A quick info guide for people new to cattle or thinking of buying
Cows are becoming increasingly popular as pets, and you may have found yourself thinking about how nicely one might fit into your life. Weather you just want one or two as pets, or you’re thinking about starting a hobby farm or small business – there are some very important things to consider before making the commitment.
First things first, you need to consider your space. Cattle need room to roam, secure fencing, shelter and good handling facilities. A working cattle crush with a set of yards is essential. From a veterinary point of view there’s not much that can be done without a crush – even for the calmest cows! Crushes are essential for things like vaccinating, drenching, veterinary appointments and safe handling.
Some things to consider:
- Do you have enough space?
- Generally, it’s recommended that you have about 1 acre per cow provided you have good quality pasture and irrigation. Ideally more if the paddock is sparse or poor-quality soil.
- Can you get a set of yards with a crush set up?
- Crushes and yards vary in price and size but are usually not cheap. Contact your local Ag store for guidance on where to look and what will suit your needs.
A simple set up like this is great for smaller herds
Cattle are not quite as low maintenance as they may seem. We often see cows hanging out in their paddocks, happily eating grass and drinking from a dam, but what we don’t see is the huge amount of time and effort spent by farmers maintaining those paddocks and water sources. Cows are ruminants which means they have a complex gut system which is easy to disrupt when nutrient balances are off.
Some things to consider:
- Can you afford to feed a cow?
- Cows cannot survive on grass alone and require constant access to feed to protect their gut. They eat pasture that is a mix of legumes, grasses and clovers to have a balanced diet. Many cows also require supplement feeding of hay, grain or pellets for any minerals they cannot get from pasture. Depending on the season and pasture quality, cows can cost up to $10/day to feed. With the rising cost of hay livestock do not make cheap pets!
- Make sure you keep their water clean!
- Dams are regularly maintained by farmers with testing and treatments to prevent growth of harmful bacteria. Make sure you are maintaining your troughs and water sources regularly and always have fresh, clean drinking water available for your animals.
Make sure you are known to your local vet! If you are living on the Fleurieu, the Adelaide Hills, and surrounds, Compass Veterinary Livestock Services are here for you 24/7.
If you have recently bought or are thinking about buying cattle, get in touch with us to see how we can support you. For owners of 20 livestock or less, we offer our Smallholder Essentials Package to support you in getting started. For all clients we offer out of hours services 7 days a week, including public holidays.
We are committed to supporting our local farmers to achieve a high level of welfare for their animals.
Get in touch with us via phone on 8556 2496 or email us at reception@compassvets.com.au or come in and visit us at
2018 Victor Harbor Road, Mount Compass.