Ed and all: Woody here with another two shovels' worth...
Christy's is a perfect example of fitting cow [+ calf] into the routine, instead of the other way around. Of course we want _some_ production from the family cow, and so we incline the routine toward her requirements for that...but the flexibility in the situation, as opposed to the relatively and necessarily rigid routine of a commercial or community dairy, is much more than one would expect, before we actually do it and experiment, getting creative in our relationship to the wonderful cow being. I wrote in BIODYNAMICS about the economics of the family cow: "Bessie has Always Paid Her Way at Aurora Farm", a couple of years ago. The payoff in dollars is there, no question, but the payoff in human terms--growth terms--is prodigious. One is a better person for the relationship. It's made me a better, more nurturing person to have been with Venus...Bessie...Rosebud...Cheesecake...Angel...Lynda--the cows I have known up close. Bovinely, Woody [PS-for all the folderol about plant-based vs. animal-based compost material, no one has mentioned the obvious: that the cow manure IS plant material, run through the most awesome digestive system in the known universe.] http://www.kootenay.com/~aurora -----Original Message----- From: The Korrows <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 2:30 PM Subject: Re: Milking the Home-based Compost machine Re: Soil building with plant matter compost >Dear Ed, > >The way I do it is about 4:30 or 5:00 (this time of year), I separate my cow >from her calf (which is now 7 months old) by putting her in a separate >pasture (or a barn with plenty of hay and water). The next morning her milk >has built up, I milk her and turn her back in with her calf who is anxiously >awaiting her arrival. I begin to separate the cow and calf once the >colostrom has come through, and the milk is in ( four days or so). >Especially in the summer when we have our CSA deliveries on Saturday, I >don't bother to put the cow up on Friday night, since I am too busy. Last >weekend we were gone and I think I skipped three days milking. Although I >wouldn't probably do that too often. The milk would start to decrease since >its a supply and demand kind of a thing, plus cows love and appreciate >routine. Keeping the cow on the calf gives me a lot of flexibility. Usually >one milking per day is enough milk for the average family, plus some extra >for cheese making. That's how I do it anyway. A milk cow will bring so much >to your life, I highly recommend it!! Christy >----- Original Message ----- >From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 1:03 PM >Subject: Re: Milking the Home-based Compost machine Re: Soil building with >plant matter compost > > >> >> > >> > To be less tied down, Gene Logsdon has written some stuff about how the >> > calf and you share the milking chores, allowing you some freedom you >> > wouldn't have if it was you in 'white slavery' twice a day.... >> > >> >> Where might one find this info from Gene about that calf help?? >> >> working towards milking... >> >> Ed >> >> >
