I enjoyed your video. I used to hand milk a cow years ago when my kids were young. I have a grand baby now so a dear friend of mine passed away. His brother wanted nothing to do with the cows so they were all sold…well, except one. I got her. She just freshened 1/6/24. So looks like I’m back in the dairy business again. Lol. My son who is grown and has his own family wants to get into dairy with me as well. We live just north of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania so I think we have a lot of potential for a good market. Best of luck to you as well.
Way back here on a tiny homestead in Western North Carolina, we always appreciate knowing more about your journey and the core values that drive it. We celebrate and enthusiastically support the way you have resisted the flood of official and societal pressure focused on discouraging people from even contemplating, much less accomplishing, a successful, small dairy. We agree that the world needs many more small, widely dispersed, dairies. We also recognize that you two are modest about what you have done. We are thrilled that many bright and focused young people are now attempting to become farmers, but we know from long experience the hurdles they face. We are particularly proud of your farm, and we wish you Shalom.
Such a lovely, wonderful comment. It took us a few days to reply because we wanted to give it the time it deserved. Starting a farm certainly isn’t easy, but it’s something we’ve both wanted for a long time. We’re so thankful we have the technology to share our farm with the world. It’s amazing how diverse our viewership is. Sharing our farm with the world has also connected us with so many others either contemplating starting a small dairy, or even already on that journey. That’s really why we do the videos. It’s about the connections with people. Thank you again so much for your support. Know that we truly appreciate it.
I did something similar to you guys.I retired from the army went to work on a small double 4 ,60 acre dairy an bought it when the owner retired. I knew all the faults etc.Good living, great life to raise a family.
That’s awesome! And thank you for your service! We both love living and working together on our farm. Couldn’t imagine anything else. Thanks for watching!
I enjoy watching CZcams channels that are focused on small farms and homesteading. As I am sure you are aware, there are many to choose from, but for me, your’s is right at the top of the list. Keep up the amazing work.
We’re glad we’re at the top of your list! We have a few small farms and homesteads we follow too. It’s great to have the technology to connect us. It’s really such a small world!
Hi. I don't have any cows. Love your videos and look forward to seeing you and your cows. They have such sweet kind faces. Know it's a lot of work and money. Thanks so much for doing them.
Great information... I am a former dairy farmer..larger scale.. but turned to a job operating large equipment for the benefits.. now wanting to get back in to farming..making cheese.. yogurt etc..Your vlog gives me hope that it might be possible.. Thank you!! Beautiful Farm!!
You can do it! It is possible! Many of our mentors operated large dairy farms and then scaled back and started processing their own. They all enjoy their small dairies now more than they did when they were larger and shipped to a coop.
@@vnthomas16 Thank you for your encouragement... definitely makes me smile.. its so true you can't take farming out of a farmer... its who I am... trying to find a farm or land now to get things rolling...
Nice! I love old dairy publications, too. I have a number of Hoards feeding guides from the 1930s and '40s. As you said, they are great because they are focussed on farm size that reflect small dairies. The vast majority of the info in those guides is still very useful today. Cows haven't changed much, except for the fact that (apparently) their farts are now much more harmful to the environment. Speaking of old publications, I have three years worth of herd records from my great grandfather's herd, dating back to 1917. He milked around 20 black&whites. All milk weights and fat and protein tests recorded. Feed rations and feed costs. Breeding, calving, some health notes. Quite interesting. Lastly.... I love your KW hat. Keith-
I would say the pubs you have to be most wary of are those from the 40’s and 50’s... coming out of the chemical revolution of WWII. When I took Ruminant Nutrition courses through Univ. of Illinois, the professor is also the author of the latest Hoards Feeding Guides. I have it, and I’ve found it helpful, but sometimes I feel they over complicate things... all in order to get a few extra drops of milk.
Some very good food for thought. I'm in the process of developing a small dairy herd of LaMancha goats. Originally this was supposed to be for the household only, but family and friends have shown interest, there may be potential for a larger operation. Time will tell. Anyway, great video, as always.
