Dairy Daze...and Now Beyond

1. This is the milk tank. Husband got this one Feb 05, soon after I arrived here. It holds about 4800 pounds of milk. I think I have stated in another post that we have only had it overflow one time during spring flush; year before last I believe; that was when it measured 4800 lbs. One thing we haven't yet figured out is what we are going to do when baby Ellen gets big enough we can't harness her in her carseat when she is out in the barn. See the valve in the tank at the bottom left corner...one tug on that little handle there and all the milk comes flowing out and down the drain just beneath it. Hmmmm...I think we will have to maybe keep her in her stroller. 2. Here are the little calf pens DH made. Also in the pic is the hay shed, which is being emptied quite rapidly, even more so since this was taken. The hay used to be all the way back to the furthest strut which is between the calves in the picture. This little red calf is Rosie's calf, who just happened to be in the...

To continue with the virtual dairy tour, which has taken me so LONG to do... Here is a pic taken in the boneyard: In the dairy business they say that you lose 3-5% of your herd a year. I guess that is pretty correct. In bigger dairies disposing of carcasses is a major hassle, you have to fork over dough for someone to come pick them up. However, when have a small dairy and live on plenty of acreage you just haul the carcass off and let the coyotes and buzzards and whatever else take care of it for you; ashes to ashes, nature to nature.... Well the baby is squalling, more touring later...

It was suggested that I do a "virtual tour" of the dairy here. I am not sure what all you will want to see, so if there are any suggestions, please let me know. I haven't got around to changing my email addresses so I will try and check the one here if you email to it, instead of make a comment. I'll just start with the quick story of the beginnings. Dear husband began this dairy back in the mid-late 80s (when I was still in highschool, or just getting out) from scratch. He bought up some land next door to his folks, about 5 acres, and he and his dad built the barn. (The one you see on this main page here...whatever you call it.) Then he got 4 cows and started milking. He rented fields around the area until he could buy more land as it became available. From there, over the years, he bought more cows and made more improvements as he could. All of it he paid cash for, and still does, so he owes no one anything. Most of the equipment is quite old dated as he bought it...