Calf Sharing on our small, organic dairy farm.

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2 жыл бұрын

Here on Clover Mountain Dairy, we practice what is known as "calf sharing", meaning we leave our calves with our cows and share the milk with them. Check out the video to see how we do it on our farm!
Clover Mountain Dairy is a seasonal Certified Organic small dairy farm located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Northeast Washington State near the town of Chewelah. In addition to being Certified Organic, we practice regenerative farming practices to improve the soil and for carbon sequestration. We are 100% grass fed and utilize managed intensive grazing (MIG) where we rotate them through our permanent pastures. Our herd is completely A2/A2 and we practice calf-sharing, not separating the babies and letting the cows raise their own calves. The mommas do a wonderful job! We process our own milk here on the farm. We gently vat pasteurize the milk and bottle it as creamtop whole milk, chocolate milk, Caffe Latte, and Eggnog (seasonally). We also make a full-fat cream top yogurt and cheese! All our fluid milk is bottled in glass returnable milk bottles. Our glass milk bottles are reused multiple times! The ultimate recycling! We market our milk and other dairy products through our local farmer's market and on farm sales. We are both military veterans and first generation farmers.
Music: Apple iMovie Riverwalk

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@mtozzy11 2 жыл бұрын

It's a very old way you guys handle your cows and calf's, 100 years ago your practices would of been common place, I grew up with my grandparents milking 2 - 4 cows split calving across the year to give the family fresh milk, butter and cream year round, the calves were on their mum's during the day and locked up at night, the calves always had plenty and so did we, I think you guys have found the perfect balance between production of milk, calf health and overall wellbeing for both cow and calf. Well done this is probably the most humane way to milk cows. Ohh and old trick I was taught by grandpa "if the cow has problems letting down put the calf on her for a minutes then milk the cow"

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

There is a lot of old knowledge that is in danger of being lost. I was fortunate enough to have a mentor who started dairying in the 1930’s that I learned a lot from. I’m also a big fan of old Extension Publications. That said, there are also some amazing technical advances in the industry. The key is just finding the right balance. Thanks for watching!

@jonathankipps9061 2 жыл бұрын

I've been doing some calf-sharing on a 50 cow dairy for a few years now. My best advice to someone wanting to try it in a commercial dairy setting, is be flexible. With calf rearing, you don't have to completely commit to a single way of raising calves. If you have two heifer calves born in April to third lactation dams, let the calves run loose with the milking herd. If you get 15 calves all born at once in August, raise them as a group in the forest. If you have a couple calves born to first-calf heifers in January, bottle feed them indoors for a bit. Just play with it a bit. Have a little fun changing it up, and trying different methods of calf-rearing. You'll learn a lot more about raising calves by raising them in a variety of settings.

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing! We sincerely appreciate your input here. You were so helpful to us in the beginning with your advice when we were thinking about calf sharing. Thanks for watching!

@azzamaddas4437 2 жыл бұрын

Your practice is more humane and natrual. Keep up the good work. 👍

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@fredolsen1014 2 жыл бұрын

The calves look great! I wish I lived close enough to buy your products

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Eventually we should be able to ship some cheeses, so keep that in mind. I’m sure we’ll do an announcement when that time comes. Thanks for watching!

@patriciablakeston3356 Жыл бұрын

Amazing that you keep mum's and calves together for longer . Brilliant compassionate farming . Lovely couple 💖

@vnthomas16 Жыл бұрын

We really feel it’s the best way!

@shushywilson6351 Жыл бұрын

Thank you. Dreaming of my first cow

@vnthomas16 Жыл бұрын

You’re welcome!

@brittanyray4230 Жыл бұрын

We calf share and it is AMAZING!!! Our first time doing it was with our first freshener holstein heifer with her angus x calf. We had a little trouble with let down when baby was on momma 24/7 but we still got what we needed. At 7 weeks old baby was taking everything so we started separating at night. At first I'd only milk the 2 front quarters while baby got the backs and we'd get anywhere from 1 to 1.5 gallons. Once she got about 4 to 5 months I'd let her get momma started, then kick her out, milk then let her out with mom for the day and we'd get 1.5 to 2.5 a day. We did that for 9 months, popped weaning ring in and dried mom off at 10 months. Knock on wood no udder health issues or any negatives. We got to have a milk cow and have a life lol. We have a first freshener jersey due in the next week or 2 and we will be doing the same with her. Mommas are happy babies are happy, we are happy

@vnthomas16 Жыл бұрын

We love calf sharing! We’ll never go back!

