Home Dairying: Family Cow

Learn the ins and outs of having your own family milk cow. Home dairying is full of skilled work, but also an amazing economic boon for those who care deeply about where their dairy comes from. We’ll discuss buying considerations (age, breed, scale), milking, infrastructure/facilities/fencing, equipment, hand milking versus bucket milking, calving, processing milk, and all around animal care. We’ll look at out own dairy cows and calf. Later in the session, students will be able to participate in afternoon milking and get hands-on experience, plus milk cooling, and troubleshooting.

 Do students need to being anything special?

Wear sturdy shoes as the cows’ cuddle lean-ins can stil result in stomped toes. Also, milk and manure share the farmyard environment- wear clothing you are willing to soil.

 Any pre-course recommended reading?

There are plenty of good books out there to read… and we’ll have on-hand for you to persue the following suggested titles that fit your style and interest:

 Milk Cow Kitchen, Mary Jane Butters

The Family Cow, Dirk Van Loom

The Backyard Cow, Sue Weaver

Keeping a Family Cow, John Grohman

The Family Cow Handbook,  Phillip Hasheider

Safe Handling, Peggy Beals

The Home Creamery, Kathy Farrell-Kingsley

Home Cheese-making, Ricki Carrol

Visit our website to register.