[Rick H.]

Holsteins can be had for $50 right now around here, at times they get to $150+. Jerseys free to $20, no sale value as veal calves. A large breed like Brown Swiss will be similar to Holstein prices, maybe more. If you can find Milking Shorthorns or Milking Devons they could be alot more. If your looking for low cost stay with the common dairy breeds or dairy crosses. Ayrshires could probably be had cheap now if there are any in your area too.

[Rick H.]

Best of luck to you folks. I imagine it’ll be exciting to plan all the buildings from the ground up instead of making due with how you find them when you buy a place.

[Rick H.]

Hi Suomi, Thanks for the reply. What we have, we refer to as the Finnish Red. They are mostly a deep red color with some white. I hope you have a good summer and thanks again.

[Rick H.]

Hi from central Maine. I have a question about the cattle you mentioned. I work in the artificial insemination business here. I have Finnish Red semen available to use from Finland. Is this the breed of cattle you refered to about getting? The ones we have here are mostly red with some having a little white too. It’s a medium to smallish size cow that’s a little bit heavier built than most dairy cattle. I have seen several cows that are half Finnish Red and half another breed and they seem like a good cow. Maybe you could start a pair of calves for oxen? Thanks for any thoughts on the cattle.

[Rick H.]

We must continue to let our US senators and our congessional rep know how each of us feel on this issue. A hand written letter is best, it gets the aids attention more than e-mails. Anyone going through that much bother is taken more serious. Let them know that they can count on your vote going to who ever their next opponent is if they don’t help sink this idea. And then do it if they don’t help bring it down, threats are hollow, don’t threaten, follow through.
At times being a single issue voter is needed instead of looking at the big picture. Because there will not be a big picture, at least not a worth while one if these individual issues succeed. Just my take on it from these foggy, rainy hills.

[Rick H.]

I was affraid the whole thing went around the bend. Glad that isn’t the case. It’s a good thing your doing here.

[Rick H.]

I don’t think you need to be concerned about the well being of your cow. While they are herd animals they are also quite adaptable. Many people have kept family milk cows where it was the only bovine on the place for years with no ill effects. To often people read to much into livestock situations when there is no real problem. If well fed and properly housed your cow will be just fine. I think your stressing more than your cattle are. Relax and enjoy. I have no cattle at this time, but have been involved with cattle for the last 30 years from the family cow situation to managing over 300 dairy cows and a little beef cattle work thrown in too. They can be very adaptable. Have fun, and again, enjoy.

[Rick H.]

Good idea to go with a single if you don’t really need a team. Keep using your head and make good choices and you’ll succeed.

[Rick H.]

Best of luck to you. It is great that you have a good vision for your life at a young age. Stick with it, I’m sure it’ll be a great journey.

[Rick H.]

Thank you to those that have replied. It seems that there isn’t a lot of info in print about goats as a serious draft animal. The packing end looks like it is growing and makes sense for hiking rough and remote areas on foot. I realize that the size of a goat is an obvious drawback to doing much farm work. With more people showing an interest again in small farm and homesteading type way of life, but with often times a very limited land base, that for some will probably always be that way, smaller size livestock and draft suitable animals will make sense. The animal power equivilent to the big lawn mower type garden tractor. I think having livestock/ draft animals that fit the scale of operation is important. Just because you’re on a small plot of ground doesn’t mean you give up trying to manage it in a sustainable way. To many animals for the pasture isn’t a good long term idea. To much manure for your gardens, small hay fields,etc., long term isn’t good either. Maybe the goat is more usable than we realize, the need to do it just hasn’t been there so far. Harness vs. yoke, I wonder about that too. With some practice, yokes could be home made with your own wood, closing the loop even more. Another,”I wonder”, sheep wethers as draft animals. Oxen style using yokes. They’d need to be kept shorn more often, at least around the neck, unless a head yoke was used. As you all can see, a very twisted mind at work here. No end to the frustration my wife puts up with. Any other thoughts along these lines? I’d like to hear them. Someone should write a workbook on the small draft animal. Take care all.

[Rick H.]

I did not mean to imply that since we don’t have a completely cooperative system that it gives us the o.k. to do whatever. At the minimum everyone, no matter the size of the ground we work can manure the ground,be it fresh spread,composted,green soiling crops or all. We can rotate the crops planted and types of crops grown. This alone will pay at least small dividends to the farms well being, if we buy in feed or inputs or not. Read, ask questions and observe. The fact that you care and are interested in a proper balance will help you to find the answers you’ll need in your situation. Good luck.

[Rick H.]

Very interesting discusion, Rod put it very well I think. Obviously the definition varies a bit from one person to the next. A challenge that we have is that as a society we don’t think or act as a closed unit. Each individual farm see’s itself as an island unto itself. Nature does not recognize fence lines, deeds or boundry markers. If livestock raiser Joe needs a little extra hay and some grain beyond what he’s producing, gets it from Jane who grows produce in rotation with hay, but raises no livestock [ except for work horses ], and sends the some extra manure Janes way to be spread on that ground while getting a little oats and barley from Bob, who grows more grain than he needs or has livestock for. So Joe sends some ewes to Bobs to graze and gleen the grain fields in the fall, there by depositing manure on his fields to return nutrients, and etc…. I know little in our world seems to work like this, but if we’d think of things as a complete system balance is much more obtainable. Also, my own little angle, the more ground kept in grasslands the easier the balancing in smaller units. Let the critters eat the grass, we’ll eat the product created,milk products, meat and use the wool. Take care.

[Rick H.]

I used a 5′ bar on a #7 for years and rarely had any problems on fairly hilly ground in central PA. My horses while not real big were always very stout and walked smooth with that size bar in all kinds of grass and clover. As already stated, machine condition and adjustment makes things work smoother and is probably the more important thing. My experience with the 5 footer was very good though.

[Rick H.]

Novastew, There is a man in the Blue Hill, Maine area. Paul Birdsall, who has Suffolk horses. I do not know him well but have met him and seems like a good man. He’s had Suffolks for years. They are working horses,not just standing around. He does demo’s a lot for Maine organic farmers org. Check out mofga site, I think if you call them they might put you in touch with him. Best of luck.

[Rick H.]

Hi Sam, The apprentice idea could well be a good one. Try to locate people who have horses in your area that may show you a bit to get started. I’d think Wisconsin would have and equivalent to the organic farming org. here in Maine that a lot of young people go through to find apprenticships. Many use horses for the farm work at least partly. For here in Maine you can check out http://www.mofga.org. Good luck and stick at it. Rick.

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