Found a Jersey Breeder...Now what??

[Tam319]

Hi everyone,

We've decided to get a Jersey cow. We were considering a Dexter but in the end opted for the Jersey. We already raise commercial crossbred (Beefbooster) cattle so we've got the beef aspect covered and decided a dual purpose isn't what we need.

I searched high and low for a Jersey dairy and finally found one. Just in time too! I was close to becoming a cow stalker

I spoke with the owner about wanting a cow for a family milk cow that would supply milk for her calf, us, our pigs and chickens. He said he's got a few cows in the 3-5 year old range that are quiet and experienced enough. He is asking $800. He is also close enough that we could potentially drive the cow back for breeding.

I am hoping to go out there this weekend to view the cows. What do you look for in a good family cow? Is there anything I should steer clear of? What vaccines and routine health care do dairy cows (vs. beef for example) should they have done? Is $800 a good price?? Is it a good price for an open cow? Bred cow?? At what stage of lactation should I shoot for? I was kind of hoping to get a cow close to drying off, or close to freshening. That way I wouldn't have to milk her solo for months and months without a calf in the picture.

Thanks in advance!

[Donna from Mo]

For a healthy cow, that's an excellent price!

[Haggis]

Originally Posted by Tam319

Hi everyone,

We've decided to get a Jersey cow. We were considering a Dexter but in the end opted for the Jersey. We already raise commercial crossbred (Beefbooster) cattle so we've got the beef aspect covered and decided a dual purpose isn't what we need.

I searched high and low for a Jersey dairy and finally found one. Just in time too! I was close to becoming a cow stalker

I spoke with the owner about wanting a cow for a family milk cow that would supply milk for her calf, us, our pigs and chickens. He said he's got a few cows in the 3-5 year old range that are quiet and experienced enough. He is asking $800. He is also close enough that we could potentially drive the cow back for breeding.

I am hoping to go out there this weekend to view the cows. What do you look for in a good family cow? Is there anything I should steer clear of? What vaccines and routine health care do dairy cows (vs. beef for example) should they have done? Is $800 a good price?? Is it a good price for an open cow? Bred cow?? At what stage of lactation should I shoot for? I was kind of hoping to get a cow close to drying off, or close to freshening. That way I wouldn't have to milk her solo for months and months without a calf in the picture.

Thanks in advance!

Congrats on choosing and finding Jersey, there is no better choice for a homestead cow; they are a good, proven, no nonsense breed, and the first choice of the smallholder for a couple of hundred years.

I would check with your dairy person on the subject of what treatments the cow has had or needs, if they are honest, they will be straight with you, and if they are not, you won't be doing business with them anyway. A call to any vet who deals with large farm animals should verify what your dairy person tells you.

I would be glad to buy a couple of 3 -5 year old $800 cows just now, it seems fair enough for a bred, broke to milk Jersey, I might even pay $1000 each if they were close enough and more toward being 3 years old. I would be slow to buy a cow that wasn't bred unless she was hamburger cheap.

I had rather buy a cow or heifer just drying off, or 6 weeks to a month before freshening; this dry period would give me time to get to know her, to train her to enter and leave her milking stall, and to get her familiar with my touching her just about everywhere, and especially about her udder. (Touching but not attempting to milk!!!!!!!! Wouldn't want to break any seal and encourage mastitis, or lose colostrum.)

If you start milking her with the arrival of her new calf, she will look upon you are her calf as well. If you start milking a cow later in their lactation, it would not be unusual to have them resist your efforts; you would not be their calf, nor their milker, and what ever you are you might not be welcome "back there." My good son has been milking my Jersey heifer Tulip 3 days a week for 10 months and Tulip still doesn't respond to him, or let her milk down as well for him.

This is the first time we have tried milking a cow once a day, and allowing the heifer to have her calf for 12 hours (this we did for the first 3 months and then weaned the calf, continuing then to milk her once a day). I can see where it would be a good idea for someone with little time or not used to milking. One might also milk out a gallon or so, and then let the calf finish the job and strip her; this one could do twice a day. Once the hands and forearm muscles where a bit stronger, it would be no trouble to milk once a day, and then let the calf have the cow for 12 next hours before separating them for the night.

A cow is the biggest tie in the world, and if you're going to be home to get a little bit of milk (And you are going to be home to milk her if you are going to keep her in milk, milk her less often or just let the calf have her and soon there will be only enough for the calf; cows are all about supply and demand, but in their case, where there is no demand, there is no supply.), you might as well get as much milk as you can. A good Jersey will indeed feed her calf, her adopted family, and fatten a hog or two; what the hogs, the calf, and the family don't use, the chickens will gladly take, if you have yet more milk, get then more pigs as they may be later sold for dairy feed or hay.

