Frequently Asked Questions About
Cowsharing/Cowboarding
The following FAQs were prepared for a cowsharing/cowboarding project in Virginia. Read them to get an idea about what a cowshare might be like (keep in mind that every cowshare may be set up differently, and that costs may vary widely across the country).
- Why cowsharing/cowboarding?
- What is a cowshare?
- How long has this cowsharing/cowboarding project been in existence?
- What kind of a cow will I be buying?
- Are these cows given hormones?
- Will my cow be pastured?
- Is my cow tested for tuberculosis (TB) and brucellosis?
- Where will my cow be kept?
- How does the farmer collect and store the milk?
- How does the milk pick-up work?
- Do I recycle the glass jars?
- May I have my milk delivered?
- Will my milk be handled safely?
- How long is my share good for?
- If I ever need to sell my shares, am I responsible for cowboarding payments until I sell my shares?
- How long does a cow live?
- When does a cow produce milk?
- If my cow has a calf every year, what happens to the calf?
- Can you give me some dairy terminology?
- What are the costs?
- So what if I want to purchase 3 shares? My family drinks about 3 gallons of milk per week. How much will this cost me?
- How is the money collected?
- How do I get started?
- How can I obtain more information?
1. Why cowsharing/cowboarding?
In Virginia, it is illegal to buy and sell raw milk (as in unpasteurized, fresh-from-the-cow milk). But it is not illegal to drink fresh milk from the cow that you own! Think of it! Owning your own cow and boarding it at a local farm. You may visit your cow at any time. The farmer performs a service for you by feeding, caring for, and milking your cow. And you benefit by being able to utilize the milk.
2. What is a cowshare?
A share in your own cow! A young cow can produce about 25 gallons of milk per week. We divide a young cow into 25 shares. One share is one gallon per week. Later, when the cow matures and has had 3 calves she can produce around 35 gallons of milk per week. At that time, 10 additional shares in the cow can be made available.
3. How long has this cowsharing/cowboarding project been in existence?
Since March 1, 2001.
4. What kind of a cow will I be buying?
The cow in which you're buying a share is a purebred Jersey from Hedgebrook Farm in Winchester, Virginia. Jersey cows have the creamiest milk because their milk contains the highest butterfat content of any breed; this winter's milk measured 4.5 – 4.6 percent butterfat.
5. Are these cows given hormones?
No way! Ever! And antibiotics are only used in life-threatening emergencies and never given as a preventive measure for illness (as many large dairies do).
6. Will my cow be pastured?
Yes! These Virginia Jerseys are pastured on untreated grass ¾ of the year (no pesticides or other treatments). In the winter your cow is fed silage, some of which is grown on Hedgebrook Farm (corn, hay) and other silage is purchased locally. The cows are also given a (vegetarian) protein supplement (no cottonseed meal or soy) while they are being milked. This serves a dual purpose: it gives the cows extra incentive to come into the milking barn (they love it!) and it helps keep their milk production up to par.
7. Is my cow tested for tuberculosis (TB) and brucellosis?
Yes! These cows are certified free of TB and Brucellosis. Once per year, in April, the cows are tested for the presence of TB and Brucellosis. In addition, the cows (as calves) are vaccinated for Brucellosis. This covers them for the life of the animal.
8. Where will my cow be kept?
Your cow will be boarded at Hedgebrook Farm, where it was born and raised, in the Shenandoah Valley. The farm has beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is approximately one hour west of Herndon, VA. Shareholders pay a monthly boarding fee to the farmer. The farmer milks our cows for us, puts the milk up for us, and feeds and cares for the cows. You will be asked to read and sign a boarding agreement with Hedgebrook Farm when you purchase your cowshare(s).
9. How does the farmer collect and store the milk?
The cows are milked by machine. The milk is pumped directly from the cow(s) into clean, gallon-sized glass jars. The date is written on the jar and then the jars are sealed with Stretch-Tite (plastic wrap) and the plastic lids are screwed on tight. The milk is stored in the glass jars in a cooler building where the temperature is maintained at an approximate temperature of 35 - 38 degrees F. year-round, where it remains until the milk is picked up.
10. How does the milk pick-up work?
We'll try to group you by location. If you live near Winchester, you can pick up milk directly from the farm. If you do not live close to the farm, we co-op the milk pick-up. Each group picks up milk once per week. For example, if there are 6 people in your pick-up group, you rotate picking up the milk. You would pick up milk once every 6 weeks. You travel to Hedgebrook Farm in Winchester. There you pick up the milk by placing the milk-filled glass jars in a large cooler packed with ice. You bring the milk back to a designated home that is centrally located within your group. It is also suggested that, if you are going to be a part of a pick up group, you purchase a large cooler to transport the milk. COSTCO sells large (150-quart) marine coolers for $59.99. These hold 16 full (one-gallon) glass jars of milk (11 upright and 5 horizontally). You may wish to split this cost with other members of your group, or you may want to purchase one per family.
11. Do I recycle the glass jars?
Yes! After the milk in each jar is consumed, each shareholder washes the jar (and any metal lids) in the dishwasher with a mild dishwashing detergent (like those that are eco-friendly and can be purchased at a place like Fresh Fields). Cascade and other leading brands are very harsh and the residue can get into the milk. Plastic lids are washed by hand in hot soapy water to kill germs and are dried thoroughly (never in the dishwasher—the plastic lids will warp). Check lids to be sure they are dry. If not, take a clean dishtowel and wipe out any remaining drops of water. The dry lid is then replaced and the shareholder brings the clean jars with lids back to the designated milk drop-off point for his/her pick-up group. The person who goes to pick up milk the following week will first pick up the clean jars for the group and head out to the farm. The jars are returned to the farmer and then you may pick up your group's milk for that week. This procedure is repeated each week to keep the jars in circulation.
