BarredBuff
El Presidente de Pollo
Yeah I know after talking about getting goats for almost two years, and finally suceeding its not happening no more. I know you'd think I'd be sad or mad or whatever but Im really not because we are going to get a milk cow. 
Sure you may say we are crazy but I figured it up and its really not that bad cost wise. Its close to being equal....
I went through my Backyard Homestead Animal Book and got the pounds/amount of feed each individual animal needs.
Goats need about 5 pounds of hay a piece without pasture. A cow needs around 15 pounds of hay. This is per day. So say I have two goats thats 10 pounds of hay then 15 pounds for the cow. I figured up the highest I have seen alfalfa hay for a 100 lb bale which is 15 $. Figured up the amount per week then a year. The cost ended up being 819 $ a year for a cow, then 546 $ for a goat. Mind this is the most cost I have seen it. Then for feed I just put around 15$ for a fifty pound bag for both animals. The end cost for two goats would be 436$ and a cow would be 491 $ a year.
Hay and feed combined would be 982 for goats and 1310 for a cow. Thats a 328$ difference not that much. Considering with the extra milk that is produced, I could use it as a base for chicken feed thus eliminating that 300$ a year for chicken feed. Which brings it to around 1000$ a year in feed bills.
But thats not the only reason we are going the cow route.....
1. As far as dairy products go we use more milk, butter, and buttermilk than anything else. Products that goat milk cant pull off as easily. We dont use cheese that much....so for the animals purpose it makes more sense.
2. Our local veterinanrians know a lot more about cattle than goats. My Dad is not a vet but an experienced cow owners and my family as a whole know more about cattle.
3. The breeding of the cow can be handled easier than that of a goat, I look at a Black Angus bull everyday across the road. Whereas with goats I dont know anyone with a buck or does of any breed.
4. The calf be used/sold easier. We can raise the calf for beef or sale the calf easier. With goats I dont need 3 to 5 baby goats that are much more difficult to get rid of.
5. Cattle can handle the extremes better and are more hardy with parasites and I wouldnt have to worry about CAE.
So I guess its a Cow......
Also, the equipment is easier to come by here.....
Sure you may say we are crazy but I figured it up and its really not that bad cost wise. Its close to being equal....
I went through my Backyard Homestead Animal Book and got the pounds/amount of feed each individual animal needs.
Goats need about 5 pounds of hay a piece without pasture. A cow needs around 15 pounds of hay. This is per day. So say I have two goats thats 10 pounds of hay then 15 pounds for the cow. I figured up the highest I have seen alfalfa hay for a 100 lb bale which is 15 $. Figured up the amount per week then a year. The cost ended up being 819 $ a year for a cow, then 546 $ for a goat. Mind this is the most cost I have seen it. Then for feed I just put around 15$ for a fifty pound bag for both animals. The end cost for two goats would be 436$ and a cow would be 491 $ a year.
Hay and feed combined would be 982 for goats and 1310 for a cow. Thats a 328$ difference not that much. Considering with the extra milk that is produced, I could use it as a base for chicken feed thus eliminating that 300$ a year for chicken feed. Which brings it to around 1000$ a year in feed bills.
But thats not the only reason we are going the cow route.....
1. As far as dairy products go we use more milk, butter, and buttermilk than anything else. Products that goat milk cant pull off as easily. We dont use cheese that much....so for the animals purpose it makes more sense.
2. Our local veterinanrians know a lot more about cattle than goats. My Dad is not a vet but an experienced cow owners and my family as a whole know more about cattle.
3. The breeding of the cow can be handled easier than that of a goat, I look at a Black Angus bull everyday across the road. Whereas with goats I dont know anyone with a buck or does of any breed.
4. The calf be used/sold easier. We can raise the calf for beef or sale the calf easier. With goats I dont need 3 to 5 baby goats that are much more difficult to get rid of.
5. Cattle can handle the extremes better and are more hardy with parasites and I wouldnt have to worry about CAE.
So I guess its a Cow......
Also, the equipment is easier to come by here.....
her!
