What is your favorite homestead dairy breed? Share your tips in the section below: Then start locating and pricing them to fit your particular situation. In closing, the best advice when purchasing a dairy cow for your homestead operation is research, research, research. The Milking Shorthorn has been experiencing a comeback as a mainline dairy breed for the past 20 years, with improvements in body type and milk production, averaging six gallons of milk per day with butterfat pushing four percent. Calves are considered easy fleshing for a dairy breed and produce fine beef. The Milking Shorthorn could be considered a dual-purpose breed. They also typically stay in lactation as long as any dairy breed you’ll find. The protein content, along with the high output, is great if you plan to make cheese. The Brown Swiss is known for producing large quantities of milk (up to nine gallons per day) with a butterfat content of four percent. Something to consider is that while some people do love Jersey beef, the Jersey is not a great beef producer. Jerseys average four to six gallons of rich creamy milk per day.Įasy keeping and good maternal instincts make these cows a strong contender for the homestead. Next up is the Jersey cow, coming in at around 900 pounds and best known for its gentle disposition and high butterfat content. Pure-bred offspring will be in high demand to other like-minded homesteaders. This dairy breed is well worth the time and investment involved to locate and purchase. Under normal conditions, expect four to six gallons of milk per day with butterfat content averaging four percent. The American Milking Devon is prized for its ability to thrive on rough forage and still produce a respectable amount of milk. They possess great maternal instincts, are adaptable to most any climate, and are sought out for their milk, butter and cheese production. In fact, the breed has been almost exclusively raised on small farms and homesteads since its inception. They average 1,500 pound and are truly a homestead cow. Most herds are located in the northeast, with Vermont having most of them. The Livestock Conservancy currently lists the American Milking Devon as “critical,” with only about 1,500 registered at any one time. It’s an all-around great cow for the small farm or homestead unless you have a use for large quantities of milk. They do not produce as much milk as most of the other traditional dairy breeds, coming in at an average of two gallons per day, with butter fat around four percent. In fact, Dexter cows will many times take orphan calves.Įverything You Need To Know To Keep A Cow Healthy, Happy, And Productive… The meat is lean, which is a consideration, as you’ll most likely have some bull calves.ĭexters are easy calving with great maternal instinct. This breed has been developed with the homesteader in mind, averaging 600-700 pounds at maturity.
Here are my five favorite breeds for the homestead: Be sure to ask questions when looking at specific herds you’re considering. While ease of calving is a breed trait, there are lines within breeds that are better than others. A 1,300-pound Brown Swiss will consume more feed and hay than a 600-700 pound Dexter. Size is another consideration, as is ease of calving. For instance, if you have your heart set on lots of butter, you’ll want to select a breed that is known for producing milk with a high butterfat content, such as a Brown Swiss or Jersey. There are many factors to consider when choosing the right dairy breed for your homestead or small farm.Ī good place to start is to make a list of what will best serve your particular needs.
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