A house cow on a smallholding: breed and planning

In short

• A cow is for holdings of half a hectare and up (levels 3 and 4). Allow roughly 1–1.2 ha (2.5–3 acres) of grazing and hay meadow and roughly 2.3 t of hay per cow for the winter (plus 10–15 % reserve).
• One Dairy Shorthorn or Fleckvieh gives roughly 3,500–5,000 L of milk a year; a family of four needs about 600 L. Decide in advance what happens to the surplus.
• A cow hates being alone. Best is a cow and her calf or a heifer, or a cow with goats nearby.
• Buy only an animal with two ear tags, a passport or official ID and up-to-date TB and brucellosis status, from a herd under veterinary supervision.
• A big animal is dangerous even when she is calm. Kicks and being crushed against a wall are the commonest injuries. A bull is not for a beginner.
• The 4freelife personal plan doesn't include cow norms yet; the figures in this module are rough and should be checked with a cattle adviser.

What's inside

Chapters

1. Do you need a cow
2. One cow or two
3. Breeds for a smallholding
4. How much milk and what to do with the surplus
5. Land, hay and housing
6. Safety with a big animal
7. Buying: who from and what kind of cow
8. Paperwork and duties
9. Cost and value
10. The first-year plan
11. Common mistakes
12. Printable checklist

Worksheets

• Needs calculator
• Start-up costs
• Comparing cows and sellers
• Herd register and duties
• A first year with a cow: calendar