Jersey X Dexter's

DJ in WA · #41 02/13/10, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haypoint

In the past I have cross bred cattle. I have come to believe that in most cases you lose out. A holstein crossed with a herford isn't as good a beef cow as a herford and isn't as good a milk cow as a holstein.

It obviously depends on what you're doing. If you're a commercial operation, you want one or the other. For me, I want something in between, avoiding the extremes. I don't want 6 gallons of milk daily, with associated health problems. I don't want calving issues of pure beefers, granted you can avoid them. I want a single cow that can do pretty well at both.

Quote:

Originally Posted by haypoint

If you think a half milk cow, half beef is a beef cow, you might believe Tiger Woods and Barack Obama are white guys?

A Jersey is so small and delacate (meatless?) adding half the genetics of a beef animal isn't going to make it a meaty cow. That is not to say there isn't a lot of meat in a cross bred cow.

I think as a beef cow, that's one advantage of part dairy. The cow has less meat on it, making it easier to maintain, as muscle burns more calories. Instead, the cow can put calories in the milk toward the calf and to my family.

Remember, if you have a half beef cow, and breed her to a beef bull, you have a 3/4 beef calf that is getting more milk, if you don't take it, thereby doing pretty well. Here's pictures of last year's steer from a lowline/jersey cross cow bred to a mostly lowline angus bull. I think he did pretty well, and sure tastes good. I take 1+ gallons daily (once daily milking) from the cow for almost 11 months of the year - calf gets the rest.

Jersey X Dexter's - Cattle

linn · #42 02/13/10, 04:45 PM

We have three or four Red Angus/Jersey crosses. They all milk well enough to raise two to three calves per year and when bred to an Angus bull they throw an excellent beef calf. They are also gentle to handle.

newminifarmer · #43 02/14/10, 06:09 PM

Thanks Sallymay! I'd love to see a pic! I ,hopefully, will end up with a Jersey Dexter cross. I have a 16 year old dexter cow whom I've bred with a short legged Jersey. I, too, am hoping for a little less milk, a smallish frame, a heifer (i know, cross my fingers), and the puppylike attitude both the parents have. This size and combo would be a good fit for my small farm. Plus my cow was never stancioned (?) or haltered, and to milk her you have to follow her around the field. I've only had her 2 years and would like a calf to train to stand. What a concept!

genebo · #44 02/14/10, 08:33 PM

Newminifarmer,

A family bought a mother/daughter pair of 1/2 Dexters to milk. I went over to watch them milk one day. They were milking the older cow in the pasture while she stood stock still. First the familiy's father milked a bit, then the mother, and finally each of the 3 girls did a turn. The youngest was 6 years old.

They complained about the younger cow being too cranky to milk. They said she refused to stand still, so they couldn't milk her. I had to explain to them just how extraordinary the older cow was to stand for them that way, and that the one they called 'cranky' was normal.

The don't have a stanchion. I tried to get them to build a stanchion, but they decided against it. They're getting enough milk from just the one cow.

You and your cow reminded me of them and the extraordinary cow they have.

Genebo
Paradise Farm

darbyfamily · #45 02/14/10, 09:35 PM

I on the other hand, have four Dexter cows that I want to breed to a mini jersey.. I don't want one running free in the back, but would a 50x50' enclosure be big enough to keep a bull in safely?

we were considering learning to AI, but the class is $750 plus then supplies, so it would be cheaper to buy the bull for $1000.....plus he is likely to be much more successful than we would be

Or maybe we'll just take the 'girls' to REI in Stillwater Oklahoma and let them do the job for us? So many choices!

linn · #46 02/15/10, 08:29 AM

There is surely an AI technician close to you. Call your local vet or extension agent. The major AI compaines such as ABS Global can put you in touch with a rep.

darbyfamily · #47 02/15/10, 08:47 AM

The nearest AI tech around here is in Kansas city. We are right on the kansas oklahoma state line... I'll check and see if there are ones from Oklahoma that may be closer, but we're probably 3 1/2-4 hrs from KC and our vet does not do AI.

copperhead46 · #48 02/17/10, 09:29 PM

I don't know about the mini Jerseys, but a normal Jersey is one of the crankiest bulls that ever lived. You would want to be very carefull having a Jersey bull around. I'm not sure that being in a 50 X 50 enclosure would help his temperment any, that seems pretty small.
P.J.

francismilker · #49 02/18/10, 12:09 AM

My suggestion if you want to use a Jersey bull would be hold your girls off until you're certain they're all open. Then, buy a Jersey bull, put the girls in with him instead of turning him out into a pasture. As soon as you see the deed done, sell him. I've handled several of them. Whether they have been bottled or pasture raised with no human contact they tend to get an attitude once they fall in love. I could possibly compare them to a meth addict coming down from a high and wanting another fix. If you have a jersey bull, it's not a question of "if" but "when" will their attitude change.

If you need one, keep him on the place just long enough to use him and then sell him.