The Backyard Cow An Introductory Guide to Keeping a Productive Family Cow

You don't need acres of land to keep a cow healthy, happy, and productive. You can raise one right in your own backyard, producing more than enough milk for a single family--up to six gallons per day! The Backyard Cow covers everything you need to know, from selecting the right breed to understanding your cow's behavior; providing shelter, health care, and daily maintenance; grooming; milking; and making cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products from your milk.

Part 1: Meet the Cow
1 Brief History
First Came the Aurochs * What Is a Cow?

2 The Breed You Need
Choosing a Breed * Heritage Breeds * Additional Breeds * Zebu Breeds

3 Applied Cattle Psychology
Cattle Behavior 101 * Moving Cattle

4 Buying Your Cow or Steer
Basic Considerations * Where (and Where Not) to Buy * Bringing Bossy Home

Part 2: Have Fun 'Til the Cows Come Home
5 Milking
Home Dairying Basics * Hand Milking * Raw or Pasteurized? * Freezing Milk

6 Homemade Dairy Products
Cheese Making at a Glance * Butter * Buttermilk * Simple Soft Cheeses * Yogurt * Quark * Kefir * Beastings * Koumiss

7 Riding Steers
Before You Begin * Tack for Riding Steers (and Cows) * Training Your Steer to Ride

8 Raise a Calf
Start with a Healthy Calf * Housing Your Calf * Feeding Your Calf * A 4-H Bucket Calf Project

Part 3: Care for Your Cow
9 Mating and Birthing
Breeding Your Cow * Calving 101

10 Shelter, Equipment, Pasture, and Fences
Shelter * Everyday Equipment * Pasture * Keeping Your Cow in Place

11 Feeding
The Bovine Digestive System * Concentrates * Water * Feeders and Water Receptacles * Feed-Related Health Concerns

12 Grooming, Hoof Care, and Parasite Control
Grooming and Hoof Care * Internal Parasites * External Parasites

13 Health Care
Checking Vital Signs * Cattle Diseases at a Glance * Medicating Your Cow or Steer

Glossary

Appendix 1: Restraint
Halter and Tie * Nose Tongs * Tailing

Appendix 2: Clicker Training
Equipment and Supplies * Basic Targeting * Teaching to Follow a Target * Leading

Appendix 3: Emergency Euthanasia

Resources

Index