We are discussing a very serious topic today on the homestead. And one I don't take lightly.
Eh, okay fine, so it's not that serious. But none-the-less, it's a very large and important decision. Financially, emotionally, and eh, workally.
Yes, I do realize that workally is not a word. What I mean to say is “a decision that will affect the work load of the one who makes it”.
Ahem.
Today, friends, we're taking on the topic of dairy goats and dairy cows.
Or should I say, rather, dairy goats vs. dairy cows.
We are near the deciding period and it's time to figure out once and for all the pro's and con's of owning both. And let me begin by saying that we've all but decided already. Because I'm totally biased and opinionated and stubborn.
Photo Credit
It's going to be a cow.
But let's look at this a moment, shall we?
Initially, we were planning on purchasing two bred Nigerian dwarf does. This would be enough to provide us with about a gallon of milk (or slightly less) per day. Not bad, considering how little goats eat. Goats milk is delicious and I've heard that Nigerian dwarf goats produce a milk that is very similar to cow's milk. Another bonus of goat's milk is that a lot of people who can't tolerate cow's milk do very well with goats – it is very similar to the milk a woman produces.
So we've got some pros for goats:
– Less feed
– Less initial investment
– Less space required
– Less milk (this can be a good thing if storage or consumption is a problem!)
– Easy to transport to buck, if needed
The cons of goats are nothing too drastic. The biggest deterrent for me was knowing that we would have to be very vigilant about the fencing requirements, as they are known for their ability to escape. The other large factor I considered was that we'd still have to supplement our dairy requirements with butter and cream. Because goat's milk is naturally homogenized, it poses a difficult task to separate the cream from the milk. We eat a lot of butter and a lot of cream and I would like to produce these from our dairy animal, if possible. Lastly, goat's milk is quick to sour, and should be consumed within a day or two of milking or it begins to taste a little “off”. Again, not a huge deal, but something to consider, no doubt. Nigerian dwarf goats also are much, much easier to milk on a milking stachion, which would require building one or buying one.
So here are our cons for goats:
– Need to bulk up fencing
– No/minimal butter and cream from milk
– Quickly sours
– Need milking stachion
Which leads me to my most favorite animal of all time. The dairy cow – a great option for a homesteader who is looking to produce their own dairy products right in their own backyard. Because I'm so familiar with cattle, I find them comforting to be around. I am familiar with their tendencies, habits, and needs, which just puts me at ease in their presence. Even though they are large animals, I still find them easy to manage and be around – especially a dairy cow who has been trained, most likely, to be a pet. Another great aspect of dairy cow is the large amount of creamy milk they can produce, even on an all-grass diet. One dairy cow can supply a family with anywhere from 2-6 gallons of milk, per day. That is incredible! Some commercial dairy cows are pushed to produce 8-10 gallons of milk per day, but that's unnatural and wrong. So we ain't goin' there.
And while 2-6 gallons of milk per day may seem like an over abundance of milk (and I'm sure it does feel like that at moments), this also provides us with the ability to skim off the cream (which can also be frozen, if need be) and produce butter (which can also be frozen) for the cow's two dry months per year. It also would ensure we had plenty of milk for home culturing yogurt, kefir, various cheeses (such as ricotta), buttermilk, sour cream, and good ‘ol raw milk for drinking. Let's look at some pros for the dairy cow, shall we?
Pros for cow:
– More milk, the excess of which can be shared with family or friends, or fed to farm animals (nothing is ever wasted!)
– Can make cream & butter from milk
– No milk stachion required (a good dairy cow will allow you to tie her up and will happily nibble of a bit of grain or grass while being milked)
– Easier fencing requirements
Having a family cow, no doubt, also comes with some drawbacks. For the fiscally-challenged folks out there such as ourselves, the primary deterrent is the cost associated with feeding a cow. Well, feeding and purchasing, that is. While a typical, high-quality, registered bred Nigerian dwarf doe will sell for anyway from $150-$300, a family dairy cow can easily run upwards of $1000.
