Cows vs Goats: the Pros and Cons of Both

Cows vs Goats:  the Pros and Cons of Both

cow-vs-goat 

Size Matters
Cows are bigger, but they produce a lot more milk.  They also require a tremendous amount of space as well as food in order to keep them strong and healthy.  A cow will probably require between 3 and 5 acres of pasture land whereas a goat does not need to graze much at all.  In fact, all they really need is a pen that is about 30 square feet in order to for them to have enough room to feel comfortable.  However, goats will love some space to roam as well.  Many people also suggest that you get pairs of goats instead of only one.  They prefer companionship and will be much easier to deal with if they are happy.

Feeding and Water
Expect a cow to consume at least 1 gallon of water per 100lbs of body weight.  Double that for hot weather months.  This can quickly add up, especially if you have a full-grown cow that weighs more than 1200lbs.  Cows are incredibly hungry as well, and they can eat upwards of 30lbs of feed and hay per day.  This is also true if they are free-range cows that eat in the pasture.

Goats only need about 3 gallons per day, and even less if they are grazing on moist pastures.  Goats also generally benefit from pasture grazing as well as feed to obtain adequate nutrition.  They also need about 1-2lbs of food per 100lbs of body weight, but since they are much smaller than cows, their overall consumption is considerably less.

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Milk  Characteristics
Goat milk is naturally homogenized so the fats don’t separate and form a cream layer that is found in cow milk.  Therefore, the milk is inefficient for producing butter and cream.  However, goat cheese is easy to make.  Cow milk can be used for butter, cream, cheese and milk, and one cow can alone supply all of the daily dairy needs of a large family.  Goats produce far less milk, and families may need 2 or 3 of them just to keep supplies flowing.

There is a lot of debate surrounding the taste and texture of milk produced by cows and goats.  However, many homesteaders swear that the difference is negligible.  Goat cheese is also very tasty provides an excellent source of condensed nutrients.  Goats tend to produce less fat as well.

Cows tend to prefer more moderate and moist climates whereas goats thrive in hot and drier locales.  While it is easy to create an environment for both animals in both climates, it is important to consider their natural habitat in terms of grazing and creating the appropriate housing and shelter for them.
Goats also do well in pens whereas cows like to roam.  Goats are also more likely to bypass fencing and other barriers.  Cows tend to stick to the pasture and don’t require a lot of containment.

Finally, it’s important to consider cost.  Cows are much more expensive to purchase and keep whereas a good goat should only cost a couple of hundred dollars.  Remember that you will need to keep an ongoing and sufficient supply of food and water for both animals, and cows place a bigger strain on available resources.

This is just a brief overview of the differences between cows and goats, and it’s important to do some in-depth research before making any final decisions.  However, having either animal at your disposal will make a tremendous impact on your ability to become self-sufficient.

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