| Ravenwood Ranch |
| Copyright 2007. Al l Rights Reserved. Created by Taylormade Web Design. Last Updated October 12, 2008. |
| Where Quality Counts |
Feed
Our cows are fed good quality alfalfa hay year round to ensure adequate nutrients for
milk production. Our girls receive a 16% dairy ration, Calf Manna and black
sunflower seeds during lactation and are on a maintenance diet of oats when dry. We
offer free choice protein mineral blocks and fresh, clean water at all times. During
the summer our cows are out on pasture to enjoy the green grass while it lasts. We
monitor body condition closely to ensure that the nutritional requirements of the girls
are being met.
Pasture and Housing
Our Jerseys live outdoors year round in a heavily treed popular grove just outside of
our front lawn. Three sided shelters and deep straw bedding protect them from the
elements.
Social Groups
Our cows live in a small family group of mothers, adult daughters and their calves.
They form strong bonds that last a lifetime. If an animal needs to be removed from
the herd for whatever reason we always find them a "buddy" (ie. a steer or another
cow) to hang around with.
Breeding
We utilize AI to introduce new Jersey genetics into our small herd.
Calves
Our cows calve out on pasture in their regular surroundings. We monitor them
closely as they approach their due date and provide assistance only as needed. The
breed generally has fairly good calving ease so problems are uncommon. We dam
raise all of our calves. The reason for this is two fold: 1) you can't beat the growth
and health of a dam raised calf. They are robust, glossy and larger than "pail-bunters"
and 2) I'm kind of lazy ;) Leaving the calf on the cow allows me to get away with
once/day milking. I like to call my calves "portable milking machines" - they take care
of the milking so I don't have to. I've found that a good Jersey cow can easily raise
two calves and still produce enough milk at once/day milking for the table. I wean
my calves at 6 months, give or take depending on the condition of the cow. Even my
vet has remarked on the quality of a dam raised Jersey calf - you just can't beat
"Mama" when it comes to raising big, healthy calves. The only downside to the
dam-raised calf is that they are not as people-oriented as "pail bunters". We find that
it is necessary to put in the extra time to handle and halter train these Jersey babies.
Milking
As I mentioned earlier, we milk once/day, primarily out of convenience. I currently
milk by hand into a stainless steel pail. My milking parlour is a fairly rustic homemade
affair. It is lacking electricity, heat and insulation but it keeps the wind off of me. It
sure beats tying to a poplar tree in the pasture in early-March when there is still snow
on the ground. I tie my cow up, feed her ration, give her a brush down, then
thoroughly wash and dry her udder and teats with a solution of warm water and blue
Dawn dish soap. I have found mixing the solution in a large spray bottle and
saturating her udder with it works well. I use clean towels to dry to the teats. I then
handmilk as quickly as possible into the pail. The beauty of milk-sharing with your
calf is that you can take as much or as little as you need and the calf will do the rest.
If you need more milk than your calf is leaving you, separate them over night, and
allow the calf to "clean up" whatever is left once you've taken your share. Always be
sure that your cow is not becoming over engorged, however, as you will be setting
her up for mastitis. If she is still producing more than you and your calf are using,
invest in some feeder pigs or another calf to make use of the milk, or learn to make
cheese, yogurt, kefir, etc.
Drying Off
When it comes time to dry your cow off, cut her grain ration back (or completely
out if you can) for several days. We strip them out completely, then treat with a dry
cow treatment to prevent mastitis. Drying off can "technically" be done at any time if
need be, but typically is done around 305 days lactation or 2 months prior to
freshening (calving again). Your cow will be uncomfortable for a few days until her
milk dries up completely. She will dry up most quickly if left alone and not milked as
it is the pressure in the udder that signals to the body's negative feedback system
"Hey! Nobody is using this milk! Stop production!" Monitor your cow closely for
signs of mastitis (hard, lumpy, red, swollen udder, fever, off feed) and contact your
vet to discuss treatment.
Preventative Health Care
We follow a preventative health care program with our cows. We vaccinate with an
8-way vaccine during the dry period. We deworm twice per year using Eprinex, a
pour-on product approved for use in lactating dairy cattle.
Biosecurity
There is a biosecurity program in place on at Ravenwood Ranch to minimize the
disease risk to our animals. If you are
interested in coming out to view our
animals please contact us to set up an
appointment and learn more about our
biosecurity requirements.
