Poll: Favorite breed of dairy cow.

I used to milk a Jersey/Red Angus cross. She made a great family cow. We have also milked a Jersey/Black Angus cross years ago. She was a gentle little cow that produced milk with a great cream line.

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Anyone have any experience with Dutch Belted? I hear they are between Holsteins and Jerseys in size.

Eric

Dutch Belted!!! We only have a bull calf right now, and a cow bred to a Dutch Belted Bull (hoping for a heifer). Love their markings. We have Belted Galloways too.

Carisa

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Carisa Engel
Lyceum and Engel Farms Dairy Goats
Attica, IN
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Ayrshire are still our favorite breed even amongst the many breeds we stable.
This summary from the ALBC website describes their attributes well:
"Ayrshires are medium-sized cattle and should weigh over 1200 pounds at maturity. They are strong, rugged cattle that adapt to all management systems including group handling on dairy farms with free stalls and milking parlors. Ayrshires excel in udder conformation and are not subject to excessive foot and leg problems. Few other breeds can match the ability of the Ayrshire to rustle and forage for themselves under adverse feeding or climatic conditions. Ayrshire cattle will do better under pasture conditions than will the other major dairy breeds and , when pastures are poor, they need less grain to keep them in air condition (C.H. Eckles, Dairy Cattle and Milk Production, 1923). The ruggedness of the terrain and the unfavorable climatic conditions of their native land led to the selection for those points of hardiness that adapt them to less than ideal conditions. These traits make Ayrshires outstanding commercial dairy cattle.

Other traits that make Ayrshires attractive to the commercial dairyman include the vigor of Ayrshire calves. They are strong and easy to raise. Ayrshires do not possess the yellow tallow characteristic that would reduce carcass value, so Ayrshire bull calves can be profitably raised as steers."
Also
* easy calving
* Breeding efficiency
* durability
* Minimal incidence of milk fever
* Minimal incidence of udder edema
* Extreme variety in markings and coloring produce aesthetically pleasing pastoral scenes on your farm.

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I've handled Holsteins in Germany, Jerseys in Wyoming and Milking Shorthorns in Colorado - and I liked them all! Has anyone else milked a yak??

I, too, am looking for a dairy cow. It would be really nice to find some of these sites. One problem that keeps cropping up: Most of the breeds I like are not available in this area.

How do cows get along with goats?

My cows and goats have developed a pretty strong bond. I no longer see the usual goat activity like standing on top of the cars or chewing up the rose bushes. The goat thinks he's a cow and stays with the herd. He also does a fine job of guard dogging the mama cows. If he sees my blue heeler in the pasture, he come dancing on his hind feet with his head bend looking to strike.

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Francismilker

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" James 5:16

Everybody has different needs, so it depends. Milk for just a couple, or you have ten kids?

I like the Jersey/beef cross idea, to cut down the milk production and improve the beef production. Bred to a beef bull, you get a ¾ beef calf with better feed conversion than a dairy calf.

My sister wants a cow to milk, but doesn’t need much milk. I’ve suggested just getting a couple gentle beef cows (cheap), and after calving, keep them milked out regularly. That’ll keep production up beyond what the calf needs. With two cows, you can stagger their lactations to have year round milk. One cow only will mean widely varying production through the year, down to nothing for 2 month dry period.

If a beef cow isn’t enough milk, breed her to Jersey to hopefully get a heifer with more milk.

The ideal cow for my needs is a Lowline angus/Jersey cross bred to lowline bulls. Small cow with plenty of milk and a beefy, polled calf.

I have had only one dairy cow - a Jersey so I can only say that I do love my own cow. She is larger than I really wanted in a Jersey so I bred her back to a small bull.

She was wild when we got her but is extremely tame now. I milk her without a headstall or evening tying her up and I can tap on her leg and she'll move it out of the way for me. If I say "Kisses, Violet", she sticks her slimy face up to mine (mine's not slimey, though).

I like the jersey alot and think that they are, by far, the prettiest cow.

That said, I would really like to try a Dexter and/or a mini-Jersey.

i like all of them

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RON PAUL 2012

I like Jersey or Guernsey's; I am hoping to get a cow soon and theses are the two I am looking for.