$1000. That's a lot of milk.
But while the initial cost of purchasing the cow may make Dave Ramsey choke, it's important to remember that a family dairy cow is an investment. She will provide you with delicious milk for years to come. And with raw milk running anyway from $7-$20 a gallon commercially, it won't take long to make up that investment. You can also read more about why we drink raw milk HERE.
That being said, let's look at some cons of the dairy cow:
– Higher purchase price
– Higher initial investment
– Surplus of milk (could potentially be a problem)
– Harder to transport to bull for breeding, if needed
It's an apples and oranges argument, really, but it's still one I've been thinking a lot about. As with all our homesteading decisions, as much as I'd like to make it off of emotion and personal preferences (which, mind you, there is some place for) at this stage in our financial life, our homesteading decisions are greatly affected by the financial aspect. I've been praying a lot about this decisions. And while that may seem silly, it's a big decision! A big investment! And a big commitment of time!
Based on my own personal preference, I've decided to go for the cow. A cow that is bred to calve this summer would be perfect.
I see beautiful, wax-paper wrapped packages of butter in my freezer.
I see warm, delicious jars of cream.
…
I also see cold mornings not wanting to get out of bed to milk.
And busy afternoons with hardly any more room for farm chores.
But more than that, I also see the importance of purposefully slowing down. And being present in the work at hand. And prioritizing my to-do list. And appreciating the work of our animals and the origin of our food. And not being fearful of hard work.
Now…to find a dairy cow…
Lynne Bowman
I have both. I milk Nubian and Saanen goats and I have a Jersey cow. I have both to solve the cream problem. Plus, I just like cow milk better for yogurt, cream cheese and some other cheese products. We drink goat milk. I have not had the problem of goat milk souring in a few days. In fact, I have kept it up to two weeks with no souring. I think it is all in how you handle the milk. Goats milk must be chilled quickly after milking and carefully strained to make sure no goat hair is in the milk or it tastes off. Plus a cream separator would take care of the butter issue with goats milk.
I do have a farm, so it is easier to keep both. In my opinion, Nigerian dwarfs are a lot of work for less milk. Standard goat breeds give more milk and have the same amount of care. I have had many breeds before settling on Nubian and Saanen.
All that being said, I think that either would work for you. One note, I do not like animals coming fresh in the warm months. The flies and worms are a much bigger problem and make life much harder for babies initially. We usually shoot for Feb-March calving and Jan-March kidding. I am in a much colder state than you and I am not sure when the best times for your area would be. Best of luck! Having dairy animals is great! I love all of the products that can be made from milk!
Best of luck!
Cynthia (C.L.) Lewis
Great info, Lynne! Thanks for sharing. We will probably end up with both goats and cows as well.
Lynne Bowman
Thanks!
Cynthia (C.L) Lewis
You make a great case for cows. I was not aware that cream and butter would be a problem from goats. Sigh. We eat a lot of cream and butter. My biggest motivator for goats is their size but you brought up $$ as well. We just don’t have the funds for a cow purchase at this point in time. But I do want cream and butter. Guess we will end up with both. We drink a lot of milk and know others who would appreciate the gift of raw milk too. (It is illegal to sell it in Michigan.) Thanks for sharing your pro and cons with us. One can never have too much information.
