Cows are very large animals that require a lot of care and space. There are several cons to having cows on a homestead that include disease, cost, and the ability to process them for human consumption.
The Cons of Using Cows for Milk
Too keep a cow for milk, you will need to keep the cow bred or pregnant.
How do you keep a cow bred?
In a natural setting, having a bull and a heifer or cow in the same pasture will result in a bred cow. However, if there is no bull, artificial insemination will be necessary to breed a cow.
Artificial insemination is the act of inserting sperm into a cow’s vagina manually with a catheter (a long tube) and using your arm to palpate the cow’s cervix. This process can be dangerous and does cost money, anywhere from $30 to $50. You can contact your local equine vet to better understand the process.
There are other cons to having cows for milk. For instance, to keep a cow for milk you will need to milk the cow twice a day and you CANNOT skip it.
What happens to a cow if it is not milked?
Cows can produce up to 8 gallons of milk a day depending on the breed, and if the milk is not expelled from her udder, then this can result in injury to the udder such as bruising or mastitis. If the cow is not milked for several days, this can result in severe infection and even death.
Is milking a cow dangerous?
In general, milking a cow is not dangerous. However, this can change based the temperament of the cow, on machinery used, or if milking by hand. The cow’s temperament and willingness to be milked can cause risk. Cattle are large animals that have very strong legs. The most common injury of milking a cow is abrasions or broken bones from being kicked.
Storing Milk
To store milk, you will need to keep it refrigerated. Raw milk is what comes directly from the cow, but to safely consume the milk you will need to pasteurize it. As per the FDA, raw milk can carry dangerous bacteria. You can read their article about raw milk here: https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/dangers-raw-milk-unpasteurized-milk-can-pose-serious-health-risk
To pasteurize milk at home you will need to heat the milk to 150F for 30 minutes or 162F for 15 seconds. The best method is using a double boiler and stirring regularly. Once finished, cool the milk in an ice bath and then refrigerate.
Depending on the amount of milk your cows produce, you may want to freeze your milk for later usage. There are several dairy products that are able to be frozen for later consumption.
The Cons of Using Cows for Meat
One of the major cons of having cows on a homestead is you must be comfortable with death and killing an animal.
Like all living things, death is a factor of life. Whether you are the one doing the killing, or the animal falls ill and dies. Having an animal on a homestead will require you to be comfortable with death.
Cost of processing for meat
The cost of processing a cow can be very expensive and is major con of having cows. Based on the size of the animal, the price can range from $50 to $200 to kill, and an additional $2 to $7 per pound of hanging weight to wrap, cut, age, and freeze the meat.
The process of butchering a cow is almost an art form and can take years of practice to be efficient. Some butchers have been in practice for decades. If you would process a cow yourself, you would need the proper tools and technique to do so. This is a very daunting task and not for the faint of heart.
If you would like to see how a calf is processed, you can view it here. Beware, do not watch if you are squeamish.
A LOT of meat to store
There are several cuts of meat on a single cow. Often you can order a whole cow, half cow, or quarter cow from a butcher or slaughterhouse.
A whole cow can be hundreds of pounds of meat plus bones, innards, etc.
A half cow can be hundreds of pounds of meat plus bones. With half you would get a shoulder to rump side of the cow.
A quarter cow can be hundreds of pounds of meat and bones. With a quarter, you may get a shoulder or a rump.
Meat must be stored in a fridge or freezer setting and will keep 3 to 5 days in fridge, and up to a year in a freezer.
For a small homestead, beef in a freezer can feed a family of four for a year. Some cattle can provide over 800lbs of beef!
A Con of having Cows is they are Expensive to Purchase
Cattle are not cheap to purchase, and the price can vary based on time of the year, age, and breed. When deciding on purchasing an animal for your homestead, consider cheaper options first, like baby chicks.
| Type of Animal | Average Cost Per Animal in USD |
| Mature Cow | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| Horse | $3,000 |
| Baby Chick | $3 – $5 |
| Mature Hen | $20 – $50 |
| Goat | $75 – $200 |
| Rabbit | $5 – $20 |
| Pig | $50 – $2,000 |
How to find out average market prices
In general, market prices are available at your local sale barn or in a cattle market report. Based on the area you live in, you can call the sale barn and inquire about pricing, or read the market report for your county.
There are newspapers and magazines you can subscribe to as well.
Purchasing Cattle
When you go to purchase cattle, find a local farmer who is willing to sell or go to your local sale barn. You will need to know what breed and the kind of cattle you want.
Common Homestead Breeds
For Milk:
- Brown Swiss
- The Friesian Holstein
- The Jersey
- Dexter
For Beef:
- Angus
- Red Poll
- Hereford
What Kind of Cattle
Calf – a baby cow typically under a year old. Female is called a heifer (has not had a calf of her own) and a male is called a bull calf. Male calves that are castrated are called steers.
Cow – a female heifer that has had a calf is then labeled as a cow. (Tip: When purchasing a cow, be sure to ask if she is a first-time mother or has lain many calves. Cows over 10 years old may not be able to bare any more calves).
Bull – a mature male that provides the ability to keep cows bred. For most small operations, one bull can keep up to 20 cows bred.
Space and Basic Needs
How much space does one cow need?
Cows need a lot of space to be successful. On average, one acre per cow of good pasture will sustain the animal. If you have a cow and her calf, 2 acres are needed. For instance, if you have a cow, her calf, and a bull you will need 3 acres. A good pasture means thick grass for grazing, or land good for foraging and grazing. A one acre lot with a lot of trees or no grass would not suit a cow very well.
Can I have a cow in my backyard?
