Newbie questions

We don't have a shelter for our cows besides some trees in the pasture and they have done just fine the last 3 years. We did let them come into a shed last winter during a bad ice storm because they were covered in icicles. We feed extra hay on really cold days/nights. The amount of hay you need will depend on the quality and the weather. If she is eating it all up between feedings, give her some more until she is leaving just a little behind.

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Rachel K
(and sometimes Matt)

Parents to Danial, Jacob, Isaac, Clara, Sarah Jo, and twins Emma and Anna born 12/18/2009!

http://www.jerseyknoll.com

I think the breed you are referring to are herefords. Red body, white face and belly. They are pretty docile. Probably a better choice in your situation. Dexters may be nice, but are rare and hard to find, and pricey. If you can, go look at a few cattle for sale on Craigslist. Get a feel for the way each was raised and their temperaments. If you still have any local fairs, this can be a great place to get up close and personal, and ask around about the ones you like.

I, too, have only had one experience with a Charolais, but she was very wild and ornery. I have raised angus which were super easy, and met some which were raised out in the woods, and you couldnt get near them. Shorthorn have also been easy keepers in my experience. I'd say, get your shelter, fencing, etc. in place before you go shopping. There are a lot more cows out there for sale than this one.

Also, I'd say no, a cattle panel hoop house is going to get mangled by a cow leaning on and rubbing against it. I've seen little calves mangle cattle panels. Cows love to rub/scratch on things, and they will bring a lot of force.

Charolais is one of the biggest breeds of beef cattle. When you have a small acreage, you need to match small framed animals to it. So go for something smaller, and more docile, if possible.

Herefords are smaller cattle, a bit larger than Dexters, but like Welshmom said, much more common to find than Dexters. They are THE most docile cattle a docile breed can get. Other ones include Shorthorn, Red Poll, Devon, South Devon, Gelbvieh and Murray Grey. Shorthorn and Herefords are more common to find than the other four I mentioned.

BG and bruce, you can always find some more calmer stock in a breed known for its bad disposition, but of course it's because of the selection practices involved in ruling out the nutty ones from the calmer ones. Bruce i dunno where you got your angus from but the angus we had were much better behaved than them darned chars, both the black and red ones...more so the reds.

But FF4, definately consider shorties or herfs. Angus are okay too, but they are less doclie than herfs.

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I just wanted to comment on the Jersey bull mentioning above. lol. I am buying my first Jersey, a heifer, and plan to used AI and sexed semen, but I just wonder what on earth makes the Jersey bulls so unruly when the Jersey cows are supposed to be so very gentle. . . I read this everywhere though, so I know it must be the case. Just seems odd that the female of the breed is known to be so sweet and the male is known to be the standard in unruly and dangerous behavior.

I don't think anyone has the answer to that question. Just the way they are.
Kiko goats are the same way, the does are docile but the bucks are downright mean and dangerous and they get big.

Karin, I will agree with hereford having great dispositions and tough cattle who will eat anything and not stand and bellow. If I would not take a big discount at the auction on the calves that is what I would raise. I got my my angus from various places, not pets but production cattle, as I stated that was MY opinion. Your mileage may vary. I actually have mostly angus based cattle. I have had goofy, mean or flighty cattle of almost every breed I have owned mostly individuals.

Oh, I'm sure there is no answer as to why the Jersey Bulls are like that. I just think that is so odd. I did not know that about Kiko goats. I have Nubians, and the bucks I've had are really gentle, as are the does, of course.

We had Herefords when I was a kid, and they seem very docile and are a better size probably for a beginner, I would think.

But of course, bruce, the OP isn't looking for an animal to start producing calves to sell to market. They just want something to keep the grass down.

Of course, where Herefords take a hit on the sale block depends where you live. We don't get as bad a hit with Herefords up here as you would where you are.

Deinera, Jersey bulls act like they do because of the selection practices brought on by farmers over many generations of Jersey-milk cow production. They selected for females with docility and high milk rates, but didn't do anything about the males because they weren't as important. At least, that's my take on why Jersey bulls are such SOB's as they are.

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