Where do I go?

Ok thanks.

Still hopeful on the one I found, tied up now because of the holidays and family visiting. He is supposed to send me some pictures.

I am in Marshall county, but have only lived in AL for 4 years now, so don't know where Cataco valley is. Will look it up if need be.

Back home we used to have a lot of agricultural fairs, 4-h fairs, but haven't noticed those kinds of fairs down here. I know there are some county fairs, but haven't really gone to them, but they don't seem to be set up for animals from what I could see.

There is a farm in south Ga that I have heard mixed results from, one person said they where happy with the cow they bought, even milked her before they bought her and the other said the place was dirty and the cows didnt look good, may have just been messy like most dairies are IDK. its Cacklenut farm you can find their cows listed on craigslist. I do believe they are a dealer of sorts because they always have one or five cows for sale.

Id much rather see you talk with topside

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I'm a goat person, not a people person,
De @ Udderly Southern Dairy Goats
we will be adding a new breed in the spring

Karen,

Nice ot meet somone so close by. Where abouts in Marshall County are you located? I can give you directions.

Danny

Boaz, the Kilpatrick/Albertville side

Karen,

I am somewhat familiar with that area. Have some inlaws that live in that area and Crossville. We are in a little community that was known as Dogant in earlier times. The larger community is called Union Grove, and is roughly between Guntersville Dam and Morgan city and west to US 231. All that area northeast of Arab. Let me know if and when you are interested in the dairy in Cataco Valley and I can give you directions. Unfortunately, you are right about fairs. This part of Alabama has grown tremendously in populationin the past 30 years and wants desperately overall to become a big city. The State fair is still pretty good I hear, but for the last 10 years or sowe have gone to the Franklin County Fair just across the line up in Tennessee. Reminds me more of what fairs used to be with a lot of emphasis on animals, baking, canning, crops, 4H, ect.

Lincoln County Fair also has a traditional county fair with animals. I would love to find a jersey bottle calf.

It's all a crapshoot. People usually don't tell you the real reason they're selling a cow.

Chronic mastitis, milk fever, or other problems.

Sure, you can get lucky, but as Topside said, better if you raise your own. I got a couple Jersey/Hereford bottle calves this spring and will keep one of them, I think. At least I know to this point they don't have mastitis, etc.

Are you ready to instantly milk 4+ gallons a day? Have you milked by hand? Have strong arms? Do you have a machine?

If you plan to milk by hand and haven't done it before, a dairy cow can be a bit much. Many get discouraged if without experience and strength.

You might practice milking on a beef cow, and can breed her to a Jersey bull and get a beef/jersey cross heifer that won't overwhelm you with milk.

Thanks DJ, glad someone is listening....I've been reading about used cow problems on this board for over 6 years now. As mentioned it's a gamble and usually the house wins (not your house). Quit looking at price tags and quick milk on the table. These decisions will usually haunt you later. I learned the hard way once, and that will never happen again.....Topside

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TOPSIDE FARMS

Thanks everyone. I am milking my Jersey now, but only get a gallon a day, which is what we feed a Holstein bull calf I picked up. He now gets milk replacer in the morning and real milk at night so we can get some. About this time last year I was milking a different cow and milking about 2 gallons a day--she was one of those quick milk on the table. She was a wonderful cow, didn't have any mastitis problems--she did end up dying Easter morning--long story.

I have a Jersey who is 11 months old, I have a half Jersey who is 8 months old. I will use the Holstein to breed for while till I get afraid of him--then he goes in the freezer.

Hi Karen, (and hi everyone else, been lurking and decided to jump in).

I know exactly what you are going through, it's hard to find good family cows. We have an especially hard time because our breeds of choice are Guernsey and Ayrshire. I wanted to tell you that the best way we have found to locate a nice cow is through the 4H'ers. If there is a fair anywhere remotely near you, go and check it out. If all else fails the Florida State Fair is in February if that is not too far for you. But small county fairs work too, just make sure there will be dairy classes.

Go up to people and inquire if they have any cows for sale. We bought an Ayrshire this way just recently, she was being shown but they weren't planning to show her anymore and didn't want to milk her so they had no problem selling her. These cows that are shown by the kids are usually accustomed to all kinds of chaos around them plus they are used to riding on trailers. It normally makes for a win-win situation. We've bought a Brown Swiss, a Guernsey, and the Ayrshire from show people and it has worked out really well.

If you don't have any fairs near enough to you with dairy classes, try contacting the 4H groups in your area. The 4H leaders can probably help you find something. Most times the kids don't want to keep the cows too much longer once they are in milk.

Hope that helps, and good luck in your search!

KMA1, does the dairy sell bull calves, and if they do, do you know how much? I live out in the Eva area but my family came originally from Boaz and my brother and his wife live in Joppa. I'd love to find someplace closer than TN to look for calves.

Karen, good luck, really hope this one works for you and so sorry about your losing the one. I tend to be the "instant gratification" type, too, so know how it goes, and no, it usually doesn't go well, like topside says though I've not done a cow LOL

I have contacted one that Topside listed, a day or so ago, sounds hopeful, but still waiting on pictures. Don't want to travel 3 hours plus without getting a good look at her.

The localish guy hasn't sent me pictures yet, he did tell me she has not been tested for Johnnes, and would have her tested if I agreed to buy her if she tested negative. I asked for pictures of all angles of her, haven't gotten them yet.

Just checking to be sure I have this straight. He wants you to promise to buy her if her Johnes test is negative? Sight unseen? Just from photos?

I think I'd say no to this person.

CarolT,

Well, I have never directly contacted the dairy, just driven by. But I have not seen any calves over a substantial acreage of pastures. The place is not far from Joppa. Let me give a map a quick look, as I always go from Ruth or by Pleasant Vally Road. Need to check on the road name from AL67 at the bottom of the Mountain at Hulaco.

This is what he said:

She has never had mastitis and she has not been tested for Johne's, but I will test if you comitt to buy if negative. I will get all angles.

I was planning on making a decision with everyone's help here on whether I should even go look at her in person.

Well, all I can say is go see her FIRST, make sure, in person, that she is the cow for you (temperament, etc.), then have the test run. And I'd sure take someone along with me who knows milk cows and can give you proper advice!

But I still don't like the sound of this deal...perhaps I am just a cranky old curmudgeon.

Well, I would think if he was really interested in selling her, I would have had those pictures already. The first time I asked was 11/18

This is the message from the other one I contacted. Got this yesterday.

I did ask how old she was. To me, coming in with her second calf, doesn't really answer that question.

Hi,
She is coming with her 2nd calf. She has never had mastitis and never had her tested for anything we only use her for a nurse cow for calves. She has a very pretty tight bag and is great to hand milk not sure how much she gives. I just milk enough for calf then turn a older calf on her to strip the rest out.
Thanks

Karen, I'd go look at cow with you if you'd like, the cow that's in the Monterey area. The other ad is out of my area, but I do know the man. Not as a friend, but have bought calves from him.

Karen I'm sure you have read about Johne's, but below is a general description:

There really are only two clinical signs of Johne’s disease: rapid weight loss and diarrhea. Despite continuing to eat well, they become emaciated and weak.

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TOPSIDE FARMS

Hi Topside,

I would appreciate you coming to look at the cow, and getting a chance to meet you.

I have read with Johne's that it usually comes upon them about 2 or 3 years of age, though they have had it since they were a calf. The Vet described it like Crones in humans. (I don't know much about that decease either).

Thanks, I will let you know when I get the pictures and what is going on.