Final Thoughts on Raising Cattle
Sixteen posts later, we’ve made it through the entire book. So let’s talk about what it all adds up to.
What the Book Is Really Saying
If there’s one message that runs through every chapter of Backyard Farming: Raising Cattle, it’s this: cattle require space and time, but they’re worthwhile.
Pezza doesn’t sugarcoat the work involved. She’s honest about the daily commitment, the costs, the learning curve. But she also makes a clear case for why people do it anyway. Control over your food. The satisfaction of producing your own milk and beef. The connection to an animal that, if you’re keeping a family dairy cow, might be with you for 10 or more years and basically becomes a pet.
And for people with limited space, she offers real solutions. Dual-purpose breeds let you get both milk and meat from the same animals. Mini breeds work for very small properties where full-size cattle just won’t fit. You don’t need a ranch. You need a plan.
But the most important piece of advice in the whole book is simple: get everything set up before your animals arrive. Fencing, shelter, feed supply, water, vet contacts. All of it. Do not buy a cow and then figure out where to put it. That’s how problems start.
My Impressions of the Book
This is a solid beginner’s guide. Genuinely solid. It covers a lot of ground without being overwhelming, which is harder to do than it sounds. A lot of farming books either drown you in detail or gloss over the important stuff. Pezza hits a good middle ground.
What works best: The breed chapters are the strongest part of the book. Whether you’re looking at dairy breeds, beef breeds, dual-purpose, or miniatures, Pezza gives you enough information about each one to make an informed decision. Breed selection is probably the single most important choice you’ll make, and this book treats it that way.
Kim writes from real experience. You can tell. She’s not regurgitating information from other books. She grew up around cattle in the Finger Lakes region of New York, and that firsthand knowledge shows in the practical details she includes. Things like “interview your slaughterhouse before using them” or “get experienced help your first time culling.” That’s advice from someone who’s been there.
Best for: People who are seriously considering getting their first cow. Not people who are vaguely interested. Not people looking for entertainment. This is for someone who has land, is thinking about cattle, and wants to understand what they’re getting into before they commit.
Could use more on costs and budgeting. This is probably the book’s biggest gap. Pezza mentions that things cost money, but she doesn’t get into specific numbers much. How much should you budget for feed per year? What does fencing actually cost per foot? What’s a reasonable price for a starter heifer in your region? These are questions beginners need answered, and the book leaves them mostly unanswered.
The recipes are a nice bonus. Not why you’d buy the book, but once you have your own beef and dairy products, it’s helpful to have some recipes right there. The BBQ brisket recipe alone is worth trying.
The disease chapter is important but brief. Pezza covers the major cattle diseases and how to spot them, which is valuable. But it’s not comprehensive enough to replace having a good vet. Her advice to establish a relationship with a large animal vet early is spot on. Don’t wait until something goes wrong.
Overall: A good starting point. If you’re going from zero knowledge to seriously considering your first cow, this book will get you most of the way there. But you’ll need more specialized resources as you go deeper into any particular area, whether that’s breeding, cheese making, pasture management, or health care.
The Complete Series
Here’s every post in this series if you want to read from the beginning or jump to a specific topic:
- Series Introduction
- A Brief History of Cattle in America
- Dairy Cattle Breeds Guide
- Beef Cattle Breeds and Miniatures
- Should You Keep a Bull or Just a Cow?
- Housing and Fencing for Cattle
- Feeding Your Cattle Right
- Common Cattle Diseases and Ailments
- Breeding Cattle on the Homestead
- Raising Calves from Birth to Weaning
- How to Milk a Cow
- What to Do With All That Milk
- Raising Your Own Beef Cattle
- Culling Your Herd and Other Uses for Cattle
- Fun Facts About Cattle and Beef Recipes
- Final Thoughts on Raising Cattle (you are here)
Thanks for reading along. If you’re thinking about getting that first cow, go for it. Just do your homework first.
This post is part of a series retelling and reviewing Backyard Farming: Raising Cattle by Kim Pezza (ISBN: 978-1-57826-495-7).