Instructions
Read about the lactation cycle of your cow, as this is relevant to the feeding regimen. Determine how much milk your cow produces daily. Decide whether you have enough pasture for the cow to graze; cows really like grass, and this is a natural way of feeding a family cow. When the cow is milking, you will need to supplement the grass with a suitable corn blend.
Give a cow that gives 7 gallons of milk per day about 17 to 18 lbs. of corn. This is normally fed around milking time, and split into two rations. The condition of the cow and the ability to maintain a steady output, is usually a good indication that you are feeding correctly.
Supplement the corn with hay, silage or haylage in the winter, when grass is unavailable . Some farmers also leave mineral blocks out for their cows to lick. These contain selenium, and other important trace elements. Cut back the corn rations when the cow is dry -- this is usually a month, to two months before calving.
How to Feed the Family Milk Cow
Farming has become more intensive, as large numbers of livestock are necessary to produce enough money to make a farm viable. Conversely, some people are deciding to keep a few farm animals, just for their own use. In some cases, they aim to grow some of the feed too. You may see keeping a family cow as a step along the way, to becoming more self-sufficent and closer to nature.