Help me settle an argument!!

[smbolisnch]

Cows-
If I have a cow, as a pet, does it need to be milked every day, or only if it has a calf?

[flvegan]

1. If she's given birth recently, and the calf isn't around

then yes, she does, until she stops producing.

That's the extent of my knowledge...

[smbolisnch]

2. That's what I thought.

So if you had a 5 year old cow, who has not given birth, you would not have to milk her.

[flvegan]

3. Probably not, but

that final decision should really be left to a vet. One never knows particular circumstances...

Ummmm...have you acquired a 5 year old cow, dear?

[smbolisnch]

4. Probably.

No, but I hope to have land in the next year or so, and we would like to have some cows. :)

I wish there were a way to "rescue" farm cows. I would love to do that, and give them a happy, healthy remainder to their lives. That goes for all sorts of farm animals.

*sigh*

[flvegan]

5. Well, there is a way...

You can go about it a couple ways...

1. Visit an auction. Any cow you buy, is a cow saved;
2. Call Gene Bauston at Farm Sanctuary and offer to be a foster home or "safe house"
3. The good ole fashioned way..."find" one (that might not be lost yet). Barbed wire is easily cut, but if it's tight, be careful of the "snap" when it's breached. I highly do NOT recommend this. Very dangerous. It might be illegal, too. *snort*

Also, let your local humane society know that you have the space, when you do. I'll bet they get a good number of calls that you could help out with.

[smbolisnch]

6. I am bookmarking this.

We have just started casually looking around. Not even making calls yet. I am graduating in 7 months...so it will more likely be about a year.

Now I know. I cannot imagine that I would do well *ahem*, "finding" a cow. I fall walking down the street....can you imagine me running, in the dark....with a cow? :rofl:

[flvegan]

7. You'd be surprised what you can do...

Besides, cows don't like to run much. You'd have to have the trailer close.

But what a rush!!!

I have yet to boost a cow, so I really don't know how that would go, exactly. But I'm still relatively young.

[smbolisnch]

8. I love cows.

I actually honk to them when I drive by them. :P I am so weird, I know.

I want to have several, that can just be cows, and not have to ever worry again that someone is going to hurt them, or scare them, or steal from them.

[flvegan]

9. That's not weird!

I love it. Cows are awesome...those deep eyes...

Sigh. I miss my friend.

[smbolisnch]

10. They do have such expressive eyes.

But then again, as far as I am concerned, all animals do. You never have to look at an animal's eyes and wonder whether or not they are honest.

[flvegan]

11. True. Plus, with a cow or two

you'll never have to mow your lawn.

[smbolisnch]

12. And goats,

Can't forget the sweet goats. :)

[flvegan]

13. Very true.

And goats seem to know not to go anywhere. Plus, they make the cutest noises. And, when young, they play like puppies.

[smbolisnch]

14. I know....they are the sweetest animals!

I can't wait unitl I am able to give these animals a loving home.

[flvegan]

15. And they are quite horny.

In that they oftentimes have horns.
























What?

What did I say?

Well, they are.

Jeez, tough crowd.

[smbolisnch]

16. I don't know what you are getting at.....

But it is gonna get you in trouble!! :spank:

[flvegan]

17. I know of what I speak.

They can be very, very horny.

They have horns.

[smbolisnch]

18. If we have the same train of thought.....

:scared:

[flvegan]

19. Don't fear the horny.

Despite their outcroppings, they're harmless.

God, I'm killing me.

[smbolisnch]

20. So.....

What exactly are you doing home on a Saturday night, hmmmm?

[flvegan]

21. Tending to my girls, don't you know...

Of my 13 here, 8 are girls. Right now, one isn't feeling to well, so she's in here with me.

I figure 8 is enough, no pun intende.

Yeah, like I'd be out doing something, right? I gave all that up for my animals.

[smbolisnch]

22. Wow....

You are quite a guy. :loveya:

I hope she is feeling better soon. Poor thing. I am sure you are taking very, very good care of her ;)

[flvegan]

23. I am.

(Spread that around, it might help me out).

She doesn't like me knowing she's not feeling well. She's still playing the protector role, here. Lying beside my chair like a lioness, alert, ever-vigilant. I would NOT want to be on the wrong side of this dog...

[smbolisnch]

24. I don't think I need to.

Noope, not at all. Your reputation precedes you.

She sounds like a sweetheart. Makes me miss Mavis. :( Give her a hug for me!

[NMMNG]

29. Or fertilize it

:P

[Name removed]

28. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LeftyMom]

25. It shouldn't produce milk prior to pregnancy

Granted, I don't know a damn thing about cows, but I do grok lactation and well, tits are tits. Barring hormonal weirdness or external manipulation a pregnancy is needed to cause lactation.

[smbolisnch]

26. LOL, that's what I said LM.

I asked Mr. Smbolisnch if he thought I milked myself every morning. :P

[LeftyMom]

27. Tell him lactation is a supply and demand thing

Even when it happens on it's own (happened to me after a miscarriage) in the absence of suckling or some substitute such as milking or breastpumping milk supply wanes quickly. The problem is that a rapid cessation of lactation is a cause of mastitis (breast infection) in humans and cows (and most other mammals, one would assume.)

[Robeson]

30. I miss you on these boards, smbolisnch...

...seems like a lot of your old posts pop up from time to time.

[Critters2]

31. Cows give milk like every other mammal

They produce milk for their young. If left to live as God, nature, the universe, intended, their lactation would slow as their calves drank less and ate more solid foods. Ultimately, they would "go dry" like your mom, and all mammal moms, did.

They keep lactating because they keep having all the milk taken from them. Their hormones and body don't know that the milk is being taken by a metal hose to stainless steel tank, to be fed to humans. All they know is that the udders were emptied by someone, and must need to be filled again.

NO offense, but I'm amazed at how many intelligent people think cows just give milk for ever, naturally.