@snipe757 2 жыл бұрын

Very cool operation. It's good to see that this management plan results in plenty of milk for everyone. In my extremely limited experience, I can see the merits in calf sharing or, with goats, kid sharing. This year was our first kidding, with three bottle babies and one kid left with her mom. The kid that was nursing from her mom is just as tame and friendly as the bottle kids, it's not like that was a major advantage. In the future, I'll probably kid share if possible. We've had plenty of milk from our dairy does and kid sharing would allow some more flexibility in terms of schedules.

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

We really enjoy our schedule and the freedom it allows us!

@richardcompton2555 2 жыл бұрын

Your animals are so beautiful!

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

@ernestramsey3288 2 ай бұрын

Thank you guys....your are awesome.

@sueupham2519 2 жыл бұрын

So good to see you everyday now ,,any info is good and having animals in the background always is a plus while you're talking because we can't get to farms anymore to see how they grow and run...thanks farmers...p.s. we did realize that both of you served our country , God bless you both...

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the support!

@drakekarow7407 2 жыл бұрын

Keep up the great work!!! They all look great!

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you?

@Mrslaurazell 2 жыл бұрын

We calf share too!

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

We love it. Seems to work the best for everyone involved, us dairy farmers, the momma cows, and the babies!

@french-canadianfarmer5049 2 жыл бұрын

We milk some ewes for our milk and to make cheese. We leave the lambs with their mothers for 35 to 40 days and wean. We get less milk while lambs are there but they need to drink something. I haven't had trouble with udders or milk let down. Thanks for the video.

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

You’re welcome! It’s true, the babies need to drink something. No matter what, you pay. But we’ve found this to be the best investment in their health, and our time and energy.

@ButtonsMom100 2 жыл бұрын

Calf sharing works great for our mini jersey cow. I got 3/4 gallon with once a day milking, the calf got the rest. I separated at 8 pm and milked at 6:30 am. It is reassuring to know that I could leave the calf on full time if needed since I am the only one that milks the cow.

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Calf sharing does certainly make it easier to get away! If it wasn’t for Daisy losing her calf this year, we probably could have done our recent trip to Arizona without milking and been fine. But Daisy makes too much milk for that. We have friends who calf share and they typically skip milking on Sunday’s. They’ve even gone out of town for a few days and been fine not milking their cows. Thanks for watching!

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

@jeannel1065 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks to Stacy’s love of all things cheese curd adjacent, I discovered Culver’s in Meridian, ID when I was there earlier this week. Delicious! Thanks. I would never have gone out of my way to find it and try it out without watching your channel😁.

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

We’re glad we inspired you! Haha! We first discovered it when we lived in Wisconsin! Maybe someday they’ll expand to Washington???

@jeannel1065 2 жыл бұрын

@@vnthomas16 You two probably never fully know your influence. My diet couldn’t take it if a Culver’s opened in the Tri-Cites, WA, where I live. I totally understand Stacy making a stop there on both legs of the trip😆.

@ryanwaege7251 2 жыл бұрын

I gained so much weight when I worked for 8 years within walking distance to a Culver's! 😅

@johnedwards4115 2 жыл бұрын

Great video. Good to hear more about this. We’ve been calf sharing for the last few years. Definitely hard to find a lot of information

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed the video. The surprising thing to us is how many dairy farms actually do it… they just don’t put that information out there. Obviously we’re big fans of it, so we’re happy to hear of someone else doing it as well! Thanks for sharing!

@randybutler4772 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing!

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

You’re welcome!

@mennoreuten1563 2 жыл бұрын

Youre fully whright about the whole deal, and makes life so much easyer but we have to sell the farm and start over again i quess, but never the less we still produce very healthy and white milk every day, thanks and greetings from a Dutch dairyfarmer

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment! Yes, every dairy farm is different. This is just what works for us.

@Redhackle 2 жыл бұрын

Great video. Very informative. Thank you.

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

You’re welcome!

@dirtroadfarm.4024 5 ай бұрын

Love this.

@ardurbin2 2 жыл бұрын

Great informative video! Definitely works for your dairy operation. 😊👍💪

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Yes, every operation is different, but this works well for us!

@joshuatavenner5104 2 жыл бұрын

This was great! Can't wait to visit you next time I'm in that part of the state!

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@quietmanfarmswitzer883 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing information

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!

@michealhanner8216 2 жыл бұрын

great video good looking herd . God bless

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@bucsr.6106 2 жыл бұрын

Mooovelous!

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Udderly fantastic!

@mosaicfarm2389 2 жыл бұрын

We have dexter cattle and hand milk for our own consumption. We love calf sharing since we only need a few gallons a week. Calf sharing allows us to only milk a few times a week and let the calf take care of it the rest of the time. This year we had a cow abort 6 weeks early so we have been milking her full time. I will definitely be grateful when we return to only milking a few times a week.

