they milked cows and sold the butter and eggs in town. fed the blue milk to the pigs and chickens let them forage through the cow manure for any bypass corn oats etc. a cow can feed a family if you know how to use everything.This. I have been ruint to storebought milk, cream, butter, etc. my entire life. That's what happens when your grandpa owns a dairy. I'd put a milkcow in the backyard in a heartbeat if I thought I could get away with it. It'd be quieter and less trouble than a couple of big dogs. AND it could keep the neighbors' lawns trimmed back when I took her for her evening walks.