Can I afford to buy a family milk cow? We considered this question long and hard before we welcomed Creme Brulee, our Jersey milk cow, to our homestead three years ago.
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I like getting real about money on the homestead, so I think it’s important to publicly talk about the financial side of this really big investment. And yes, a cow is a large investment – in money, in infrastructure, in time and effort. But it’s also a hugely positive investment in your homestead, your pasture, your community, and your family’s well-being.
Brian and I looked seriously at our finances before purchasing a milk cow, as we would with any major purchase. We are able to get delicious raw cow’s milk from a family farm, as well as Amish-made butter and cheese. Did it make sense to buy a cow ourselves? Would our investment pay off?
So we did the math.
How Much Does it Cost to Buy a Family Milk Cow?
I found out quickly that the cost of a homestead cow varies significantly! Not only regionally, but also depending on factors such as age, size, season, and genetics.
We purchased a 20-month bred heifer for $1,400. We also paid $300 in shipping costs and $100 in tests that I requested, as well as a health certificate to ship across state lines. Plus, we purchased the cow in December, so we absorbed the cost of feeding her over the winter months.
We paid a total of $1800 for a bred animal (which is really two animals). Three years later, we are planning to sell two cows, and prices are extremely low. So when you are planning to buy a family milk cow, keep your eye on the market, and be aware that prices can fluctuate.
How Much Does it Cost to Keep a Family Milk Cow?
These estimates are based on local costs and the fact that we have ample pasture for 1-2 cows for at least 5-6 months of the year. We are currently keeping three Jerseys – two grown cows and one bull calf who is still nursing.
We typically spend the following each year for our herd:
- $250 in alfalfa bales
- $150 in large grass hay bales
- $150 in Organic alfalfa pellets (as a treat at milking time)
- $60-80 in corn, oats, and barley for occasional milking snacks
- $100-400 in vet bills (We’ve been very fortunate to avoid large veterinary bills, but they still do come!
- $100 – $200 in artificial insemination to breed each cow
- $50 for minerals, kelp, and other supplements
- $100 for assorted barn needs (natural fly spray, halters, eye masks, etc.)
- Rough Total: $960-$1380
I am opting NOT to include the costs of building a barn or purchasing electric fencing, as we’d use that equipment for any animal we’d purchase in the future. However, it is a significant start-up cost. Also, we already own many milking supplies such as buckets, funnels, filters, and cheese-making supplies. Someone new to dairying would also want to consider these costs.
How Much do we Save or Earn Keeping a Family Milk Cow?
What we currently spend on dairy from a grocery store
We spent approximately $100 per month on dairy products – raw milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, cream, and the occasional pint of ice cream – for a total of approximately $1,200 per year.
When we purchased our family milk cow, we were able to provide much of our own dairy for most of the year, saving at least $750 per year. We do still purchase butter and some hard cheeses (and ice cream on occasion).
The calves
Creme Brulee has delivered two calves under our care. Our first homestead calf, MayApple, is now a bred heifer, and ready to become a family milk cow for some other lucky family. The current market is very low, and we expect to sell her for around $1,000.
The second calf, Osage, is a mighty handsome bull, but despite our attempts to sell him for breeding, we did not get any bites, so he will fill our freezer with nourishing grass and milk-finished beef worth at least $500.
Selling milk
We live in an area that is populated with Amish farmers, so the raw milk market is a bit saturated and under-priced. The Amish charge as low as $3 per gallon of cow’s milk. We did sell milk occasionally to neighbors, but mostly made use of all the milk in our own home. I would estimate that we earned $200-$300 selling raw milk.
The Bottom Line
Yes, there is a significant money input when you buy a family milk cow, but it is very reasonable to pay back the investments through the sales of animals and dairy products.
And of course, there are the less quantifiable benefits of using a grazing animal to improve our pasture with their manure and urine, the bountiful manure for my garden, the companionship of a sweet animal, and finally, the health benefits of raising our own raw dairy products. PRICELESS!
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Have you found that purchasing a homestead cow was a sound investment?
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Back in the 70’s when my kids were babies, we had a small property, room enough to keep a cow, but not enough pasture. So we looked at the costs and ended up deciding to go with goats instead. We had one goat who was a major producer…she didn’t have kids, she had liters. She had FIVE babies every time she was bred. But I am sure our milk cost far less per gallon to produce than if we’d had a cow. Plus it requires a much smaller structure to house a goat.
And my children did great on the milk, turns out two of them have serious allergies to cows milk, these did not surface until we moved to a place where we couldn’t keep goats.
Goats are at least a good starting point for someone who isn’t used to the demands of a strict schedule for milking and how do you take a day off….
I had milk goats for 10 years and I never regretted having them.