You’re not the first one we’ve known who started with one “family” milk animal... then got another... then got another... Haha! Then it was inevitable that they scaled up and had a small commercial dairy. Best of luck on your enterprise!
I love your content. My family raises red angus cattle on the great northern plains, so I don't have any experience with dairy cattle. I feel like I have learned alot through your videos.
I think Red Angus are beautiful cattle. Once our dairy herd is where we want it, we’ve considered crossing with some Red Angus for beef production. How big are the calves usually? Jerseys are small cows, so we’d want small calves. Thanks for watching!
@@vnthomas16 We prefer low birth weight bulls. I don't know if I can give you a definite answer. We don't weigh our calves until we ween them. We are probably between 65-70 lbs if I had to guess. The calves are pretty muscularly solid, but they don't have as tall a frame like a simmental calf, which we used to have years ago. Red angus for us have been pretty easy calving. They grow well. A good low birth weight bulls is worth the research. In our part of the area red angus bulls are becoming common. Not as common as black angus.
@@vnthomas16 I have some better info, calves are born ballpark 70-80 lbs. One thing to explore may be lowline angus or lowline moderator bulls. They may get you down to a lower birth weight.
Personal breed pitch, you need an Ayrshire😁. Small farms and heritage breeds are a perfect match. LIC has Ayrshires so keeping New Zealand genetics. Plus mahogany looks great on a green pasture
It seems like all the Scottish breeds are quite hardy! I guess when your national symbol is a Thistle, it just seems fitting! Maybe no Ayrshires for us (never say never), but we have considered some Galloway for beef. There are several Highland herds around us too. They’re just fun to look at! Haha! Thanks for watching!
Great video thank you! Where do I find info about 1. How much does it cost to start a dairy farm from the scratch? 2. Does it always cost more to start your own farm than buying a farm? 3. Which state is best to run a dairy farm?
There are so many variables, I can’t answer your questions… But, I can give you some thoughts to think about! You have to like where you live, and live where you farm, so what place makes you happy? What dairy products do you enjoy consuming? What dairy products do you want to produce? Don’t produce something you don’t like. Once you know what and where, contact that state’s Department of Agriculture or Health or whoever has jurisdiction of dairy farms and find out what they require. Every state is different. Costs can vary so much I can’t even speculate. Wish I could be more helpful, but hopefully this helps a little…
I feel it is absolutely a necessity! Even with our small herd, it was totally worth the investment… And the investment wasn’t even that much more. Digging a hole and a little extra concrete. The extra form lumber used was reused on other projects. I had milked in enough flat parlors to know I didn’t want one. Thanks for watching!
Great question! I feel our farm is still pretty underutilized. Even as our herd grows, we should have some capacity to expand our forage production. One of our guiding principles is to match our stocking rate with our carrying capacity. Thanks for watching!
@@maherleprofdefrancais9577 small dairy goats, so requires less space and less food. Easier to manage animal husbandry (60 lbs). High milk fat content is great for cheese and ice cream. Plus they’re super cute.
There are so many variables that I can’t give you a precise answer. The first thing to look at is the carrying capacity of your land. Some places an acre can support a cow. Some places you need 10 (or even more!) acres per cow. How many cows? That depends on what you want as your workload as well as what market you have available to you. What equipment you need will be based on the laws and regulations of your locality. Structure cost depends on what you decide to build and what materials are available locally. You best bet would be to network with local producers as a start. Best of luck to you!
problem is in ny state its almost impossible to have a dairy like yours the state does not like farmers to make their own products to bad as all around us they seem to do it even the amish here dont
NY can definitely present some challenges! Haha! We know someone who recently started a small processing plant on their farm in NY, so it certainly is doable. But, we hear his stories about dealing with some of the inspectors, and can understand why some folks won’t even bother jumping through the hoops. Even for us, there is a substantial regulatory burden (for good reason, milk having the properties that it does) but our state has been excellent to work with. Thanks for watching!
