The Poultry Keeper

nigel · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 7:32 am Post subject: Cows v Goats

Which would you choose, two dairy goats or a house cow? (Stephen would like a Jersey)

Arguments for and against either option

Lisa · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 8:22 am Post subject:

How is a "house" cow different to... well, a cow? Confused

Heather · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 8:34 am Post subject:

I would say a cow , because I believe you can do more with their milk more easily (but I'm no great expert)

Also would be easier to do something with the calves or kids over there ?

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6954 Location: isle of lewis

it depends on what you want ,
goats have always been called the poor mans cow ,
they give milk on a lot less food (unless you got a togg Laughing

)i've got the tables somewhere on conversion rates
cows graze more although will have a little brose
goats much perfer to brose
goats can go 2 years with out kidding cow should be mated every year although i have heard of a shetland who is a house how for someone on an island off the coast here who has not been milked for 7 years and is still milking
as for the milk imake a little goats cheese but only 2 of us like it
don't make butter because it doesn't seperate as easy
goats milk gets a funny taste easier ,escaping goats love it although mine never have and of course if you have a lot of milk the chickens can be fattened on it but lambs are better feed on goats milk and there is always the pig,so i'm going for both Rolling Eyes

suz

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6954 Location: isle of lewis

you could always get both types of milk and try making cheese ect out of both and see which you'd like best Laughing

suz

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

I voted for Jersey, but that's partly because when I was a kid we had a Jersey cow on the farm and she was fabulous.

Suz makes a good point about fattening lambs on goats milk

Although, Nigel has said he doesn't really want to have a calf every year.

CP · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:40 am Post subject:

Issy · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 371 Location: somerset

I voted for cows because mine are easy to handle and lovely! whereas my parents always had goats that seemed to think that trying to escape was their sole purpose in life, even in a large field with shelter, hay etc.

stephen · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 3:42 pm Post subject:

stephen · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 3:43 pm Post subject:

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6954 Location: isle of lewis

just had a though why not have a cow and a goat the cow would be company for the goat and this combination would mean you had milk all year round Shocked

,and a quick tip on making chees don't do it at the same time as making bread if you're making hard cheese it sometimes explodes Embarassed

suz

stephen · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 3:55 pm Post subject:

Hey, this gets more exciting by the minute!

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6954 Location: isle of lewis

you just wait till you've got them Cool

first milking stand back and watch Twisted Evil

suz

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

poultry poofs · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 5:37 pm Post subject:

George Behave Laughing

Stephen go for the Jersey, my mate had both goats and Jersey cows the Jersey milk was by far the best. Terribly un-healthy and full of fat and colesterol but what the hell you have to die of something.
You could have both there is a growing demand for goats milk so you could always sell it if you didnt like the stuff yourself.

rich