12. May I have my milk delivered?
Yes, you may! NEW! Hedgebrook Farm now offers delivery to your northern Virginia home. Call or e-mail for rates to your area. Hedgebrook Farm will soon be offering a variety of other fresh and local farm products for delivery. You may soon be able to order directly from our website, www.Hedgebrook.com. Check our website frequently for updates.
13. Will my milk be handled safely?
Yes! Hedgebrook Farm is a working family farm that has been in operation since 1907. Hedgebrook is a third-generation Grade A Dairy Farm. As such, it is frequently and stringently inspected by the Virginia Department of Agriculture for the sanitation of the facilities, equipment, and surroundings. The farm is also a USDA-inspected facility. The milk is tested frequently for quality by the state. The dairy is clean and sanitary. Milk from the other cows in the herd is sold to a local creamery. The milking apparatus is cleaned thoroughly both before and after milking, two milkings per day. Hedgebrook Farm has a solid foundation in sanitary food handling and there has never been a problem with the quality of their milk "product."
14. How long is my share good for?
Your share is good for the life of the cow. Basically, you own the cow until it dies. Then you make other arrangements. Of course, since you own the share you may sell it at any time. By the way, since the shareholders own the cow(s), we are responsible for any unusual vet bills. Hedgebrook Farm takes care of most routine situations, however.
15. If I ever need to sell my shares, am I responsible for cowboarding payments until I sell my shares?
Yes.
16. How long does a cow live?
That depends on the cow. Hedgebrook Farm has had some cows live to be 14 to 16 years old, but this is unusual. In a high-stress dairy with a large herd, the cows may live 4-5 years. But Hedgebrook Farm is a small, low-stress dairy farm where the cow are humanely and lovingly cared for. Best guess is somewhere in between.
17. When does a cow produce milk?
A cow produces milk only after it's had a calf. Hedgebrook Farm makes sure cows are "refreshed" every year to ensure a constant supply of milk. The cow produces milk on a 305-day cycle, and then is "dried up" for 60 days prior to the birth of the calf. This means for 60 days of the year your cow will not be producing any milk. However, by having more than one cow in our cowsharing/cowboarding project, the plan is to have a constant milk supply year-round for everyone, but when dealing with things in nature, like live cows, things can be unpredictable. One week last summer the cows went on strike and did not give milk. They were too hot!
18. If my cow has a calf every year, what happens to the calf?
The shareholders have agreed to sell the calf at birth back to the dairy farm for fair market value.
19. Can you give me some dairy terminology?
- Bull - male bovine
- Steer - castrated bull
- Heifer - female cow that has not yet had a calf
- First Calf Heifer - a cow that is milking successfully, having had one calf
- Second Calf Heifer - a cow that is in her second year of producing milk
- Cow - female that is at least three years old
- Aged Cow - a cow that is 6 years or older
- "Fresh" Cow – one that has recently had her calf and is producing milk
20. What are the costs?
To purchase a share in a cow (one share is equivalent to one gallon of milk per week) you pay $60.00. This is a one-time cost.
In addition there is an initial charge of $15 per share to purchase new one-gallon glass jars and plastic lids. This will buy four jars and lids per share—one in your refrigerator with milk in it, one at the farm waiting to be filled, one in transit, and an extra jar in case of breakage. These go into the jar "pool" to be made available for everyone. If we need to purchase additional glass jars due to breakage, we'll all chip in.
After the above one-time costs, there is a boarding fee that goes to the Dairy Farm of $15 per share per month; that continues for as long as you own your share.
You can think of it this way if you like, although you are not purchasing the milk: after you purchase your share(s) in the cow, the price of milk is about $3.75 per gallon ($15 per month boarding divided by 4 weeks = $3.75). Compare this to the price of Horizon organic milk—about $3.50 per half-gallon or $7.00 per gallon—and Horizon milk is ultra-pasteurized!
EXAMPLE—COST FOR 1 SHARE
One-time Fees:
- Purchase of 1 share x $60 = $60
- Consumables (jars) fee, 1 share x $15/share = $15
- Cost to get started = $75
Monthly Boarding Fees
- 1 share x $15/month = $15
21. So what if I want to purchase 3 shares? My family drinks about 3 gallons of milk per week. How much will this cost me?
EXAMPLE—COST FOR 3 SHARES
One-time Fees
- Purchase of 3 Shares x $60 per share = $180
- Consumables (jars) fee, 3 shares x $15 per share = $45
- Cost to get started = 3 Shares $225
Monthly Boarding Fees
- 3 Shares x $15/month = $45
22. How is the money collected?
The boarding fees are collected quarterly. Payments are due four times per year, on:
- March 15 (for April, May, June)
- June 15 (for July, August, September)
- September 15 (for October, November, December)
- December 15 (for January, February, March)
The monthly boarding fee(s) will be prorated, depending on when you purchase your share(s). Costs may be subject to increase.
23. How do I get started?
You must promise never to buy or sell raw milk. You can trade or barter, but never sell it. Read and sign the boarding agreement with Hedgebrook Farm, and then write us a check. As soon as we receive your signed agreement and your check, you own the cow and you may begin receiving your delicious, nutritious, fresh milk!
24. How can I obtain more information?
Contact Jackie Hott at regarding cowboarding or call her with questions at (540) 450-0310; see www.Hedgebrook.com for info about the Certified Grade A Dairy Farm where the cows are boarded, and for fresh farm deliveries such as pastured eggs, raw honey, pesticide-free vegetables and other local products like jams and jellies.
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