April
We are also trying to decide what the best solution is for our family. We have 3 bred Nubian does but I’m fairly certain we will end up with a Jersey cow as well. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Abby Jo
Hey, are you moving soon? You have kinda hinted to that, are you going to buy a place down south? I have goats and I love them, but I like easy cream better. A cow by this summer or fall is on our list!
nicolek
I have dairy goats. 6 does and 1 buck. It is a lot of work to milk look after 6 goats when 1 cow would more than suffice. That said although I too am in the market for a jersey cow, I want the cream….and volume to make cheese, I would not want to get rid of my goats. I love their personality. They are great with kids and the meat is good. Also I feed no grain, and when we have a cow we will not feed her grain either. Nigerian dwarfs are very compact and do produce a good amount of milk (although I think a gallon a day from 2 does seems a little high) Their milk fat is the highest from all dairy goats, around 6.1 percent. You do need a cream separator if you want to have the cream. If you only have a couple of ND goats it is an awful lot of cleaning. At least with a cow you can just scoop it off 🙂 If you have a cow and are having trouble with excess milk…….It is great protein for chickens and pigs. You could raise a bull calf till it can go on pasture. Often these bull calves can be found for a good price. Or just make cheese.
I love my goats and probably will keep them……but I also want a cow
Audria Clarke
I’m sold! 😉 I dream of beef cows and dairy cows… maybe one day.
Leezah62 .
I have dairy goats. 2 of them I have milked 1 is full blooded Saanan, 1 is alpine/nubian. I also have a nigerian dwarf/alpine/nubian mix and another alpine/nubian that haven’t freshened yet but I will breed in the fall. I kept babies from the 2 I mentioned separating them from their momma’s at night and was able to still get 3 quarts a day from them combined. This was plenty of milk for 2 people. I have a 5 ft 4 x 4 wire fence and this is more than adequate for my goats, I had 1 try to jump it because she wanted to go for a walk with me and the dogs and she got stuck in fence and that put an end to that. Fencing has not been a problem for me. I also like the ease of clean up with goats – I literally sweep out their stalls every morning and the goat berries are very easy to deal with compared to cow flaps. I also disbud my goats so horns are not a problem. Made our own stanchion out of pallet and old wood in a few hours which not only is great for milking but for administering medication and trimming hooves. I can hand milk my goats but I also have a non electric pump I use most of the time. I learned that it is true that you need to get milk cold ASAP so what I do is put a small ice pack (like you would use in a lunchbox) in the quart glass attached to pump and that way milk is on “ice” right away. Then I strain it thru a mesh coffee filter again before we drink it. I have also kept it for longer than a few days and as long as it was cooled quickly it is fine. I store it in glass containers as well. It also must be shaken before using as it does separate slightly. I have made cheese and sherbert ice cream with my goats milk as well. I had to transport my goat to a stud to breed and all but the Saanan will fit in a large dog crate in the back of my honda element. The saanan goes in a goat tote in the back of my pick up. I don’t need a trailer to transport them. Cost of breeding $20 and I don’t have to leave them, I do what is known as a driveway breeding. Hay bales $3-$3.50. I do feed grain and buy it by the pound for around $.19 and I worm when needed. All that being said it still costs me more to keep them then what I save in purchasing milk but I love my goats so I consider them pets and a hobby and the milk is a great bonus! I paid very little for each goat as they are not registered less than $100. Get a bottle baby dairy goat for around $30-50. Keep a stud buck and you save the fee – If I had to – I’d rather keep a stud goat than a stud bull. I’ve thought about a cow but I didn’t have any experience with farm animals and a cow is a BIG animal, a big investment, and big vet bills should a vet need to make a house call. I guess I’m not ready for that next BIG step!
Lara
this was a great bit of insight for me, thank you for posting! one question, out of your mixes which do you think had the highest butterfat content? I’m looking to get a dairy goat or two next spring but im pretty trepidatious about choosing a breed.. I’ve been vaguely between Nubian and saanen but in all likelihood I will wind up with a mix..
Melissa
Oh, I just love this. We have had Nubians in the past and decided to opt for the cow instead. We are saving our pennies, because like you said, the initial investment is quite a bit more than a goat. You have the pros and cons and your ‘stubborness’ to steer you. 😉
I’d definitely rather milk a cow. When you get your cow, then come by and get a heritage pig from us for any excess by-products. Then, you can raise your bacon too!
