The Backbone of our homestead is our milk cows.  Everything on the homestead is benefited because of them.  They provide the family with milk, cream, cheese, butter, cottage cheese, cool-whip, sour cream, and cream cheese.  They also provide meat.  Every year one calf is raised to be the beef for our family. Our other homestead animals are feed milk from these cows, from the cats to the hogs.  The whey from the cheese can be drank, or many times I pour it on the garden to give the soil a boast.  Whey is also an excellent source of minerals and vitamins for roses. These cows are lovable and a part of our family.  Without them, our food supply would be in jeopardy and our healthy food would be contaminated.  Three cheers to our milk cows!!!