I enjoyed your video. I used to hand milk a cow years ago when my kids were young. I have a grand baby now so a dear friend of mine passed away. His brother wanted nothing to do with the cows so they were all sold…well, except one. I got her. She just freshened 1/6/24. So looks like I’m back in the dairy business again. Lol. My son who is grown and has his own family wants to get into dairy with me as well. We live just north of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania so I think we have a lot of potential for a good market. Best of luck to you as well.
Awesome to see you again
I know, right!?! Haha! Thanks for your patience!
@@vnthomas16 yes
Way back here on a tiny homestead in Western North Carolina, we always appreciate knowing more about your journey and the core values that drive it. We celebrate and enthusiastically support the way you have resisted the flood of official and societal pressure focused on discouraging people from even contemplating, much less accomplishing, a successful, small dairy. We agree that the world needs many more small, widely dispersed, dairies. We also recognize that you two are modest about what you have done.
We are thrilled that many bright and focused young people are now attempting to become farmers, but we know from long experience the hurdles they face. We are particularly proud of your farm, and we wish you Shalom.
Such a lovely, wonderful comment. It took us a few days to reply because we wanted to give it the time it deserved. Starting a farm certainly isn’t easy, but it’s something we’ve both wanted for a long time. We’re so thankful we have the technology to share our farm with the world. It’s amazing how diverse our viewership is. Sharing our farm with the world has also connected us with so many others either contemplating starting a small dairy, or even already on that journey. That’s really why we do the videos. It’s about the connections with people. Thank you again so much for your support. Know that we truly appreciate it.
Good morning! Where have YOU been? Lol Glad to see your videos always. ❤️💜💙
We appreciate your patience! Spring sprung, so now it’s a mad dash to keep up!
I did something similar to you guys.I retired from the army went to work on a small double 4 ,60 acre dairy an bought it when the owner retired. I knew all the faults etc.Good living, great life to raise a family.
That’s awesome! And thank you for your service! We both love living and working together on our farm. Couldn’t imagine anything else. Thanks for watching!
The two are very motivational. Both of you are very humble & down to earth. I enjoy your programs & hope to have a farm one day . God Bless you both
Thank you for such kind words. We’re glad to hear you want to have a farm one day! You can do it!
I enjoy watching CZcams channels that are focused on small farms and homesteading. As I am sure you are aware, there are many to choose from, but for me, your’s is right at the top of the list. Keep up the amazing work.
We’re glad we’re at the top of your list! We have a few small farms and homesteads we follow too. It’s great to have the technology to connect us. It’s really such a small world!
Hi. I don't have any cows. Love your videos and look forward to seeing you and your cows. They have such sweet kind faces. Know it's a lot of work and money. Thanks so much for doing them.
You’re welcome! We love our cows so much! Glad we can share them with you! Thanks for watching!
Great information... I am a former dairy farmer..larger scale.. but turned to a job operating large equipment for the benefits.. now wanting to get back in to farming..making cheese.. yogurt etc..Your vlog gives me hope that it might be possible.. Thank you!!
Beautiful Farm!!
You can do it! It is possible! Many of our mentors operated large dairy farms and then scaled back and started processing their own. They all enjoy their small dairies now more than they did when they were larger and shipped to a coop.
@@vnthomas16 Thank you for your encouragement... definitely makes me smile.. its so true you can't take farming out of a farmer... its who I am... trying to find a farm or land now to get things rolling...
I'm really loving your videos. Sometimes I feel like giving up, but I'm feeling hopeful today. Thanks
You’re welcome. Glad you enjoy our videos and get some encouragement out of them. Thanks for watching!
You guys are awesome!
I love all these pictures of how you started up your dairy, so neat!!
Thank you! It’s been an amazing journey!
I loved working dairy. I've moved on to microbiology, but I miss working with the cows. This is a great video! Thank you!
Aren’t cows the greatest?!? Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for watching!
