Can I start a small dairy farm with 20 cows in 5 acres of land?
Your resources are stretched too thin. Growing up, we had 18 milking cows with 60 acres of land to support them. And this was only a part-time operation, as my parents had full time jobs. Does your business plan involve specifics on where you’ll market the milk, and other details such as food sources? How about space for animal waste management storage tanks and the like? I’m just thinking, 5 acres doesn’t sound like much land for a farming operation. Is your own home on the same piece of land? Are you on well water? Cows will put demands on that system. How about your house’s septic drain field? That takes space. Then you need storage areas for farm equipment, hay storage, etc. Thinking again about animal waste storage tanks or lagoons – those take money to install. And you have to be able to use all that manure – 5 acres isn’t much land to dispose of waste from 20 head. You need to talk to your local Cooperative Extension Service agents for advice.
