You don’t need acres of land to keep a cow healthy, happy, and productive. You can raise one right in your own backyard, producing more than enough milk for a single family — up to six gallons per day! The Backyard Cow covers everything you need to know, from selecting the right breed to understanding your cow’s behavior. With helpful advice on daily maintenance, milking, and bovine health care, you’ll soon be enjoying the pleasures of fresh milk, yogurt, cheese, and much more.
Homegrown Dairy Products, Fresh from Your Yard
A single cow, carefully chosen for your needs and facilities, can live a healthy, contented life right in your backyard. Calm and friendly by nature, your cow will be a gentle companion and a valued contributor to your family's diet, producing more than enough milk to keep you out of your supermarket's dairy aisle.
The essential beginner's guide to:
*Choosing a breed. Select the backyard cow that makes the most sense for your climate, grazing land, and price range.
*Developing cow sense. See the world as your cow does and you will both be safer.
*Caring for cattle. Breed your dairy cow, feed and groom her well, provide proper shelter, and identify and treat common diseases.
*Milking. Create a daily routine.
*Processing your daily milk. Keep your milk fresh and healthful with proper cooling and storing.
*Making cheese. Use your daily milk to make butter, yogurt, cheese, and other fresh, fermented, and aged dairy products.
*Riding steers. Yes, you can ride your steer or cow!