Jessica
I live on farm with goats and cows and I say go for the cow! I milk my Jersey every morning plus she is raising 2 calves for me! Jerseys are very good about adopting bottle calves. So I have my fresh milk and we have are own calves butchered so from our cow we get rich creamy raw milk and beef. I have also milked goats and it def doesn’t take as long to do and the milk taste good but my cows have always been more cooperative. I have over 50 boer goats and them getting out or getting there heads stuck in woven wire fences sucks. I would advise keeping the calf on the cow so you are only tied down to milking once per day (I have 4 busy kids so this is nice) and in a year you will have a calf to butcher.
Shaye Elliott
Jessica, if I milk once per day, and allow that calf to nurse the second part of the day, how long can I let the calf nurse for? We used to wean beef calves off at about six months…
Jessica
We let them go for 10 months or so.. Just a month or two dry before they freshen again. We keep our beef calves on the cow that long also. Were the calves weaned at six months getting quite a bit of feed? I would think they would have to be to keep growing good without there mom’s milk.
Shauna
Ooooh as for the surplus, I wish I could find a situation like you have near me and we could set up a sharing type of situation. I know raw milk laws can be funny, so not necessarily pay for the milk but perhaps barter or do some work. Sigh….
RaisingCropsandBabies
So now you need to decide what breed of milk cow you want! We have Jerseys and 1 Holstein. I love my Jersey Girls the most. We breed them with our Angus Bull, but I wish we had a Jersey Bull… unfortunately Jersey Bulls have quite the reputation (crazy as sin) so Farmer Hubs has put an end to that wish and so if I want Jersey calves we have to go the AI route and I’m just not a huge fan of it, but I may change my mind sometime.
Good luck! Craigslist and Farm and Dairy Magazines Ads are the place to look for your milk cow if you are not an auction kind of gal.
Shaye Elliott
I am looking at a Jersey Angus cross right now – from what I’ve read, it’s much easier to keep them and keep condition on them through the winter, etc. What has your experience been with their milk production? Good?
Susan
I just sent you a note via the “contact” page because I wasn’t smart enough to figure out how to access the comments! (Goodness.) But I just wanted to say that I totally support your decision to get a family cow! So exciting! We recently purchased a bred American Milking Devon and have a bred Guernsey coming in a few weeks. We have not yet had the chance to drink AMD milk but have been enjoying raw Guernsey milk from a small dairy near our house (where we actually purchased our Guernsey) and it is delicious!! So rich and creamy. And Guernseys (at least the ones we know) are incredibly sweet and docile. It might also be worth checking into whether you can find a cow that produces A2 milk…we made sure we only purchased cows that tested A2A2. The A1 vs. A2 debate can be quite heated but after a lot of reading, we decided we believed in the benefits of A2 milk and wanted that for our family. So just something to consider! Best of luck with your search and yay for family cows!
s kelly
I love, love, love our Nubian dairy goats and their adorable kids … which are easy to sell or butcher … they are easy to handle, easy to vet, ridiculously easy to clean up after, and since ours are hand-raised, they think they are dogs. They all walk on a leash and enjoy hanging out on the porch with the family when permitted. They also pull carts for the kids! I mean, for working in the garden. They live in a very small barn (our buck has an open shed in his yard) and thrive on weeds. Our buck is incredibly sweet – he’s everyone’s favorite pet. Have I raved enough? That said, nothing beats a Jersey for crazy delicious, cream-loaded fresh milk. Nothing.
s kelly
I forgot to mention we transport the goats, when need be, in the mini van. Just take out the middle seat and put down a tarp. Easy, peasy. They’ve never peed in the car (so far!)
Brandi Brown
Have you thought about getting a mini cow? They are small, very cute, eat less and produce a little more that the dwarf goats. Here’s some info: http://adf.ly/Oo1jP
Brandi Brown
Here’s another article on mini cows: http://adf.ly/Oo37y