Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
dairy farm, using bags or a bunker system is a cheaper way to store silage. One item that
will pay off in the end is a TMR (total mixed ration) mixer. Johnson definitely recommends
this piece of equipment.
Johnson attests that the best part about dairy farming is the lifestyle and working with the
cattle. Johnson spends about 14 hours a day working on his farm along with a full-time hired
hand. His top three time-consuming chores are heat detection, feeding the cattle, and put-
ting up feed. This is in addition to the milking chores and calf-feeding duties. A dairy farmer
has to be fully committed to the farm in order for it to work successfully.
Having “cow sense” is a must as well, as a healthy and comfortable cow gives more milk. In
Johnson's opinion, the worst aspect about dairy farming is having a cow develop feet and
leg problems and not knowing why this occurs. He uses artificial insemination (AI) to breed
his cows. He tries to pick sires that will improve the feet and legs of the calves, but despite
this, he still has cows that have feet and leg problems.
Structures
The best advice for someone who is about to invest in the infrastructure for a cattle operation
is to keep it simple. All the neat machinery and products that are advertised as making life
easier might tempt you, and most of them work the way they say, but their price tag could put
your farm in jeopardy. Many farmers fall into the trap of having to expand continually to sur-
vive. You must consider each purchase carefully to be sure it is necessary. You might be sur-
prised with how few facilities you can get by with.
If there is not a barn on your property already, you probably can get by without one. One of
the key principles of cattle farming is that cattle should be left outdoors, as they would live in
nature. Many dairies also are being built without winter housing. The best approach probably
is to start small and give the minimalist approach a chance to work. You always can add more
equipment and facilities down the line if you decide you cannot do without them.
Your cows probably will need fences to keep them from getting hurt on the highway and to
prevent them from eating your neighbors' yards. There are places in western states with open-
range laws that permit cattle to be unfenced, but the majority of cattle farmers use electric fen-
cing. Laws vary by location, so start with county zoning officials, or your local extension
agent, to see what the rules are for you. You will have to be sure your cattle have access to
water in your managed grazing plan.
