Raising animals can be a fun family project, but what are the 6 easiest cows to raise with your children? Caring for cows teaches young children about responsibility and brings the food cycle out from under layers of supermarket packaging. Children will witness and participate in the hands-on work of food production, which will teach them to value food as a process and a resource instead of a faraway commodity. And, of course, raising a cow improves the quality of your family’s food supply.
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There are clear benefits to raising a cow with your children, but there are also important questions to ask when choosing the best breed for you. Will your cow provide dairy or beef? There are only a few breeds which provide both. Dairy cows tend to turn their feed into milk, while beef cattle turn their feed into muscle bulk. We’ve included both in our list to offer your family the best choices. Who knows — maybe you belong in the 10 largest cattle producing states in the US and you don’t even know it.
In order to give you the best recommendations, we’ve considered several areas. To choose the “easiest,” we judged their hardiness, expected lifespan, and grazing efficiency. We’ve also included information on how easy they are to breed since this is valuable to many. But most importantly, these cows need to have calm, reliable personalities to be child-friendly. We’ve combined these different factors into one definitive list.
6. Jersey
The Jersey cow, from the Channel Island of the same name, may be the most popular family cow. It has a long lifespan and is an efficient milk producer, trumping the rival Holstein in ratios of feed to milk. Jersey cows weigh far less than most other dairy breeds — about 1,000 pounds fully grown — making them an ideal size for smaller properties and children. Their milk is among the highest in protein and butterfat content out of all breeds. If it sounds like they should be higher up the list, here’s the catch: Jersey cows have unpredictable temperaments that likely won’t suit families with very young children.
5. Canadienne
This small, adaptable breed makes abundant and good-quality milk without expensive feed or labor-intensive farming. As their name suggests, Canadiennes were bred in Canada from European breeds imported in the 1600s, when farmers in Quebec wanted a cow suited to their climate. The breed has enjoyed something of a revival, with the terms Black Jersey and Black Canadienne used interchangeably. They’re small and hardy with mild temperaments. They can also be good sources of lean meat . . . when the time comes.
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4. Devon
This striking red breed is really three breeds: Milking Devons, North Devons (also known as Red Devons), and South Devons. All three come from Britain, and all three are known for their docility and ease of handling. Devons are very fertile with almost no calving problems. They adapt to both hot and cool climates, and make an excellent family choice thanks to their relaxed and gentle nature. North Devons produce high-quality beef and are known for their longevity. (Sadly, the Milking Devon is extinct in its native land and listed as ‘critical’ on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy list, and latest figures suggest there are a mere 600 remaining worldwide.)
3. Ayrshire
The Ayrshire is a dairy cow with a gentle temperament and adaptable nature — ideal for a family cow. They’re prized for their success in a variety of climates and terrains, and they have rugged feet that allow them to live on rougher terrain than other dairy cows can. Ayrshires milk easily and quickly, though their abundant milk is not high in fat content. This breed is known for its hardiness, ease of calving, and strong immune system.
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2. Highland
This delightful breed from the rugged mountains of Scotland is a strong second place in our 6 easiest cows to raise with your children. These natural foragers can thrive in a variety of terrains, offering lean, finely marbled meat and lovable orange fur. They calve easily and have fine, mild personalities.
1. Dexter
Our winner, the Dexter, is the smallest British cattle breed at around 700 pounds fully grown. They can be kept on a mere half-acre of grass and produce both dairy and meat in abundance. In fact, the Dexter yields more milk by body weight than any other breed: 10 liters per day, or more than 2.6 gallons, of high-protein, high-butterfat milk. If you are farming for beef, the Dexter reaches maturity at an early age and produces flavorful meat with a good marble. Many people believe the Dexter to be a new breed of cattle, but they originated in Ireland in the 1800s and are now the best of our 6 easiest cows to raise with your children!
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