OP
chrisdvorak
Gold Member
yup thats what im looking to get them for (just pets for the kids and to keep the field mowed)
cows
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Are you going to milk them?
OP
chrisdvorak
Gold Member
i was thinking of getting 2 girls (calfs) and raise them so i don't have to worry about milking them every day
JohnDeere4300
Veteran Member
i have a 3 acre field and i am looking to get 2 jerseys in it with a run-in shed do you think they will tear up the ground? the field is all cleared and has fence all around and the back side has a wall with lots of shade-trees behind it ,it does have field grass in it and i am planning on brush-cutting it once a month. do you think my plan will work? and pics of your run-in shed would be great too
3 acres would probably be OK for 2 jerseys on it.... Anything under 2 acres would not.
They will tear up the ground when it gets wet.
Why are you going to run a bush-hog on the 3 acres ?
Jersey cows are good for grazing... I would let them take care of the 3~acres.... Because if you cut it then the ground stands a better chance at getting torn up by them.
In the winter when all the green is gone and the rain & snow starts, then they will tear up the 3~acres real bad.
OP
chrisdvorak
Gold Member
when the snow starts the ground freezes solid so im not worried about that
milkman
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OP
chrisdvorak
Gold Member
I am going to feed square bales of hay so that should let the grass get nice and thick and ensure that there is less torn ground
As having raised a small cattle herd for 30 years, the key to keeping a pasture under them is rotational grazing, using a cheap hot wire fence.
Split the pasture into at least 3 pieces. and rotate them between the two during the grazing season.
the 3rd keep as a feedlot,
It will get muddy and nasty in the wet season.
if you allow them on the other 2 pastures in fall/winter spring, in as little as 2 years you will have NO pasture!!
I have been there done that. and it will take 3 years to re establish a good pasture.
just some advice.
I sold my last cow two years ago and I still miss them!! they are like family.
I had a Herford cow that gave me a calf every year, for 14 years.
She was the last one I sold when I retired.
At Times I swear I still hear them rubbing on the barn or calling me to feed them. you will be there 7 days a week 367 days a year, --- I never found a "cow sitter"
In dry seasons, I didn't have to mow the lawn, as I turned them on it for a day or two just to weed/feed it, and they had some fresh grass to munch on.
I've pulled calves, got dumped on, gave shots, got my feet stepped on, came home from work early on the graveyard shift to help a difficult delivery.
Warmed milk on the stove to feed a calf with a bottle, got run into fences by a protective mother and shoveled sh--
got kicked trying to castrate a bull calf, and spent new years eve with a sick cow,,--
yes I was a citty cowboy, and if I had it to do over, I would in a heartbeat.
Ain't nothing like getting a wobbley legg calf up to his mother for his first "dinner" and watching him grow into a right pretty steer!
Split the pasture into at least 3 pieces. and rotate them between the two during the grazing season.
the 3rd keep as a feedlot,
It will get muddy and nasty in the wet season.
if you allow them on the other 2 pastures in fall/winter spring, in as little as 2 years you will have NO pasture!!
I have been there done that. and it will take 3 years to re establish a good pasture.
just some advice.
I sold my last cow two years ago and I still miss them!! they are like family.
I had a Herford cow that gave me a calf every year, for 14 years.
She was the last one I sold when I retired.
At Times I swear I still hear them rubbing on the barn or calling me to feed them. you will be there 7 days a week 367 days a year, --- I never found a "cow sitter"
In dry seasons, I didn't have to mow the lawn, as I turned them on it for a day or two just to weed/feed it, and they had some fresh grass to munch on.
I've pulled calves, got dumped on, gave shots, got my feet stepped on, came home from work early on the graveyard shift to help a difficult delivery.
Warmed milk on the stove to feed a calf with a bottle, got run into fences by a protective mother and shoveled sh--
got kicked trying to castrate a bull calf, and spent new years eve with a sick cow,,--
yes I was a citty cowboy, and if I had it to do over, I would in a heartbeat.
Ain't nothing like getting a wobbley legg calf up to his mother for his first "dinner" and watching him grow into a right pretty steer!
Western
Super Member
Just to add to what the others have said. Don't forget to use a "drag", keep the manure knocked down, cattle usually won't eat grass where a pile of huhy is so what you get is allot of really green spots. Let it dry some and like every other week drag it and spread it. Great fertilizer. If you go the divided route by splitting your pasture up (good idea) this would give you working time on 3 acres.
I would only bush hog what they wont eat (patch of weeds ect tra) keep the weeds out to promote the grass.
Belief about the cows not eating by crap piles is an instinct to not catch "bugs" worms ect tra
I would only bush hog what they wont eat (patch of weeds ect tra) keep the weeds out to promote the grass.
Belief about the cows not eating by crap piles is an instinct to not catch "bugs" worms ect tra