The key to good health in a house cow is to keep her content and nutritionally replete. However, having an understanding of what can go wrong will help both prevention and cure.

How to separate cream and make butter on a small-scale, including tips and troubleshooting.

How a cow’s diet and contentment affects both the taste and nutritional value of the milk she produces, as well as her overall health.

Safe production of raw milk starts with raising cows in conditions and using practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease.

Getting the cream means understanding both the physiological process of milk production, and the psychological process of milk let down.

Do we need to milk our cows twice a day? We we look at the pros and cons and how once-a-day milking might be the best option for cow, calf, cow-keeper and consumer.

How to milk a cow by hand and thoughts to consider on when hand or machine milking might be the best option.

Guidance on getting a cow in calf, the oestrus cycle, and the calving process, as well as preparing for that all important first milking.

Keeping a family cow or setting up a micro-dairy. Here we cover the land and shelter requirements plus tips on buying cows.

What is cow-calf dairying and why don’t all dairy cows keep their calves?

How milk is made and what gives a good let down.

Understanding the rumen development of a calf and how to best support it in a suckled dairy system.

Udder development in dairy heifers needs to be considered when deciding when to wean.

SMILING TREE FARM SYSTEM, STEPS 1&2

Creating a bond with your cow, calving and first milking.

SMILING TREE FARM SYSTEM, STEPS 3&4

Share-milking with the calf.

SMILING TREE FARM SYSTEM, STEPS 5&6

Milking without the calf suckling and parting the calves in the field.

SMILING TREE FARM SYSTEM, STEPS 7&8

Preparing the cows and calves for a stress-free weaning.