Nice! I love old dairy publications, too. I have a number of Hoards feeding guides from the 1930s and '40s. As you said, they are great because they are focussed on farm size that reflect small dairies. The vast majority of the info in those guides is still very useful today. Cows haven't changed much, except for the fact that (apparently) their farts are now much more harmful to the environment. Speaking of old publications, I have three years worth of herd records from my great grandfather's herd, dating back to 1917. He milked around 20 black&whites. All milk weights and fat and protein tests recorded. Feed rations and feed costs. Breeding, calving, some health notes. Quite interesting. Lastly.... I love your KW hat.
Keith-
I would say the pubs you have to be most wary of are those from the 40’s and 50’s... coming out of the chemical revolution of WWII. When I took Ruminant Nutrition courses through Univ. of Illinois, the professor is also the author of the latest Hoards Feeding Guides. I have it, and I’ve found it helpful, but sometimes I feel they over complicate things... all in order to get a few extra drops of milk.
You guys are doing a great job
Thanks!
Great video. Thank you! Your farm looks great!
Thank you! We work hard to keep our farm up! Thanks for watching!
Howdy Folks , Haven't seen you in a while. Thanks for the update 🐂
You’re welcome!
Nice.
Thanks!
Happy Spring! I love my Jerseys too! I’ve had great luck with AI and my Farmall Cubs
Spring sprung, and then it’s a mad dash to keep up! Haha! Jerseys are the greatest!
Some very good food for thought. I'm in the process of developing a small dairy herd of LaMancha goats. Originally this was supposed to be for the household only, but family and friends have shown interest, there may be potential for a larger operation. Time will tell.
Anyway, great video, as always.
You’re not the first one we’ve known who started with one “family” milk animal... then got another... then got another... Haha! Then it was inevitable that they scaled up and had a small commercial dairy. Best of luck on your enterprise!
Best wishes from Kenya. One of your cheerleaders here. ❤️❤️
Thank you so much for your support! We sincerely appreciate it! It’s amazing how technology can connect us. It really is a small world!
I love your content. My family raises red angus cattle on the great northern plains, so I don't have any experience with dairy cattle. I feel like I have learned alot through your videos.
I think Red Angus are beautiful cattle. Once our dairy herd is where we want it, we’ve considered crossing with some Red Angus for beef production. How big are the calves usually? Jerseys are small cows, so we’d want small calves. Thanks for watching!
@@vnthomas16
We prefer low birth weight bulls. I don't know if I can give you a definite answer. We don't weigh our calves until we ween them. We are probably between 65-70 lbs if I had to guess. The calves are pretty muscularly solid, but they don't have as tall a frame like a simmental calf, which we used to have years ago. Red angus for us have been pretty easy calving. They grow well. A good low birth weight bulls is worth the research. In our part of the area red angus bulls are becoming common. Not as common as black angus.
@@vnthomas16
I have some better info, calves are born ballpark 70-80 lbs. One thing to explore may be lowline angus or lowline moderator bulls. They may get you down to a lower birth weight.
Love your videos, keep up the great work! Great advice don't run before you can walk.
Thank you!
I just love these informative you put out thank you for them. God bless you.
You’re welcome! We’re glad to be able to share our experiences with you and the rest of the world. Thanks for the support!
Very informative and entertaining.. Love your presentation.
Thank you!
በትንሹ መጀመር እና እራሴን ቢዚ ማድረግ እፈልጋለሁ i really love to start I know it is not easy but good to learn and stronger!
Not easy indeed, but worth the journey!
Thank you for sharing. Very interesting.
🐂🐂 😷👍
You’re welcome!
Thanks for the video!
You’re welcome!
Personal breed pitch, you need an Ayrshire😁. Small farms and heritage breeds are a perfect match. LIC has Ayrshires so keeping New Zealand genetics. Plus mahogany looks great on a green pasture
It seems like all the Scottish breeds are quite hardy! I guess when your national symbol is a Thistle, it just seems fitting! Maybe no Ayrshires for us (never say never), but we have considered some Galloway for beef. There are several Highland herds around us too. They’re just fun to look at! Haha! Thanks for watching!