Good luck! I don't often envy, but I wouldn't too much mind having a barnyard full of Jerseys nearby and some of them for sale.

[wr]

Tam, I think that's a fair price for a Jersey up here. I wouldn't say you stole her but I also don't think you got rolled either. I'm glad you found something close and better yet if you can work out a breeding arrangement. If you can't for some reason, you can always contact Independent Breeders and they can put you in touch with some good AI techs. Considering our weather right now, you might want to find the little gal a nice blanket inside the house When you're looking for her to freshen would depend on how well you're set up. If you have a barn, dealing with a calf would be far less complicated than if you don't. She should be in good health but ask what she's been on for feed and try and replicate that. I find that with our climate, if you switch from silage to hay cattle tend to loose a fair bit of condition and it seems that if they are mature, it takes a full rotation of seasons before they fully adjust. Vets are tricky business in Alberta so if you don't have one, find one and start talking with them before you need them and build up a decent working relationship. I know a person can pick up most meds at UFA cheaper but you miss bonding time with the elusive vet and UFA clerks do not make field calls in the middle of a long weekend and there's a reason why one works behind the counter at the feed and seed store and the other went to school for 7 years. I've shuddered at some of the advice counter people have given at the store and wonder why they've had no lawsuits yet.

[Tam319]

Wow! Thanks for the informative info! I appreciate the advice.

I am really excited about this. I know that sounds weird, especially since milk is so convenient at the store. I've always admired and loved the breed. We had a nasty Jersey nurse cow when I was a kid, but she was a cull and bad tempered. I'm looking forward to getting a young, healthy family cow. This gentleman indicated that the price was so reasonable because the border being closed has really put a damper on his sales. A few years ago he was able to fetch quite a bit more for his cows.

It might be worth checking into seeing if he can keep her til she dries off or is ready to freshen if I pay for her now. I want us to get off on the right foot (er, hoof).

We are really jumping in feet first with the whole self-sufficiency thing. My son is 16 months old now and I refuse to return to work. I can't imagine paying someone else to raise my kid. We are trying very hard to get by on less and I hope supplying our own milk with some extra for our other animal friends will be a good way to do that. We rarely leave home (too many critters and travel with a toddler presents its own challenges!) so hopefully the cow doesn't tie us down any more than we already are. I like the flexibility we will be afforded by leaving her calf on her to help out as well.

Can you sugget a way to pastuerize the milk and separate the cream economically? I've seen some equipment for sale but it seems $.

Thanks again!

[Up North]

Tam - Once you have selected "your cow" open her mouth and look at her teeth. If they are not all intact and still long enough to chew, she's too old, move on to your next choice. If buying a mature cow, I would buy one that is confirmed PG by a Vet, even if it meant paying a tad bit more.

[francismilker]

Tam, if you're buying one that's still in milk, you might want to go into the milk parlor and see if she's turning the place into a rodeo arena. There may be a reason she's being sold at such a good price. Also, you may want to try to approach her in the exit lane of the milk barn after she's been turned out and see if she's skittish toward people. She will probably be a little because she's used to being milk commercially and not as the family cow. However, some cows just don't have family milk cow disposition. I think the price is GREAT! Congratulations.

[Slev]

Originally Posted by francismilker

Tam, if you're buying one that's still in milk, you might want to go into the milk parlor and see if she's turning the place into a rodeo arena. There may be a reason she's being sold at such a good price. Also, you may want to try to approach her in the exit lane of the milk barn after she's been turned out and see if she's skittish toward people. She will probably be a little because she's used to being milk commercially and not as the family cow. However, some cows just don't have family milk cow disposition. I think the price is GREAT! Congratulations.

I was just thinking that same thing.... glad someone else said it too...

[Mark T]

$800 sounds like an excellent price.

I would add to what others have said to check her udder suspension. You don't want a broken-bagged girl. She may milk for a while, but won't have the longevity you want.

Ditto also on making sure she is bred.

This is a good deal for both you and the farmer - if he has limited space and fresh, AI-bred heifers coming along, he's likely only to get hamburger value at the auction.

[Tam319]

The gentleman said I could come out and take a look as all the cows are priced at $800, not just one or two that he's culling. That reassures me a bit. I will definitely take your advice and see what I can learn observing the cow's parlour manners.

wr - thanks for the local advice! LOL Yes, I am not a fan of UFA. I prefer Provincial Vet Supply for meds and vaccs. Thankfully I have a great vet nearby. I used to work for the clinic. Lately we've been dealing with a disasterous kidding season (bought bred does 3 weeks prior to kidding and they've lost 1/2 the kids due to iodine deficiency so my vet and I have been in touch pretty regularly this past month A good vet is hard to find!

Thanks!

