Family Cow

If you like to get down on the farm, this is a great book on dairy cows.

I have a dream of someday owning my own cow, maybe a horse, and another pig or two. Being a city girl, I wouldn't have the foggiest notion what owmership of large domestic animals entails. This book lays it all out for you in very pragmatic terms. How much land you need, the total cost of caring for a cow as well as the potential revenue for the milk and cheese. And now, when my country friends are talking about their cow problems, maybe I can even offer a piece of profound advice! (doubtful on that), Buy it, enjoy it.

This book encourages those of us who want to return to our farming roots and obtain the freshest dairy products possible from our own cow(s). He takes the fear out of stepping into caring for a cow for us first-timers. I can't wait to apply what I'm learning!

This book has everything you need to know about owning your own cow...kinds of cows and their temperaments, purchasing a cow, how to care for it, fences and barns to build for it, milking, foods to prepare with the milk, breeding and calving, you name it. Much detail is given in each subject, including drawings and pictures, but the author avoids being a bore with his dry humor. We knew absolutely nothing about cows, but now feel some confidence after reading this book!

Broken up into vital aspects of cow ownership and handling, this book is a god-send for anyone venturing into this arena. Van Loon has a great sense of humor that adds to the value of the material. We now have our Jersey milk cow and the book is constanly open. And yes, God did put cows on the earth to be eaten as well as milked!