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

We have one cow that sadly had a stillborn this year. We still milk her just once a day, but with no calf to pick up the slack, we definitely have to make sure she gets milked every day!

@enilas7 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this video! You have been such a beacon of light for my family. We have our first family cows, and she calved a beautiful baby girl two weeks ago. Would you explain for you wait 8 weeks (I think you mentioned) before you separate and start milking. We are learning all of this and trying and you are truly a guidance. Thank you!

@vnthomas16 Жыл бұрын

We start milking right away. As soon after birth (within an hour) we milk for colostrum for the baby which we bottle feed this one time to ensure 100% that the baby got it. Then we just start milking everyday in the morning after that. The baby is of course nursing at will during this time as well. We separate at night after 8 weeks so we get a little more milk for us, but there is still plenty for the baby.

@enilas7 Жыл бұрын

@@vnthomas16 thank you for taking the time to clarify! So you start milking but you don't separate the baby yet, you only separate at 8 weeks... so when you milk without separating- did you milk in the morning? Even if baby was with momma at night?...but you start separating at 8 weeks for more milk... thank you!

@vnthomas16 Жыл бұрын

We milk in the mornings. Regardless of what we’re doing with calves.

@karencary3312 2 жыл бұрын

I think it would be good for mama and calf.

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

We think it’s the best!

@punkydoggear8172 2 жыл бұрын

We have a very very very small place. We have 3 cows. 2 of them are A2A2...one is A1B. We were thinking that when we have calves, to put all the calves on the A1B mother (half holstein, half ayrshire)...since she'll have plenty of milk.

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Nurse cows are not uncommon and can be a good solution. Not all cows are willing to adopt other calves however. While we’ve never had udder/teat issues with our cows due to nursing, I’d definitely keep a good eye out down there if you have three calves on one cow. Best of luck!

@eliocardoso2834 2 жыл бұрын

Your cows udders are are very square and healthy. Do you dip the teats in any iodine or chlorine solutions after milking? I milk about 850 Jerseys in California

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Hi there! We pre and post dip with Theratec from GEA. Thanks for watching!

@patricknoetzel6752 2 жыл бұрын

When are you guys going to a milking and bottling video(s)?

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

We’ve done a few of those in the past. You can check one out here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gq1yddJm3bS2o2w.html Enjoy!

@devonwensink8400 2 жыл бұрын

with cheese now being produced are you thinking about getting pigs to feed the whey to o

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Our friend who takes care of the cows and milks when we have to be away from the farm has pigs, so we give the whey to him! Thanks for watching!

@bobmorse3513 2 жыл бұрын

So how many different flavored milks and yogurts do you make

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

We do Chocolate milk, Cafe Latte, and Egg Nog (Seasonally). We just to plain, cream top yogurt.

@jobiden6518 Жыл бұрын

I don't get it, do I milk in the afternoon and then in the morning put them back with their momma? If someone can help out, this is our first cow and first calf..

@sueupham2519 2 жыл бұрын

P.s. opps we did not realize you were in the service before

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, both of us are Veterans!

@mickoostingh5777 2 жыл бұрын

do you let the calves drink before milking or after milking

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

We let the calves out after milking (once we start separating at night around the 8 week point). We typically leave one quarter with milk on the cow so the baby can get breakfast!

@cedricgates9976 2 жыл бұрын

how long do you do that? till the mothers stop them or do you have a time that you wean

@jonathankipps9061 2 жыл бұрын

I'm not the author of this video, but I'll answer for myself anyway. I run calves with the milking herd 24/7. I don't separate at night. I don't feed the calves anything special. They just nibble on whatever their mothers are eating, whether that's pasture grasses or a corn-silage-based ration. Around six months, I install a "quiet-wean" flap in the their nose. Most calves go right on with life without hardly noticing that they can no longer nurse. The worst case I had recently, was a calf who moped around for two days before resigning itself to a milk-less diet. After that, it was completely fine.

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

We appreciate Kipps input on this. In fact, he was very kind in sharing his experiences with us when we were looking into calf sharing. Anyway, what we do is the calves run with the cows 24/7 for the first 8 weeks or so, and then we separate at night. We wean at six months as well. They get locked up one night, but the next morning they just don’t get let out. Their pen is adjacent to the cow pen, so they can see, smell, touch noses, etc. But, it’s pretty low key. They hardly notice they didn’t get let out that morning. Pretty low stress. Then, the weaned calves just start grazing on their own pasture. I think this year we will try the “quiet-wean” flaps as well. Already bought some in fact. Then we can just keep them all together as one herd.

@savannahk7737 2 жыл бұрын

Big question how long can you continue to milk cows?

