A question from a reader:

I saw the dry cow piece in Countryside and we have a problem I was wondering if you could help with.  Our Jersey (second one we are milking) is new to us and came from a grass fed dairy where she was supplemented with beet pulp during milking and on grass with timothy and alfalfa hay in the barn at night.  We started giving her a little corn to pick up her weight and alfalfa pellets since our hay is just orchard grass/timothy mix.  Now her cream (which made butter in only ten minutes before) will not turn to butter even after 1 1/2 hours!  Also, her milk tastes strange, our CMT kit indicates no mastitis.  Her cream when separated from milk goes sour after 4 days even though the skimmed milk stays fresh longer (all this is raw).  Do you have any suggestions we are so worried and don’t know what to do!  Our other Jersey has been eating this for over a year and her milk tastes great and cream makes good butter.  They have water and mineral at all times.
Thank you,
Jessie Baker
www.dayspringfarmva.com

The problem is definitely the beet pulp. Others might tell you that supplementing beets and brassicas doesn’t affect milk quality, as a producer for Organic Valley, I can share with you that we are not allowed to supplement with either because of the effect on the milk. Not only will it throw off the taste, both supplemental feeds will affect the ability of the cream to set, thereby affecting the production of sour cream, cheese, butter, and yogurt.

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I’m not surprised you can taste the difference. Those of us who are fortunate enough to know what fresh, unprocessed milk tastes like can readily tell when the quality is off. Instead of drinking it, use it for soap making, fertilize the garden with it, or if you have pigs, feed it to them.

The milk from your newest addition should start to clear up within a few weeks. However, I have heard from others that they can still taste the residue until the next lactation.

This is why I caution against experimental feed. Simple organic barley, corn, oats, grass, and dry hay are all you need to produce a superb quality product, no matter what sales people tell you.

Let me know long it takes for her milk to return to normal. I’m interested in hearing about real experiences.

Good Day,

Wayne the Dairy Dude

A reader writes:

Hi,
I read Countryside magazine where I found an article about “How much should a dry cow eat?” Thank you for such a simple and useful information.

My husband and I have a small 4-acre woody property where we built our house. I would like to get couple of sheep and bulls to raise, but no pasture.

I was wondering if you could give some information about how to establish new pasture in the wooded area. We have cut down some trees already , but there is no soil to plant any grass. What should we do?

Thank you.
Lilia, Southern Mass.

Lilia, like other small acreage owners, is going to have to build her pasture from scratch. The good news is it doesn’t take a pile of money to produce a productive small-scale pasture. The bad news is it does take a fair amount of ingenuity, flexibility, and effort.

Lilia’s pasture-to-be needs to be tilled, fertilized, and seeded in with a mixture of grasses and legumes. But before she does anything she should contact her local county extension agent.Their number is in the phone book under county agencies. A couple of soil samples will determine the ph and macro/micro nutrient situation is so that the best grass seed for her area and soil type. Is it sandy, or clay? This will make a difference as to what will grow. Most county ag agents will be able to answer questions and explain about cost-sharing for soil testing (ask about it). Don’t forget to ask the neighbors what they grow for their animals.

Speaking of animals, consider raising pigs,goats, sheep, or chickens on small acreage. All do well on pasture, and all come in smaller-sized breeds.

Thanks for the correspondence. I’d like to know how things work out for you.

Good day,

Wayne the Dairy Dude