In general, check with your local city ordinance on the animals you can keep in your backyard. Cows and large livestock need space to graze and roam around, for a small backyard, cows would not do well.
Cows can also be dirty, smelly, and loud. These issues may deter the city from approving cattle in neighborhood like settings.
As much fun as having a cow in your backyard could be, having the space and ability to sustain the animal is very necessary. Keeping an animal in too small of space can be considered abuse and may be reported by local authorities or neighbors.
How much food will I need to take care of one cow?
Cows will eat about 2-3% of their body weight in a single day. An average female cow is about 1600lbs, average bull is 2400lbs. Therefore, expect about 48 to 72 pounds of food per animal.
How much does the food cost?
If you do not have the pasture needed to sustain the animal, you can provide hay and other grains to feed your cow.
Hay – hay comes in large round bales and smaller square bales. There is also several varieties of hay. Costal is the most common good quality hay used and can range from $50 to $100 per large round bale and square bales from $40 to 90$. Hay is available in different seasons and may cost more depending on the farming yields.
Cattle Cubes – cattle cubes are typically 20% protein feed cubes that can be used to supplement their diet and help when there is low grass. The cost of cattle cubes can range from $10 to $20 based on brand.
Salt and Mineral Blocks – salt and mineral blocks are necessary for cattle much like a multivitamin is needed for humans. The overall health of cattle can be improved with a salt or mineral block, this can increase reproduction and healthy digestion. These blocks can cost around $7 to $8.
How much water do I need for one cow?
On average, one gallon of water per 100lbs for a non lactating cow, and 2 gallons for lactating, is needed to sufficiently hydrate a cow.
Some homesteads use a rainwater collection system that can sustain their cattle. However, in areas where rainfall is few and far between, other methods of having water is necessary. If your land has a water source (pond, river, creek) this can keep a cow hydrated as well.
Manure…
The best rule of thumb when it comes to poop, is the bigger the animal the more poop there will be.
One cow on average will produce about 65lbs of manure per day. That is a lot of feces. For instance, 65lbs is about the weight of the average lawn mower.
With all of that manure, there is a need to use it or it will pile up. Manure can be used in compost and is great as a fertilizer, just be prepared for the smell.
Cows are Large Animals
Like any large animal, some may not be safe around smaller animals or small children no matter the temperament. Some may be more domesticated like large dogs, and others may be more flighty like a wild stallion.
When doing research on the type of cow you may want, consider breeds that do well with children and are easy to care for. Be aware, that no matter what breed of cattle, there are some cows that are just ill tempered.
Shelter and Equipment
What about fencing?
Cows need to be fenced in on the property due to their ability to roam around. Cattle will walk fence lines for many reasons. Some reasons include searching for more food or for finding more cows. You can visit our article about Fencing for Animals to find out more.
Cost of Milking Equipment
If milking a cow by hand you need a stool and a bucket which can cost $10 to $20 depending on the quality.
If milking a cow with a machine, the machine can cost anywhere from $100 to $100,000 depending on what you want the machine to do. Large dairy productions have thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment. For a small homestead with a couple cows, hand milking may be your best option.
For a standard milking area, you will want a stall wide enough for the cow to stand in, and for yourself, preferably with enough room to back up if the cow gets ill tempered. If you have a very tame cow, you may be able to milk in the middle of a field if someone can hold them still.
Cost of Processing Equipment or having a Butchery
The cost of butchering your own cow can vary widely and the cost of building a space to do so can average to about $20,000. The basic equipment needed is a knife. However, having a small structure where you can butcher large animals or even hang and age the meat of the animals is very handy.
Unless you have skill and history of butchering animals, it may be beneficial to pay to have the animal butchered. Otherwise, you will need the following:
- A sharp knife and sharpener
- A large space to skin the animal and dismember it into the pieces you need and want to keep.
- A hanging structure or hook that withstands over 1,000lbs, also hand it if is hydraulic or can move freely.
- A large refrigerator to cool and age the meat, typically in a hanging fashion
- A large surface to cut, package, and wrap the meat after it is processed
- A large freezer to store the meat
All these items can add up in cost. If you plan to butcher your own meat for years to come, building a structure for processing animals may be well worth the investment.
Cost of a basic shelter from the elements
A basic shelter for cattle can be 3 walls and a roof. In general, building costs can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands depending on size and materials.
Cows typically only need shelter in the immense heat of summer or to protect them from heavy wind or snow.
Common diseases in cattle
Disease can be common in cattle that are not well maintained. Common diseases are:
- Bloat – rapid fermentation of legume plants that produce high levels of gas, the gas cannot be eliminated fast enough. Death can occur.
- Grass Tetany – low levels of minerals in pastures and forages. Death can occur
- Hardware Disease – ingestion of metal, glass, or other hardware. Can puncture intestines
- Foot Rot – infection of the foot if cuts, bruises, or puncture wounds occur.
- Mastitis – an infection of blocked milk ducts in the udder.
You can reference https://www.thecattlesite.com/diseaseinfo/ for more diseases.
There are several cons of owning cattle, but there are also pros. When deciding to purchase cattle for your homestead make sure to plan out what you want your cattle to provide for you. Milk or beef, both may be a necessity for your self-sufficiency. All of the information in this article is meant to help you decide whether a cow can be a great animal for your homestead. For instance, if you are considering purchasing a cow for your homestead and would like to know the benefits of having a cow on a homestead, check out our article here where we discuss raw milk, meat, tax benefits, and more.
Other Articles on Cattle
https://boonstead.com/what-are-the-benefits-of-having-cows-on-a-homestead/
https://boonstead.com/how-to-care-for-cows-on-a-homestead/
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