Leave the calf on the cow. Separate them overnight, milk once in the morning, then let the calf have the rest all day. You get milk; the calf does the "second milking" for you. One chore, not two — the whole reason this fits two people.
~15–20 min: brush her, clean the teats, strip and check the first squirts, milk, then teat-dip. Strain and chill the milk fast; wash the gear. A simple stanchion with a scoop of feed makes her stand happily.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Calving | She freshens (calves) — milk flow begins. Watch the due date closely. |
| +60–90 days | Rebreed by AI (~$50–100) or a borrowed bull — no bull kept. |
| Through summer | Peak milk; rotational grazing carries her with little/no grain. |
| ~2 months before next calving | Dry her off — stop milking so she rests before the next calf. |
| The calf | Grown on grass to ~18–24 months → a freezer of beef via a hired butcher. |
Mastitis (hot/hard quarter, clumpy milk) — catch it early with the strip test. Bloat on lush spring pasture — introduce rich grass slowly. Milk fever around calving in heavy milkers. Keep free-choice minerals out.
Fresh water always (a cow drinks 20–40+ gal/day in heat), hoof checks, fly control, and a yearly vet look. Pastured single cows stay remarkably healthy.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Bred Dexter / mini-Jersey (starter) | $2,000 |
| Yearly breeding (AI) | $50–100 |
| Minerals / salt | $75–150/yr |
| Winter hay (her share) | low — stockpile + custom-bale |
| You need: a run-in shed + working corral | see Animals |