[linn]

Tam319,
You should be able to pick up a used pasteurizer on Ebay. Make sure the seller will guarantee it. Beware of used, electric separators. Many have wornout brushes in the motor. If your cow tests clean for Bangs, Johnnes and TB and you keep her Lepto vaccination current you might not want to go to the trouble of pasteurizing your milk. The only reason I pasteurize our milk is because we give some of it to relatives.

[DJ in WA]

He said he's got a few cows in the 3-5 year old range that are quiet and experienced enough. He is asking $800.

I've been told that my experience was unusual, but since you asked what to look for, I'll tell you. I bought such a cow from a local dairy - they sell "a few cows" every year at about that age. Turned out she had chronic mastitis they couldn't clear up. But they didn't make that clear to me. In my enthusiasm, I didn't ask enough questions, or want to bother with a vet check. A bit disappointing when the clumps showed up in the milk a few months later when it recurred.

So, you never know why they're getting rid of a few cows. Ask why he is getting rid of these particular ones. If he says their production is too low, ask why. Is it from mastitis or other issues? Hopefully it is just poor genetics.

I believe common reasons for culling from dairies is mastitis, poor feet, udder problems, failure to breed back. Don't know if they'd cull for milk fever. Someone here said their vet recommended they sell their Jersey because it had recurring milk fever. You won't discover that until she calves.

Again, you might have none of these problems, but these are some ideas to research and ask about.

[Tam319]

Thanks! Great ideas! I am sorry you had such an unfortunate first experience

[Up North]

Tam- I am assuming the $800 is in Canadian Funds?...What does that translate to in US Dollars at this time?

[sycamore]

Have you decided to hand milk or machine milk. Have you hand milked a Jersey before? The teats can be very small and a pain to hand milk. If handmilking and you've never done it, get some practice in on her first.
Check her body condition very carefully. Run your hands over her, check for lumps, bumps where there shouldn't be. Someone recently bought a six year old cow from a dairy that has cancer. Lump found on an internal exam and swollen lymph nodes, mastititis. She thought she got a deal. This a worst case scenario but it happens alot. Cow lemons are sold to people just like cars are. Just be careful and please.......
Don't get suckered in by those pretty eyes and sweet looking faces on those Jerseys, you'll forget to ask any questions!!!!!

Go with a clipboard with your questions written out. So you don't forget any, and get as much of her medical history as you can, just be subtle about it. You want to know before you get her home and she's a lemon. It happens so much and you are out $800.
Milk fever, mastititis, bloat, antibiotic treatments, feet condition, who trims the hooves, when did she calve last, is she bred back, when is she due (do you want a calf in the middle of winter?), has she miscarried, what size calves, have they died, milk fever, what and how much is she fed, what it her output, handle that udder.

Get the book "Keeping a Family Cow"!!!!

Good luck!

[Tam319]

About $685 US

[wr]

Most dairies in Alberta do not use Jersey's and tend to use Holsteins. There are many reasons why they may be selling her and some of them might not be good reasons but it could be a matter of a reduced quota. I don't know if you have such a thing in the US but in Alberta, you purchase the right to sell milk or cream and you purchase based on a specific quantity if you sell too much, you are penalized and paid less for the surplus amount. If you fail to meet quota expectations, you will not be allowed to sell the same amount the next fiscal year. If you're quota has been reduced, you will not need to keep as many head nor would it be feasable. Other reasons would be small teats not suiting the machine milking system but better suited to hand milking. It is far more common in Alberta to see a Jersey used as a nurse cow raising other calves that it is to see on in milk production. It is also not wise to judge by the asking price of the cow. Most people outside Canada do not realize how severely impacted our cattle prices were and remain after the BSE issue with dairy breeds being severely affected simply because we really don't have any facilites that deal in dairy cattle only so they sell in direct competition with beef breeds and auction houses are filled with order buyers looking to fill feedlots so they have little use to buy dairy breeds. If this little cow went through auction, she may only sell for $200 - $400 or higher if it happened to be a day when a few people were looking for dairy cattle but it's assumed if they go through auction that they are in poor health.

[jerzeygurl]

for pasturizer i use a enamel ware cannerwith water ,with my milk being in a stainless steel pot using the canner and the pot as a double boiler system.

[Tam319]

wr - That is so very true. The gentleman mentioned on the phone that prior to BSE he was getting double that for his girls as he had a lot of customers south of the border. I am not as worried about getting a lemon as it isn't a specific cow he is listing at that price. If it was a specific cow I'd be hesitant as to WHY that one. He just said he sells his family/nurse cows at $800 and come take a look at the herd to find one that I liked and had suitable teats for hand milking. We are going out there tomorrow so I hope its worth the trip!!

[wr]

I had a little Jersey and she was a doll and she was bought long before BSE and I thought we got a great deal at $1800.