Ellie woke up this morning ready to go. She's accompanying Daddy and Grandpa on a trip to Republic in the truck to pick up a beautiful red Dexter bull. It's the first major purchase for the farm that we found and bought, and we're all excited!This is a yearling bull, … [Read more...]
Switching a Dexter to Once a Day Milking
I first heard about once a day milking when we were searching for milk cows. I did a lot of research on the subject, and learned a lot. But I was scared. So we got Epi, and after she calved, I began milking twice a day. And then Owen had some major medical … [Read more...]
Tethering the Milk Cows
I first heard about tethering cows while reading a book by Joel Salatin on sustainable farming. Honestly, it kind of shocked me. I couldn't imagine tying a cow out. They were just so big. But, I kept thinking about it. I looked at all the grass that was … [Read more...]
My Milk Parlor: Adaptations for a Smaller Cow
Not too many homesteaders who dream of having a family cow will be blessed with a beautiful milk parlor. Back in the late 70s and early 80s, my parents ran a commercial dairy. Then they found out that my dad was allergic to cow dander and hay, and shut it down. … [Read more...]