Where have I been. Where have you been. I’ve been right here waiting for you. Lol
Haha! 😀
i thought i missed a few videos but i didn’t luckily
Sure didn’t! Ha!
Liked and subscribe, Nice explanation bright and clear thanks for the video greetings from a Dutch dairyfarmer
Thank you! Always appreciate your comments and support!
Youre welcome
Great video thank you!
Where do I find info about
1. How much does it cost to start a dairy farm from the scratch?
2. Does it always cost more to start your own farm than buying a farm?
3. Which state is best to run a dairy farm?
There are so many variables, I can’t answer your questions… But, I can give you some thoughts to think about! You have to like where you live, and live where you farm, so what place makes you happy? What dairy products do you enjoy consuming? What dairy products do you want to produce? Don’t produce something you don’t like. Once you know what and where, contact that state’s Department of Agriculture or Health or whoever has jurisdiction of dairy farms and find out what they require. Every state is different. Costs can vary so much I can’t even speculate. Wish I could be more helpful, but hopefully this helps a little…
@@vnthomas16 thank you!!
Do you feel like a pit is a necessity or just a nice to have investment in daily milking ease?
I feel it is absolutely a necessity! Even with our small herd, it was totally worth the investment… And the investment wasn’t even that much more. Digging a hole and a little extra concrete. The extra form lumber used was reused on other projects. I had milked in enough flat parlors to know I didn’t want one. Thanks for watching!
I have a question. When it comes to selling the product, would you say it was relatively easy to find companies to work with? Thank you
Enjoy retirement and thank you for your service 🇺🇸.
Thank you! 🇺🇸
Good video y’all as y’all expand your herd do you see your self possibly renting or buying additional land to grow your additional forage
Great question! I feel our farm is still pretty underutilized. Even as our herd grows, we should have some capacity to expand our forage production. One of our guiding principles is to match our stocking rate with our carrying capacity. Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for this video! I got bit by the dairy bug, because I love Nigerian dwarf goats. What would be done differently for goats vs cows???
We’re not we’ll versed in raising goats, so I can’t speak to that. Most of the business principles are pretty universal though…
Why Negerian dwarf goats are good .....?
@@maherleprofdefrancais9577 small dairy goats, so requires less space and less food. Easier to manage animal husbandry (60 lbs).
High milk fat content is great for cheese and ice cream.
Plus they’re super cute.
Hi
what is the maximum amount we need to start a dairy business( estimated). Including land
There are so many variables that I can’t give you a precise answer. The first thing to look at is the carrying capacity of your land. Some places an acre can support a cow. Some places you need 10 (or even more!) acres per cow. How many cows? That depends on what you want as your workload as well as what market you have available to you. What equipment you need will be based on the laws and regulations of your locality. Structure cost depends on what you decide to build and what materials are available locally. You best bet would be to network with local producers as a start. Best of luck to you!
That ok
Thanks!
problem is in ny state its almost impossible to have a dairy like yours the state does not like farmers to make their own products to bad as all around us they seem to do it even the amish here dont
NY can definitely present some challenges! Haha! We know someone who recently started a small processing plant on their farm in NY, so it certainly is doable. But, we hear his stories about dealing with some of the inspectors, and can understand why some folks won’t even bother jumping through the hoops. Even for us, there is a substantial regulatory burden (for good reason, milk having the properties that it does) but our state has been excellent to work with. Thanks for watching!
Тепло весна уже
Коровы в восторге от теплой погоды. Спасибо!
Can I visit your Dairy Farm ?
We have done farm tours in the past… You can contact us through our website at clovermountaindairy(dot) com .
Thought this was a " dairy farm " ?
We have cows. We milk them. We sell the milk. We’re licensed as Grade A. Sounds like a dairy farm to me!
Two people should be able to run 100 cows year long. Real dairy farmers milk year round.