[Ag-eq] introducing Bonnie

Thu Nov 12 18:24:31 UTC 2015

Hi Nella.
I wished I lived closer too; I'd love to try my hand at milking and
cheese-making.
I'm not much for cats, but yours sounds sweet.
Tracy

-----Original Message-----
From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nella Foster via
Ag-eq
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2015 12:08 PM
To: Agricultural and Equestrean Division List
Cc: nfoster at extremezone.com
Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] introducing Bonnie

Tracy:

I tried responding earlier and the cat ran across the keyboard and
everything was lost!  She is a little cat that just showed up a couple of
months ago and I'm such a sucker I kept her.  She had been injured and her
leg had to be amputated.  She is doing very well as a 3 legged kitty.  She
loves to climb all over my computer table, only when I'm using it of course.

Yes, the hot chocolate was yummy.  This morning I put a spoon full of cream
in my hot tea and that was good too.  I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but
bet it would be great.

I definitely plan on making yogurt and cheeses.  I have a yogurt culture and
some different ones for cheeses.  I also have a sour cream culture that I
want to try.  I've never got to use it with the goat milk, not enough cream.
It will be very interesting to see how things compare to the goat milk
products.

When making yogurt I've never brought it to a boil; I think it is 112.  Then
you add the culture or some of the last yogurt and let is sit for about 12
hours.
It turns out better if you keep it at about 80 degrees while it is making.
I usually wrap the container in a couple of towels and place in the
microwave; it stays pretty warm that way.  I use my microwave for everything
but cooking.

I wish you lived close enough so that I could share.

When you try different cheeses or flavored butters please let me know what
you like.  Sometimes I try new goat cheeses to see if I like them and could
make them.

I got almost a gallon of milk from Bonnie this morning.  She should be
giving a bit more, but she is probably a little stressed by the move.  I'm
also pretty slow at milking her, which she probably finds annoying.  She did
run right up to me this morning so she could eat.

I find Bonnie to be a little harder to milk than the goats.  It may just be
that she's not letting her milk down very good.  Both cows and goats will do
that when they are stressed or someone new is milking them.  It was easier
to milk her today than yesterday.  I'm sure both she and I will get the hang
of it.

Please let me know if you have any other great ideas; I like trying new
recipes.

Have to stop typing, the cat is sitting on my shoulder now.

Nella

Quoting Tracy Carcione via Ag-eq <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>:

> Mmmm Nella, hot chocolate with fresh milk.  Yummaroo.
> You could make yogurt, if you wanted.  I heard an Indian cook 
> describing the process the other day.  She said you boil the milk a 
> bit, take it off the heat, and stir in a starter, which is usually a 
> bit of yogurt from the last batch.  Wait a bit, and there you are.
> A local place makes their own Greek yogurt, and it is great.
> You could make cottage cheese, too.  See, I'm just full of ideas for 
> your milk and your time. :.) Tracy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nella 
> Foster via Ag-eq
> Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2015 2:55 PM
> To: Agricultural and Equestrean Division List
> Cc: nfoster at extremezone.com
> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] introducing Bonnie
>
> Tracy:
>
> Yes, she is very easy to handle, Jersey cows are usually pretty 
> docile.  She has the traditional Jersey look, a lighter brown color 
> with big dark brown eyes that have long lashes.  Her face is dished 
> and she is smaller, but average for a Jersey.
>
> I have a goat bell on her, it looks like a cow bell, but smaller.
>
> If she has a bull I will definitely sell it.  If she has a heifer I 
> might keep it.  This will be her 6th calf and she has only had 1 
> heifer.  I will just have to wait and see if I enjoy owning cows as 
> much as I enjoy the goats.  I don't have enough pasture to have more than
a couple.
>
> I just made some wonderfully rich hot chocolate with some of her milk.
> Maybe a cow isn't such a good idea, I might get as big as a house.
>
> Nella
> Quoting Tracy Carcione via Ag-eq <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>:
>
> > Hi Nella.
> > How exciting!  She sounds great.  And I imagine she's quite lovely, 
> > in a cow way.  Is her bell an actual cow bell?  Will you keep the 
> > calf, or sell it?
> > Tracy
> >
> >
> > > Hello to all:
> > >
> > > Well, I finally made my decision about dairy sheep and dairy cows 
> > > and purchased a Jersey milk cow.  Her name is Bonnie and she is 7 
> > > years old.  She is currently in milk and will calve in the 
> > > beginning of May.  I got to see 2 of her off spring and they were 
> > > big and healthy.  I just got her home yesterday, so she is settling
in.
> > >
> > > She can be hand milked or by a machine.  She walks on a halter and 
> > > lead and stands quietly while being milked.  I just tie her and 
> > > she eats while I milk.
> > > Sometimes she walks away when I try to catch her, but she will 
> > > always come for food.  I put a bell on her so I know where she is 
> > > in the pasture.
> > >
> > > She was shown at the fair when young and has been a family milk 
> > > cow
> since.
> > >  She
> > > is used to different people milking her, even children.  She likes 
> > > to be scratched, especially around her horns.  She was never 
> > > dehorned, so has long curving horns, which do not bother me.
> > > Another woman was interested in her, but was afraid of her horns.
> > >
> > >   I'm going to save the cream and make butter.  I will also make 
> > > some cheese.  I already have people that want to buy any extra, 
> > > which is good since she has more than I can use.  I will stop 
> > > milking her in the beginning of March.  Her body needs a couple of 
> > > months to get ready for the new calf.  She is bred to a North 
> > > Devon bull, they are red.  During the summer I will have both goat 
> > > and cow milk to sell; it will keep me busy.
> > >
> > > I really thought about the dairy sheep, but they are so hard to 
> > > find; it would be hard to find new animals to bring into the heard.
> > > They just aren't common around here.  I also didn't want to deal 
> > > with sheering.  Also compared to the goats the sheep produce a 
> > > pretty small quantity of milk.  My other concern about the sheep 
> > > were diseases.  There are some diseases that goats and sheep can 
> > > share and I don't want my goats getting sick.  There are few 
> > > diseases that goats and cattle can exchange.  It will be a lot 
> > > easier to find bulls to breed Bonnie with, there are several very 
> > > close.
> > >
> > > I will keep everyone posted on Bonnies progress.
> > >
> > > Nella
> > >
> > >
> > >
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