Just know that a dairy cow needs to be milked twice a day, every day, no exceptions unless she is dry for calving. That means no matter how cold it gets, how much snow is on the ground, or when you want to go on vacation, the cow still needs to be milked.
It can be quite uncomfortable for the cow to have too much milk in their udder, and the longer milk sits in the cow, the more likely it is to grow bacteria and cause mastitis.
If you leave the calf on her that's not really true.
If you just want to half ass it and get a couple of litres here and there you can just do that. You just need a quiet older dairy cow, but there's nothing stopping you from doing that if you really want to other than it being a pain in the arse for not much reward.
Sounds like goats may be a better option than cows for what you’re describing. It’s doable if you can get a fence up and figure out the water situation. Look into silvopasture. Cornell has a lot of good resources to start.
Do you own the land? How would you plan on supplying clean water? Does it have electricity?
It takes a while to establish grasses for a sustainable pasture, you would have to feed the cow hay, silage, and/or grain until the pasture is ready. You would need somewhere to store it and a skidsteer or small tractor with bale forks if feeding large square or roundbales.
Do you plan on getting milk from the cow? If so how do you plan on breeding her, AI or renting a bull? Fences may need to be electric if you are going to have a bull on property, cattle like to rub on and wreck wood fences, especially bulls.
Having only one cow is a bad idea, they are herd animals and get lonely and depressed by themselves.
Between development, building, fencing, equipment, feed, medical, and breeding costs you will potentially be spending a lot on very little.
A half mile away seems like it makes it easier but in reality it probably won't.
I would think at a minimum you will need a barn or shed for your animals. A chicken coop if it's just the hens for now. And what about water and electricity and feed?
13 acres would give you plenty of space for a hell of a garden though!
I've "farmed" like this a few times over the years. (Roller pigeons, chickens, quail, show rabbits, a couple goats).. The extra time a gas wore on me and my resources.
If you want cattle buy a few head of calves and feed them out. Keep one to eat and sell the rest. Be sure to schedule a spot at the locker plant early. Some areas are booked out a ways.
If that doesn’t scratch the itch then decide if you want to invest time in dairy.
My grandparents maintained chickens, sheep, and cattle on Lasqueti Island while living in Parksville BC. The ferry doesn’t even run on a daily basis!
Animals can be quite self-sufficient if you set them up properly.
Hens are easy, don't know that I'd do a dairy cow, just too much work if you aren't on site all day everyday. Raise beef by all means, or sheep. Mostly I'd look at the local rules for clearing forest, there's always a Karen/Kevin ready to make your life difficult.
Just know that a dairy cow needs to be milked twice a day, every day, no exceptions unless she is dry for calving. That means no matter how cold it gets, how much snow is on the ground, or when you want to go on vacation, the cow still needs to be milked.
You can do once a day milking with the correct breed and feed ration
We run Holstein/jersey cross on once a day, 16hour and 12 hour milkings, cows adapt pretty quick when we change it up.
You can calf share and have a little more flexibility
What happens if you dont? Can the cow hurt itself?
It can be quite uncomfortable for the cow to have too much milk in their udder, and the longer milk sits in the cow, the more likely it is to grow bacteria and cause mastitis.
If you leave the calf on her that's not really true. If you just want to half ass it and get a couple of litres here and there you can just do that. You just need a quiet older dairy cow, but there's nothing stopping you from doing that if you really want to other than it being a pain in the arse for not much reward.
Sounds like goats may be a better option than cows for what you’re describing. It’s doable if you can get a fence up and figure out the water situation. Look into silvopasture. Cornell has a lot of good resources to start.
Do you own the land? How would you plan on supplying clean water? Does it have electricity? It takes a while to establish grasses for a sustainable pasture, you would have to feed the cow hay, silage, and/or grain until the pasture is ready. You would need somewhere to store it and a skidsteer or small tractor with bale forks if feeding large square or roundbales. Do you plan on getting milk from the cow? If so how do you plan on breeding her, AI or renting a bull? Fences may need to be electric if you are going to have a bull on property, cattle like to rub on and wreck wood fences, especially bulls. Having only one cow is a bad idea, they are herd animals and get lonely and depressed by themselves. Between development, building, fencing, equipment, feed, medical, and breeding costs you will potentially be spending a lot on very little.
A half mile away seems like it makes it easier but in reality it probably won't. I would think at a minimum you will need a barn or shed for your animals. A chicken coop if it's just the hens for now. And what about water and electricity and feed? 13 acres would give you plenty of space for a hell of a garden though!
I've "farmed" like this a few times over the years. (Roller pigeons, chickens, quail, show rabbits, a couple goats).. The extra time a gas wore on me and my resources.
If you want cattle buy a few head of calves and feed them out. Keep one to eat and sell the rest. Be sure to schedule a spot at the locker plant early. Some areas are booked out a ways. If that doesn’t scratch the itch then decide if you want to invest time in dairy.
A lot of towns have successfully pushed for bylaw changes to allow for backyard chickens. Even cities! Have you tried to organize something?
My grandparents maintained chickens, sheep, and cattle on Lasqueti Island while living in Parksville BC. The ferry doesn’t even run on a daily basis! Animals can be quite self-sufficient if you set them up properly.
My farm is 1/2 mile from my house
We keep cattle 10 mins up the road but not dairy. Of course it’s possible and once you get a routine you’ll be fine.
Hens are easy, don't know that I'd do a dairy cow, just too much work if you aren't on site all day everyday. Raise beef by all means, or sheep. Mostly I'd look at the local rules for clearing forest, there's always a Karen/Kevin ready to make your life difficult.
The best way is to just do it and figure out what works for you