| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| bananachicken |
Posted - May 05 2012 : 06:23:23 AM
I apologize if this is supposed to be under the All Things Dairy subject, I wasn't sure.
I am wondering how much space is recommended for a Jersey? We have about 2.6 acres and I am not sure if dedicating around about an acre would be enough? My grandma told me I need at least 5 acres for a cow. :( Some of the answers I had from Google said an acre would be enough and it really depends on milk production...more pasture = more milk. Does anyone have a cow on less than 5 acres? Does anyone have a family milk cow on just an acre? And what is your experience with it? Do you wish you had more land for it? I don't want to get a cow and not be able to give her what she needs. We also have 3 pygmy goats that she would have to share land with. I would love to have a mini Jersey, but they are a little out of the budget right now! Thanks!! :)
"I should be having tea right now."
-Lady Annalía Elisabet Catherina Tristán Llorente |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - May 18 2012 : 10:14:10 AM
me too...
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| crittergranny |
Posted - May 09 2012 : 11:39:45 AM
I think the milk is sweeter when they are fed good stuff.
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
www.nmbarrelhorses.com |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - May 09 2012 : 09:49:43 AM
I have a jersey cow on less than an acre...but I feed hay year round. She is worth it to me..but may not be to everyone.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| crittergranny |
Posted - May 05 2012 : 1:29:07 PM
Your local county extension agency might be able to help you know what the ratio is in your area. Here its like 70 acres per 1 horse or cow. lol. However we have snow for 5 mos out of the year so we have to feed during that time anyway. We run about 20 horses on 640 acres and we have to supplement a couple of them with grain, but we are on the road with them alot too, and our broodmares get extra special care. We have gobs of elk and deer grazing too. Our horses are always fat and happy and the grass does get eaten down and dried out by October or so but it comes back in the spring. I think what you will have to watch out for mostly is, what one of the ladies said, that when it rains you will need to take her off so she won't stir up the ground too much and kill the grass permanently. When I lived in TX I had a horse on 1 acre and I rotated him between 2 pastures and he always had plenty. The difference in locations varies a lot. Of course prayer is the best for the providing of grass and rain :). In short, God is good and he takes care of us one way or another.
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
www.nmbarrelhorses.com |
| Megan |
Posted - May 05 2012 : 12:07:50 PM
depends on the way the pasture grows... around here they say 2 cows per acre. I think that my land i need 1 acre per cow. look at how much rain irrigation and how well the grass grows to see how much land you need. also look at a rotational grazing system. can you divide the land into 4 pens and put the cow in a differnt pen when the grass is short to let the other grow. i know of people with 2 horses on 1 acre in theory this doesnt work a horse needs 1 arce, but they have a tight grazing rotation.
Just ideas.
www.rockriverexoticsandkennel.net |
| Alee |
Posted - May 05 2012 : 09:31:28 AM
I think if you are going to have a cow on only an acre, you would need to make sure you are feeding hay as well as letting her graze. You would also want to keep her stabled during wet/rainy weather other wise soon your grassy pasture will be churned mud with no grass growing anymore. Another thing to consider is that you will have clean out the pastures from cow pies fairly regularly. With only an acre, the manure can build up and start smothering out the grass- plus make gross grazing conditions for the cow. I think it can definitely be done- but there might be more maintenance than if you had a larger lot.
You could also look into smaller breeds that might need less room.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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