Goats are great too! We’ve raised both goats and cows and I agree that goats can be a much more affordable and practical solution for many!
Well,up here in northern Saskatchewan..Canada a milking bred Jersey goes for 3000$…we live on a grain farm in the forested area and are sort of retired with our cattle,horses,sheep,pigs and bees
Had an awful time getting a working separator,finally bought one from the Ukraine
Just signed up here and enjoying the read
Thanks for chiming in – really, where you’re buying makes a huge difference in price! Glad you’re here!
Hi! We are buying her sister, I believe, Creme Caramel (Cara). We are really excited to add her to our ranch.
That is exciting! Good luck with the addition!
When we settled on our homestead I told my husband (who loved to go to farm auctions) NOT to bring a cow home. It wasn’t long before we had our first cow, Daisy, a rather old Jersey cow. What a lovely old girl she was. She provided us with milk for cheese, butter, yogurt and wonderful homemade eggnog – with a little help from our chickens. We soon had two cows, the second a Black Jersey heifer – Bingo – who, despite having not much of a bag, was a great milker and a wonderful mother. There was no calf she did not love (she would even try to steal other calves from their mothers) and at one time we had 4 calves on her as she wandered the pastures. Our homesteading days are lone gone, but the memories of our beloved cows goes on.
It is hard work, (we made all our own hay and gleaned corn from a local farmer’s fields) and we rarely got off the farm for more than a day, but the benefits to our family were immeasurable. We often say what a great way it was to raise children.
Thanks for your great blog!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with dairy cows! We are so new to owning a cow that we’re still in that half-scared stage, but I’ve been really enjoying getting to know Creme Brulee. I brush her daily, and she and I have formed quite the bond. I can’t wait until we have milk and cream and butter and cheese!!
In Kentucky, a finished side of beef cost $1,200 hanging. Thus a full beef is $2,400 (most processors only give prices on a side of beef since so few people order a whole). If a neighbor would let you put your cow in a near buy pasture with their Angus Bull at just the right three -seven days, you could have a half beef/ half dairy calf. If you have a heifer, that will be a great mother cow that pours the milk. If it is a steer, look at all the beef you would have! Processing cost here is around $450 for a full beef. Good luck, God’s blessing and I LOVE your cow’s name!
Thanks Phil! The cow came with her gorgeous name, and we love it also! I appreciate your insights about beef. It definitely helps to have some real dollar figures to assess our homestead costs and benefits!
I know you are just going to love having your cow! Tell her Beulah says “hi!”
Thanks Heather! Hello to Beulah too!
Teri – I just answered the goat/cow question by reading a post or two behind 🙂 Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you too!
Congratulations on your new heifer!
I’m curious to know why you opted for a cow as a dairy animal instead of a high producing goat? Thanks 🙂
Congratulations, I am glad you finally got your cow. We milked here for 20+ years, then sold everything.
I am a widow now, but two of my sons are close, so one of them bought a Jersey cow, And she is so sweet. Comes in to get milked, Never picks up a foot, never messes in the barn, and will give kisses for some more grain.
I have made butter, cheese, and ice cream. It is all good. I have even given away a lot of it.
We sell Milk for $350 a gal. And a Jersey cow is selling for anywhere from $1200 to $1800 normaly.
Ours is dry right now, and will calve in Feb. I bred her A I. so I know she till have a Jersey calf.
We have another Jersey that is due in April, [bred to a black bull} that we plan to sell around that time.
But we want to keep the calf.
We live in Ava, Mo. I noticed others have posted on here, but they did not say where they were from, and prices vaired a lot. I can’t imagine $10 milk.
What a nice cow you have, Vera! And yes, it’s true that price varies considerably from place to place. Missouri is definitely on the lower end of the spectrum.
The cost savings are significant but more importantly, the health benefits are priceless! And the companionship…..it is just wonderful. We love our cows and I find it to be an addicting habit to have. I love that you did the math and financial side of this! In our area (Montana) a bred Jersey heifer goes for $2700 dollars. An unbred, newly weaned heifer goes for $1900. You lucky duck! When we bought raw milk, it was $10/gallon and some places it was $12/gallon.
Wow! Such a difference in prices. Although in Oregon, raw milk was definitely closer to $10/gallon.
My jaw dropped when I saw $3 per gallon! How lucky you are to live in an area where it is so easy to obtain raw milk! Here in the city we pay $9 a gallon and can only pick up in a 30 minute time frame once per week at a location nearby. It’s totally worth it as it has pretty much cured my husbands eczema. The farm has been raided by the state several times.
It is very lucky. We do pre-order, but then the farmers bring the milk to a pick up spot. It is about a 30 minute time frame also, once per week, but it’s never been inconvenient, and it’s nice to chat with the other folks picking up their milk too!