Please do not hesitate to email
me if you have any questions about
our management system.
Our cows are fed good quality alfalfa hay year round to ensure adequate nutrients for
milk production. Our girls receive a 16% dairy ration, Calf Manna and black
sunflower seeds during lactation and are on a maintenance diet of oats when dry. We
offer free choice protein mineral blocks and fresh, clean water at all times. During
the summer our cows are out on pasture to enjoy the green grass while it lasts. We
monitor body condition closely to ensure that the nutritional requirements of the girls
are being met.
Pasture and Housing
Our Jerseys live outdoors year round in a heavily treed popular grove just outside of
our front lawn. Three sided shelters and deep straw bedding protect them from the
elements.
Social Groups
Our cows live in a small family group of mothers, adult daughters and their calves.
They form strong bonds that last a lifetime. If an animal needs to be removed from
the herd for whatever reason we always find them a "buddy" (ie. a steer or another
cow) to hang around with.
Breeding
We utilize AI to introduce new Jersey genetics into our small herd.
Calves
Our cows calve out on pasture in their regular surroundings. We monitor them
closely as they approach their due date and provide assistance only as needed. The
breed generally has fairly good calving ease so problems are uncommon. We dam
raise all of our calves. The reason for this is two fold: 1) you can't beat the growth
and health of a dam raised calf. They are robust, glossy and larger than "pail-bunters"
and 2) I'm kind of lazy ;) Leaving the calf on the cow allows me to get away with
once/day milking. I like to call my calves "portable milking machines" - they take care
of the milking so I don't have to. I've found that a good Jersey cow can easily raise
two calves and still produce enough milk at once/day milking for the table. I wean
my calves at 6 months, give or take depending on the condition of the cow. Even my
vet has remarked on the quality of a dam raised Jersey calf - you just can't beat
"Mama" when it comes to raising big, healthy calves. The only downside to the
dam-raised calf is that they are not as people-oriented as "pail bunters". We find that
it is necessary to put in the extra time to handle and halter train these Jersey babies.
Milking
As I mentioned earlier, we milk once/day, primarily out of convenience. I currently
milk by hand into a stainless steel pail. My milking parlour is a fairly rustic homemade
affair. It is lacking electricity, heat and insulation but it keeps the wind off of me. It
sure beats tying to a poplar tree in the pasture in early-March when there is still snow
on the ground. I tie my cow up, feed her ration, give her a brush down, then
thoroughly wash and dry her udder and teats with a solution of warm water and blue
Dawn dish soap. I have found mixing the solution in a large spray bottle and
saturating her udder with it works well. I use clean towels to dry to the teats. I then
handmilk as quickly as possible into the pail. The beauty of milk-sharing with your
calf is that you can take as much or as little as you need and the calf will do the rest.
If you need more milk than your calf is leaving you, separate them over night, and
allow the calf to "clean up" whatever is left once you've taken your share. Always be
sure that your cow is not becoming over engorged, however, as you will be setting
her up for mastitis. If she is still producing more than you and your calf are using,
invest in some feeder pigs or another calf to make use of the milk, or learn to make
cheese, yogurt, kefir, etc.
Drying Off
When it comes time to dry your cow off, cut her grain ration back (or completely
out if you can) for several days. We strip them out completely, then treat with a dry
cow treatment to prevent mastitis. Drying off can "technically" be done at any time if
need be, but typically is done around 305 days lactation or 2 months prior to
freshening (calving again). Your cow will be uncomfortable for a few days until her
milk dries up completely. She will dry up most quickly if left alone and not milked as
it is the pressure in the udder that signals to the body's negative feedback system
"Hey! Nobody is using this milk! Stop production!" Monitor your cow closely for
signs of mastitis (hard, lumpy, red, swollen udder, fever, off feed) and contact your
vet to discuss treatment.
Preventative Health Care
We follow a preventative health care program with our cows. We vaccinate with an
8-way vaccine during the dry period. We deworm twice per year using Eprinex, a
pour-on product approved for use in lactating dairy cattle.
Biosecurity
There is a biosecurity program in place on at Ravenwood Ranch to minimize the
disease risk to our animals. If you are
interested in coming out to view our
animals please contact us to set up an
appointment and learn more about our
biosecurity requirements.
Please do not hesitate to email
me if you have any questions about
our management system.
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| Ravenwood Ranch Family Cow Management |
