Meat or milk?

[Bird]

I have a younger brother who said he and a friend bought 2 calves seveal years ago and raised them for the meat. He said if they didn't count their labor as being worth anything, he figures they probably saved 2 cents a pound on their meat. He said they'd never do that again.

[TJC]

I like dairy barns, cows, calves. Used to have holsteins and guernseys. I hated to see the one every year head for the butcher. The pigs went also and from there into the freezer. I like horses today and chickens, I don't have to worry that they will be butchered. I like to keep what I get - family, so I tend not to pick up stray animals over the years. But I miss the farming still- 40 years later. Used to show dairy cattle as a kid, a lot like showing horses - fitting and showmanship. But the connection with the horse you train lasts longer. I think that when a cow is milked daily and in a stanchion for a good part of the year- it changes- not the pet it used to be. But we had cattle that headed for the truck when show season came along - wanting to get on with the others.

[TJC]

-Have to say though - the quality of your own meat and milk is far superior to what you buy in the grocery store. It is good to eat healthy on fine cuts!

[DesignerEyes]

Because my family enjoys both the meat and milk that comes form cows I would say that it would be nice to have both meat and milk cows. However, milking can be a time consuming chore that must be done every day-- not matter what. The biggest thing for me concerning the raising of my own cows is that both the milk and meat would be produced without the practices commonly employed in mass production farms. It is no secret-- turn our heads as we might-- that there are some pretty cruel practices going on in large meat and milking farms, and that these practices absolutely effect the quality of both the milk and meat we as customers receive. It would truly be great to have the peace of mind and the earned pride of having properly raised and cared for a meat or milk cow. Know what I mean?