Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Things to Do Before Buying a Cow
• Method 2 of 3: Selecting and buying an animal
• Method 3 of 3: Taking care of your pet
• Tips
• Warnings

Some cows are aggressive, some are friendly, and some won't even want to approach you. You might want to have a pet like this. In this article, you will find all the necessary information on how to take care of such a pet. You want to have a cow, right?

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Things to Do Before Buying a Cow

1. 1 Think about all the advantages and disadvantages. Raising a cow can be expensive, but some are so friendly they can be kept as pets. You can also provide yourself with milk, but this requires a bull or artificial insemination (AI). Keeping a bull is even more expensive than keeping a cow, and much more dangerous. AI is a popular and safe method that is much cheaper than buying or renting a bull. AI is a complicated procedure, but not for specialists who know when and how to fertilize a cow.
   • If you want to keep a milking cow, please note that she consumes more feed than a beef cow. In addition, you will need a place (barn, shed, barn) where you can milk her!
   • Cows take up a lot of space, require a lot of feed, and can wreak havoc in your yard if they spend most of their lives there. Like horses, cows need space to graze and walk, and they certainly won't be happy if they spend all their time in a small, fenced-in area. They will not be able to live in your home, and they will not be able to live on a small suburban area.
   • Cows excrete a lot of dung, can be quite dirty, and can be noisy when hungry or warm. Among other things, they are very fond of getting out of corrals (although they are not as resourceful as horses) and are susceptible to a number of diseases and diseases. The cows need grooming, you can't just leave them in the pasture!
2. 2 Consider some of the reasons why you want to have a cow. Are you purchasing it for milking? For a freezer? Or just as a beautiful decoration of your land?
3. 3 First you need to choose the age, type and gender of the animal. Base your decision on what you need a cow for.
   • If you are looking for a cash cow, purchase one from a dairy farm. These farms often sell cows that are not productive for the farm.
     • Try not to buy dairy calves. They require more care than an adult cow, and the losses will be much greater than if you bought an adult immediately.
   • If you want to raise a cow for slaughter, then get a couple of cows or gobies from a farmer. It doesn't matter what they are (dairy or for slaughter), as long as you feed the animals well, they will build up enough meat.
   • If you are looking for a pet to decorate your land, look for a breed that is less susceptible to disease, takes up less space and requires less maintenance.
4. 4 Make sure you have enough land to raise your cow. If you have about 2-4 hectares of land for work, then there are places for pasture, milking, sleeping, feeding, etc. enough.
5. 5 Buy, build or renovate any fences, water areas and buildings. Be sure to purchase enough feed before purchasing cows.
   • It is better to build housing and buy food "before" buying an animal. Otherwise, you will be in a hurry and may miss something, or purchase poor-quality feed, or build a bad fence, etc.

Method 2 of 3: Selecting and buying an animal

1. 1 Be ready. Know what you are looking for, what questions you need to ask and stuff like that. Prepare in advance.
   • First of all, learn everything about the breed, health, breeding, feeding, etc., and only then learn everything about the sale.
2. 2 Buy if you are sure that this is what you are looking for.
3. 3 When you bring your pet home, do not release it to open pasture right away. It is necessary to hold it in a small area for several (up to a week) days so that it gets used to you and the new home.
   • If you immediately release him to the pasture, then he can escape and return home (this will be the first test of the fence). Don't do this, keep it locked up for a while.

Method 3 of 3: Taking care of your pet

1. 1 Remember to feed or release to pasture every day. Beware that feed is wasted. Waste shows that you need to spend more on feed. Once the cow realizes that after she has eaten half the bale she is receiving a different feed, it will be difficult to get her to return to mode.
   • Maintain a medium level of grass in the pasture. This is very important if you want to maintain quality pasture and keep the cow healthy.
   • Be sure to familiarize yourself with how to feed your cattle.
2. 2 Provide access to fresh water and minerals. An abundance of minerals will keep your animal healthy and productive, and will also help strengthen the immune system.
3. 3 Monitor your pet's health. Cows should be vaccinated once or twice a year. See your veterinarian for help.
4. 4 If you have purchased a female in order to receive milk or calves, then you need to keep a schedule of breeding days. It should record the following things: when to cover, when she can calve, when you can wean / sell the calf. For more information, consult the relevant sources.
5. 5 Brush your cow every day. Of course, this is not necessary, as most cows on farms are not cleaned. The cow is not a horse and will do great without brushing. In addition, she can be shy, and simply will not let you in.
6. 6 Make sure your pet always has a place to hide. Do not be discouraged if the cow does not use the specially built corral for her in the rain. In inclement weather, they hide under any roof.
7. 7 If this is a cash cow and you love her, then milk her regularly. Milking is best done in the morning and / or afternoon, so she has time to eat until the next milking.
8. 8 If you have purchased a calf. Who needs to be bottle fed.Make sure to give him quality milk replacer. He should receive milk equal to 10% of his weight per day. This portion should be divided into 2-3 doses.
9. 9 Check fences regularly. Your pet will seek to expand its range. So keep an eye on the fence and repair it in time.

Tips

• Always get ready before purchasing an animal.
• Feed your cows at the same time and make sure they always have access to clean drinking water.
• Maintain fences and buildings
• Always buy quality food. The food test will show what nutrients the animal is lacking.
• Calves are more difficult to care for than older cows. Keep this in mind when buying a pet.
• Cows are herd animals, so consider buying another cow or calf (for company). If you have other livestock (goats, sheep, chickens), then the cow will definitely get close to them. However, they dislike horses.
  • Horses are more aggressive and domineering towards small livestock, so if you already have a horse, try to separate it from the cow. Or at least feed them separately from each other.
• Read other additional information about cattle (including on this site) before buying a cow!

Warnings

• Don't buy a cow if you don't have enough free space. They are very demanding on space, especially when they start to grow.
• NEVER underestimate the strength and speed of a cattle. The cow is stronger, faster and heavier than you. They can cripple and even trample you if you are not careful.
• Avoid unhealthy looking animals in the pen. It can cost you dear (both money and the life of a cow).
• Don't buy a cow just on a whim. First of all, you need to study a lot of literature / Internet sources, ask a lot of questions, prepare a lot of things and only then buy a cow.