I tried owning a milk cow twice before, first with two Canadiennes I brought out of Quebec and then with my beautiful little Jersey. The Canadiennes were sold, a move I have always regretted, but it was when I was evicted from the acreage we were to winter over on because animals were not permitted and the landlord was well aware of that. The Jersey was turned out with regular cows when she was being bred and fed a mix of grain and hay. She bloated, of course and was found feet up the next day, no compensation ever offered.
So, this is try number three. She is a Norwegian Red Dairy cow crossed with a Holstein. Norwegian dairy cows have A2 milk and Holsteins have A1 milk. The dairy farmer who delivered her was not familiar with A1 and A2 milk. I am beginning not to be astounded when locals do not know anything about farming. He is likely well experienced in most aspects of raising dairy cows, in milking and in health care, but knows nothing about milk. Go figure. A 2 milk is old style milk from old breed cows, while A1 is from modern breeds and contains proteins that humans have trouble digesting. I have never been a milk drinker and it upsets me. I also just about want to vomit thinking about drinking milk. But, I love most cheese, yogurt, kefir, and of course butter and cream too. Norwegian Red dairy cows are hardier than Holsteins, but this one is more of the Holstein style, and did not inherit the hardiness of the Norwegian Red. Too bad. If I have her artificially inseminated with Norwegian Red semen though, and she has a heifer, the heifer would be 75% Norwegian Red and approaching the more hardy variety. She is due sometimes in September, the farmer thought. I will try to keep her calf separately from her, hand raise it by bottle feeding while milking the cow twice a day. The farmer said she can easily raise two or three calves with the amount of milk she has and that is what he has used her for in the past few years, though she is a former dairy cow.
So, Dasha is the newest member of the Fat EWe Farm. Welcome! May we have a great relationship together for many good years.
So, this is try number three. She is a Norwegian Red Dairy cow crossed with a Holstein. Norwegian dairy cows have A2 milk and Holsteins have A1 milk. The dairy farmer who delivered her was not familiar with A1 and A2 milk. I am beginning not to be astounded when locals do not know anything about farming. He is likely well experienced in most aspects of raising dairy cows, in milking and in health care, but knows nothing about milk. Go figure. A 2 milk is old style milk from old breed cows, while A1 is from modern breeds and contains proteins that humans have trouble digesting. I have never been a milk drinker and it upsets me. I also just about want to vomit thinking about drinking milk. But, I love most cheese, yogurt, kefir, and of course butter and cream too. Norwegian Red dairy cows are hardier than Holsteins, but this one is more of the Holstein style, and did not inherit the hardiness of the Norwegian Red. Too bad. If I have her artificially inseminated with Norwegian Red semen though, and she has a heifer, the heifer would be 75% Norwegian Red and approaching the more hardy variety. She is due sometimes in September, the farmer thought. I will try to keep her calf separately from her, hand raise it by bottle feeding while milking the cow twice a day. The farmer said she can easily raise two or three calves with the amount of milk she has and that is what he has used her for in the past few years, though she is a former dairy cow.
So, Dasha is the newest member of the Fat EWe Farm. Welcome! May we have a great relationship together for many good years.
Dasha is much larger than my Rigit Galloways and Kiloh Highland. She is very thin and needs to put some weight on to keep warm for the rest of the winter. They have a good bale of hay to dig into, as you can see.
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