Episode 5 - The Family Milk Cow

Summary

In this episode, Dawn Gorham discusses the topic of keeping a family milk cow. She shares her personal experience and opinions on the matter, emphasizing that there are many ways to keep a milk cow and what works for her may not work for everyone. Dawn covers various aspects of keeping a milk cow, including calf sharing, breeding, weaning, equipment, feeding, potential illnesses, and disease testing. She also discusses her future plans for expanding her microdairy and the challenges of processing milk. Overall, Dawn provides valuable insights and advice for those interested in keeping a family milk cow.

Takeaways

There are many ways to keep a family milk cow and what works for one person may not work for another.
Calf sharing can help minimize the daily milking commitment and provide flexibility for vacations or breaks.
Artificial insemination can be a cost-effective alternative to keeping a bull but it may not have the same success rate.
Testing for diseases like brucellosis, tuberculosis, and Johnes is a personal choice and depends on individual preferences and circumstances.
Expanding a microdairy may require additional equipment, such as a milk parlor and cream separator, to improve efficiency and processing capabilities.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Snowmageddon 2024
01:40 History of Keeping a Family Milk Cow
03:18 Personal Opinion and Individual Approach
04:17 Controversy of Raw Milk
05:10 Old Timers' Perspective on Milk Cows
06:03 Calf Sharing to Minimize Milking Commitment
07:25 Vacations and Breeding Timing
08:25 Bulls or Artificial Insemination
09:23 Weaning and Grafting Calves
10:47 Equipment and Milking Process
17:31 Feeding and Minerals for Milk Cows
27:06 Potential Illnesses and Testing
29:23 Choosing a Milk Cow and Disease Testing
37:08 Expanding the Microdairy and Future Plans
41:37 Cream Separation and Processing
42:07 Dealing with Spent Cows
44:30 Conclusion and Call to Action