Anyone keep cows?

[Birdie Wife]

I'm thinking of getting a Shetland cow and calf. They used to be widely kept as house cows and I was wondering if it's okay to keep such a small number - do they not prefer the company of the herd?

More info on the breed here:http://www.rbst.org.uk/watch-list/cattle/shetland.php.

[farmerdrea]

We have 2 house cows now, a Jersey and a Jersey/Friesian X (on the small side, like the Jersey). For the first 3 years, we only had the one cow, and either she was alone and preggers or with her calf till we ate him. She was fine on her own, but did have the goats with whom she sometimes grazed. With the 2 cows, they are always together, and seem distressed when separated. But they can do ok in small groups. Our Jersey is much more upset at being on her own (our other house cow is on another property for the winter - not enough feed here) but she is happy when she can look at other cows from afar (we are surrounding by dry stock grazing, so the cattle are cycled through the neighbouring property at regular intervals. When there are no other cattle in sight, she mopes and her milk supply drops. When there are other cattle for her to see (not just hear, she needs to see them) she's fine. I don't think we will be splitting up the girls again next winter...

Cheers
Andrea
NZ