Archive for August, 2007

Taking care of your cows will produce dairy products, meat and calves for years.

Here are tips to care for your cows:

- Provide shelter. Cows need shade in summer and a windbreak in winter. The type of shelter depends on the type of winter your area has and the breed of cow.

- Keep cows wormed. Change brands of wormer every other time to prevent them from becoming immune.

- Provide water at the time – either pond, spring, creek or watering tank.

- Feed cows. Milking cows will need grain and hay for good production. Beef cows can manage on pasture with supplemental feedings of hay and grain in winter.

- Keep salt and minerals out for cattle at all times. Check with your local vet or agricultural agent about types of minerals needed for your area and time of year.

- Maintain a good fence or pen around cows.

- Clean barn stalls and lay fresh straw if you keep your cows in a barn.

- Milk dairy cows twice a day.

- Check cows for lice and parasites and medicate as needed. Check with vet for any questions you have.
* Remember that even if they are gentle, cows are still animals. Teach your children the
correct way to handle cattle and where not to play.

Feeding your cow properly would help them produce more milk, better calves and better meat for your table.

Winter Feeding

1. Provide hay or some form of roughage when there is no longer any pasture.
2. Feed a grain mix or cubes of 15 percent or more protein in harsh winter months.
3. Keep salt and or a mineral mix. Check with your extension office for the mineral needs in your area to go along with hay.
4. Provide water to cattle at all times with a pond or a watering tank. When water freezes, ice must be broken daily for cattle to drink.

Summer Feeding

1. Provide cattle with pasture - about an acre per cow depending on type of grass.
2. Watch for loose stools early in spring due to green grass. Early grasses are mostly water and do not provide many vitamins and minerals. You will need to keep supplementing your pasture with hay and feed.
3. Provide salt or mineral mix.
4. Provide water at all times.

Almost all of us enjoy fresh milk everyday as it helps us stay healthy and strong! In milking your cow, you just need a pail, short stool and your two gentle hands. Once you have started milking your cow, you’ll have to do this at least twice daily until you let her dry up.

1. Milk same time daily.
2. Make your cow feel comfortable by sitting on the same side of the cow each day. cows like routine.
3. If this makes you feel more at ease, place cow in a stanchion. If your cow is an old hand at being milked, this probably won’t be necessary. You must know her routine.
4. Place stool at a right angle to the cow and sit with your head resting on her flank.
5. Wash udder with warm water and clean cloth.
6. Place pail under teats.
7. Take a teat into the palm of your hand.
8. Squeeze teat at top with thumb and forefinger. Continue squeezing each finger around teat, forcing milk in a stream until all fingers are around teat.
9. Release teat.
10. Repeat until only a small amount of milk comes out and the udder is soft to the touch.

* Maintaining a good feeding program by milking your cow regularly will help your cow produce milk for up to 10 months.

* Take good care of your cow very well. Don’t be rough with her. Remember even the nicest cow can kick you. So always be aware of this.