversations we’ll have in the milk barn together. I hope it’s something they will fondly remember from their childhood, forever.
Working side by side with my kids, not because it’s something I “have” to do, but because the Lord placed it on my heart for a reason, so I will most definitely follow through. Even if I can’t yet see the path, or the next step, I will just keep moving forward.
Daily Milking Routine
Having a family milk cow, you will absolutely need to establish a daily routine that your cow or cows can adapt to. Dairy cows are routine driven animals and love sticking to the same routine, day in and day out. When I go out to milk everyday, they are already at the gate, waiting on me to let them in for milking time.
I milk twice a day, usually at 8am and 6pm. Every.single.day. There is no days off, Christmas – milking cows, my birthday – milking cows, my kids birthday – milking cows, sick – milking cows, snow and ice – milking cows. Getting a milk cow is a daily commitment, whether you feel like it or not.
Time Commitment
We do not take many vacations, which is fine if I’m being honest anyway, I like home, I’m a homebody, and given the choice to go out or stay home? I’ll 100% choose home.
Quite honestly when we do take a vacation once a year, I’m anxious about my cows the whole time. Not because the people taking are of them is incapable, it’s just that they’re my cows, I know them best, and they prefer me, (at least I hope!) maybe they’re secretly annoyed of me, but still I love them!
Dairy cows requires a time commitment you’ll need to be ready to have, but really if you’re reading this post I’m going to assume you’re like me. Homebody, prefers cows over social events, love your babies and husband, etc. Having a family milk cow is a great way to leave social events early too! Haha.
Cost
Okay so I’m going to be super honest here and say that I am not good with figuring out the exact cost of everything for a family milk cow, so if that’s what you’re looking for I am not the girl with those answers. But! I will share a few things I’ve learned, and some things you’ll need to consider when owning a family milk cow.
~ The cow herself will cost a good amount of money. Now, I’m not sure if you’re wanting a seasoned cow, whose had a few babies and knows a milking routine like the back of her hoof, or a newly calved (freshened) heifer. If I could make a suggestion here – don’t get a heifer for a family milk cow. Just please heed my advice, your experience with a milk cow when first starting out, will go a whole lot smoother if your cow is experienced and knows what she’s doing. So in my opinion, if getting a seasoned cow is more money than a heifer, just do it. It’s an investment for your family and I can almost guarantee your first milk cow experience will be a more pleasant one.
~ Food – this is 100% one of the things that will most likely cost the most over time. You’ll need hay to feed in winter, so is that something you can source locally? Does your husband make hay? Figure out where you’ll get quality hay for your cow, and have a plan for feeding her in the winter.
~ Grain – most naturally minded “homesteaders” online like to promote “grass fed only! No grain” , I am naturally minded but I’m going tell you, we feed grain to our girls. Zero regrets. Grain helps keep them Keep in good body condition, and they eat it during milking time, so it 100% helps with better behavior while I milk. To each their own here on whether you’ll feed grain or not. I am definitely for feeding grain, but do what’s best for your cow!
~ Vet care- factor in that your cow will need veterinary care at some point in her life, have one you can trust to call when you need them.
Some (not all) essentials you’ll need daily: soap for washing their teats before milking, a bucket or bowl for warm water, cow rags for washing their teats, iodine dip to sanitize their teats, a cow brush, a milker obviously. But maybe you want to hand milk, go you! That will never in a million years be for me, but props to anyone who hand milks, truly.
These are some of the most important cost factors to consider when getting a family milk cow. Is it going to be expensive? Probably. But look at it as an investment in your family, because they will be getting all the benefits of raw milk and all the things you can make with milk? Endless!
Expect Challenges Along the Way
I cannot finish this post without mentioning that you will definitely face challenges when owning a family milk cow. Here’s the honest truth, it’s hard sometimes. Really, really hard. Rewarding yes, and I’d never in a million years regret that we decided to get dairy cows. But it can be very hard. For example: last year I lost my top two favorite cows. It broke my heart. I had to continue on, because my other cows depend on me, but it took a while for me to start loving milking again. I continued through, because I know wholeheartedly that the Lord placed milking cows on my heart for a reason.
You’ll have challenges, expect them. Expect that you cannot plan for hard things to happen, but know that you’ll get through them and the life you’re pursuing with a milk cow, is worth it.