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

We do standard 10 month lactations. Sometimes a little shorter if a cow calved in late. Being seasonal, we all take a few months off together. It’s a good system that works well for us. Thanks for watching!

@Beelady400 Жыл бұрын

How long do you calf share? When and how do you take the calf off the cow?

@vnthomas16 Жыл бұрын

We wean at between 5 and 6 months. It’s calf (and mother) dependent.

@jerex112 8 ай бұрын

great information

@LedgemereHeritageFarm 2 жыл бұрын

How’s the haying? It looks dry. 😢

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Terrible! Haha! We’re pretty much done for the year, other than possibly a dismal second cutting of alfalfa. We got about 30% of our usual yield with the drought here.

@LedgemereHeritageFarm 2 жыл бұрын

@@vnthomas16 I’m so sorry. That was us last year. This year, it’s the wettest July since 1915🚣‍♀️

@ajlewis9454 2 жыл бұрын

What happened to last year's calves I haven't seen them in your videos lately?

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

For the most part, we’re just running the yearlings with the rest of the herd. They’re old enough now that we can combine them so we’re only having to manage one herd instead of two.

@kristyadkins5312 Жыл бұрын

We just bought a Jersey fresh in milk from a dairy. We bought a calf also, to keep on her. She is only giving milk in three quarters. Would it be ok to calf share? Or would sharing take too much from the calf??

@vnthomas16 Жыл бұрын

Every cow is different, and with the changes in the lactation curve of the cow and the consumption of milk from a growing calf, it’s had to pin down numbers. They way we look at calf sharing, we make sure the calves get enough, and we take what’s left. We leave the calf with momma 24/7 for the first 8 weeks. After that, we do separate the calf at night, milk in the morning, and then reunite them all day until weaning around 6 months old. Three teats doesn’t mean much… I’ve seen 3-quarter cows milk more then 4-quarter. It’s all up to the individual cow. Hope my rambling makes sense. Thanks for watching.

@kristyadkins5312 Жыл бұрын

@@vnthomas16 this was the perfect answer for me. I will do exactly what you have advised. I love the thought of sharing!! Also, I am very happy to hear that 3 quarters vs 4 really won’t make a difference. Right now the calf gets all of it. Lol. It will be 6 more weeks until we begin to share. Thank you for answering!!!

@printaboul 2 жыл бұрын

But ... just asking, does it create an issue (a problem) if the calf nurse en empty mother after the morning milking.

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

No, no issues. There’s always a bit of milk left behind anyway, and the calves stripping out the udder actually improves udder health. Thanks for watching!

@printaboul 2 жыл бұрын

@@vnthomas16 Thank you ... Printaboul -> Gaëtan Dupont, Quebec city.

@bhamby9305 2 жыл бұрын

I have a jersey heifer this her first calf. We calf share. The calf was born June 12. My only complaint is we get hardly any cream.

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

The butterfat is all in the “hind milk”, at the end. So, if we’re going to leave milk for the calf, we use a plug in the milking machine and completely milk out three quarters, rather than remove the machine early and leave milk in all quarters. If the cow decides to hold up her milk, that can be very frustrating and an exercise in patience! We’ll use warm rags to massage the udder, and on a very few occasions, bring the calf into the milking parlor. We try and avoid doing that if we can though. Thanks for watching!

@RoseThistleArtworks 2 жыл бұрын

Calf sharing seems most respectful to God's animals. It aligns with gradual weaning that would happen naturally. Taking some milk, but not ignoring that the milk is primarily for the calf's benefit, is in alignment with the sentiment of Exodus 34:26 KJV, which of course, has a spiritual meaning, also, of not scorching someone, who is new in the salvation milk of His Word, with the consuming fire of His Word.

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your wonderful comment! Cows are the “Foster Mother’s of the Human Race”, but there is plenty of milk to go around. We just love to watch the interaction between the cow and her baby. Nobody can teach a calf how to be a cow better than a cow. We just try to be the best stewards we can to the animals and land entrusted to our care.

@f.molinacastillo5628 2 жыл бұрын

What happens to the male calves when they grow up?

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

We raise up all of our bull calves as steers here on the farm. Eventually they become grass-fed beef. Thanks for watching!

@richwhitaker1506 2 жыл бұрын

LOL. Thought the title said calf SHEARING.. Had immediate questions. 1) What is it? 2)Why? 3) How? Much relieved you didn't denude those little calves. Calf sharing works for your operation and obviously the calves are thriving. Hope you never shear any calf. Note to self: Be awake when viewing yt.

@vnthomas16 2 жыл бұрын

Hope we never have to shear a calf either! Haha! Thanks for watching!