File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
How difficult would it be to have a cow for a pet? I live in a rural area anyway, so lots of cows already here with lots of grazing field in my property. But I don't have any intention of selling them, just want to keep them around and let them do their cow thing, cows are cool.

Are they high-maintenance animals, and are there certain breeds that are more sociable than others? Should I start with a young calf, and do they need a lot of companionship?
>> Anonymous
herd animals
->need others around

milkproducers
-> if you dont milkem regulary, theyll go mad(i was told it hurts them after a while)
>> Anonymous
you should do what my aunt did. She had a cattle farm next door to her, so for an extremely nominal fee she essentially rented out her paddock and dam as grazing area for them. Not only did she make a couple of extra bucks, she got cows doing their cow thing around her and didn't even have to do any work to keep them.
>> Anonymous
I'm not the OP, but I'd like to hear what other Anons have to say about it, as well. There's a pretty good chance I'm going to be moving out to the country in a few years, and having a milking cow or two would be great. If anyone has firsthand experience, I'd sure like to hear it.
>> Anonymous
Goats are a hell of a lot less hassle, and a lot more fun.
>> Anonymous
I think there are farmers who will have say just one or two cows. But as mentioned, you do have to milk them or else it will hurt them. Other than that though I guess it would be possible.
>> Anonymous
I had some growing up. You have to either bottle feed them (6 am and again in the evening) or start grain feeding them as soon as you get them so they trust you, and they will bawl every morning to let you know they're hungry. Cows aren't really rewarding pets imo, but they are serene to watch if you're stressed out, and they have those cute eyes that make you -think- they appreciate you. They aren't exactly high maintenance, but because of their size the cost of care can go up, especially during the winter when more food/hay/barn litter is required.

Some /an/on here are wrong, the milking thing is only if you breed the cow and prolong the milking period by taking the calf away. I think it's called mastitis, but you shouldn't have to worry about it at all if you start with young cows that haven't been bred.

The biggest thing you will need to worry about is spring grass - if a cow goes straight from eating grain and hay all winter to eating fresh green grass, it can make her sick.

You will have to have a large animal vet who can tell you what vaccinations they need to have.
>> Anonymous
Make sure you get one of those cute cows, like those highland(?) ones that are always floating around here, so you can take post pix.
>> Anonymous
IMO, get a horse or pig.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>> Anonymous
I don't know, but I have goats as pets. They are pretty low maintenance.
My guess would be that you'd need a field (few acres minimum), and they seem a bit higher maintenance then goats, not sure though. Why don't you ask some of the people around you since you live in a rural area?
>> Anonymous
>>204050

Amen. I have two Nigerian Dwarf goats, what about you?
>> Anonymous
Well you'll need a barn for them, especially in winter, and you'll have to muck out the barn on a regular basis and you'll have to keep buying hay bales and have a place to store the bales. They are herd animals, so you ought to have at least 2 for them to feel comfortable.

You live near any dairies? Ask the farmer if you can buy a pair of castrated bull calves off him. They'll probably be only about 100$, you won't have to worry about mastitis, and you'll be saving them from a life of veal.
>> Anonymous
Is there any particular difference between the behavior of males and females? I've noticed with cats and rabbits that the males are friendlier and more accepting of human contact, does the same apply to cows?
>> Nervo
It dose all depend on what country your from. is ur from The states im not sure, if it gets super cold ther ein winter ye u will neaad a nice shed for them. femails are teh way to go, get 2 or 3, you might be able to addops some nice old girls thatt are going to be sent to slaughter caus they cant calf ne more.

they eat grass mostly, and im winter just buy hay and feed it to them. there seriosuly not very hight mantinatnce, we used to have them when i was a kid, them pretty kool.
>> Anonymous
>>205093
Whoa.