Getting mom a cow, which do you think?

HaysFarm · #1 02/24/07, 11:21 PM

My mother has told me she would like to have a cow that she can milk, Well after i got done laughing so hard i had cramps,( if you know my mother you would have thought it was funny too) i seen i hurt her feelings. So i thought heck with it we had cows before growing up and i've had them now that i have my own little homestead having another one isn't going to hurt anything. So now i was thinking that a mini Jersey would be a good one to get for her. But i don't know that much about them. And there hard to find here in florida.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this. I also thought that maybe a little Holstein ( i can pick them up from 1 day old to 2 yrs old for about 300 to 350 each) Any input would be great. thanks so much.

Ronney · #2 02/25/07, 04:36 AM

Shame on you for laughing at your Mum

Be thankful that you have a Mum that is keen and fit enough to want to do it.

There is no such thing as a mini Jersey although people would have you think otherwise. They are just very small Jerseys that have been deliberately bred back to very small Jerseys.

Apart from feed intake, the size of the cow doesn't really matter in my opinion, what's more important is how quiet she is and how easy to handle. Even a beefie makes for a good milker if she's a dream to be around. So don't narrow your choices, have a look at what is available in your area and go from there.

Also, would you mother be interested in rearing a heifer calf? Again, only my personal opinion, but this is the best way to go. By the time it is ready to calve they will know each other inside out and she will have a cow that she feels happy and confident with. Pity your so far away as I have the ideal little Jersey here - she will follow you to the ends of the earth for a slice of bread, walks into the milking shed on her own, doesn't need a backing chain, places her legs in just the right position, lets her milk down in a rush and then needs to be pushed out of the milking shed so that the next cow can come in. She was hand reared, had plenty of handling and it shows.

Cheers,
Ronnie

linn · #3 02/25/07, 09:30 AM

Buy your Mom a cow and get ready to sample some of the most delicous food you've ever tasted. Besides the milk, your Mom can make butter, sour cream, yogurt, soft and hard cheeses. Just make sure you get her a healthy and gentle cow. Here is a link to Jersey dairies in Florida:
http://www.jerseydirectory.com/?=Uni...tes/States/FL/
I am fifty eight and milk a cow. When I retire from my day job I plan on milking more than one.
Good luck, and tell your Mom I said to go for it.

HazyDay · #4 02/25/07, 04:25 PM

Jersys milk a good amount but if your only looking for a little milk buy a cow that is a big pet! Breed her and leave the calf on her and milk her every day. This way if shes going away all so has to do is get some one to feed her. Alot easier then finding a milker to milk her! Find the right breed for her! Try a few breeds don't forget the beef breeds their milk is almost like Jersy milk! They don't milk a ton and are easy to handle. I say choose 1 of these 2. Buy a calf and raise it so shes easy to handle. or buy a old cow from a dairy farm! they milk a little and have very few claving things go wrong! (BUT REMEMBER A CALF TAKES UP TO 4 YEARS TO MILK!)

jerzeygurl · #5 02/25/07, 07:13 PM

i find that the jersey angus cross(tho they aint pretty lol) are less high strung. depends on how much milk and how much cream she wants.

linn · #6 02/25/07, 07:22 PM

jerzeygurl,
I think my little Brindle cow is pretty.

Getting mom a cow, which do you think? - Cattle

jerzeygurl · #7 02/25/07, 07:42 PM

yes she is, but mine dont look any thing like that lol, but they are good girls, then again i am partial to jerseys,

my picture thread shows the one im milking, she looks almost angus, just a touch jersey in the face

my other 2 are hairy little black fuzz balls, i have pics of them posted on the barter board. i love them to death, but they aint purty,

HaysFarm · #8 02/25/07, 08:04 PM

See here's the problem. Do you buy young and take the time to bond, or do you find a been there done that girls and learn from her.
So a jersey would be a good pick? Or at least that's what i'm understanding. Jersey aren't really big down in this area. Mostly beef really in our area. And of the milking dairys that are here there all holstein, Very few have other breeds.

jerzeygurl · #9 02/25/07, 08:27 PM

a cow must be 2 yars old to calve, that is a long time to wait to milk, does she want to train one???

jersey is a good small choice, mine

holstiens are too big and give to much, for most people

jersey gives 5.4percent butterfat

holstien gives 3.6 butter fat

does she like butter and cream?

HaysFarm · #10 02/25/07, 08:33 PM

I was thinking that a smaller one would be better for her to start with. She does like butter and cream.
I really don't know. She never said one way or the other about having to train one. I tend to think maybe and older cow that's been milking would be a better bet, Maybe a been there done that, and now i'll show you how to do it cow would be good.

jerzeygurl · #11 02/25/07, 08:44 PM

that is my thinking, and if you get one that is bred, theres your little calfie to play with

65284 · #12 02/25/07, 08:52 PM

A Jersey or a Dexter or a cross of those breeds, especially a cross of those two breeds would be ideal. Either of those options would be smaller, are generally good natured, easier to handle and cheaper to feed. I would try to find a cow that is already trained to milk. A Holstein would be about the last thing that I would buy for someone that is not "cow wise". They are huge, can be intimidating to a newbie, expensive (feed wise), to maintain, and give a flood of milk. Judging by what you said I suspect she would soon tire of spending a lot of time, every day, twice a day, milking by hand.

HaysFarm · #13 02/26/07, 12:43 AM

ok now i recived and email tonight, telling me to get her one, no matter the breed off the line from a dairy. now this seems a littel off to me, cuase yes there use to be milked, but not hand milked. Or would this be a good idea?
Sorry so many things to think about, I don't want her to get hurt, and i don't want it to be something that everything just falls apart on her and she gives up.

Ronney · #14 02/26/07, 04:41 AM

Hays, I think far too much emphasis is being put on breed and not enough on the character and docility of the cow. I've milked Friesians that are pussy cats in a big body, I presently milk a Belgian Blue/Jersey, a Hereford/Friesian and two Hereford/Friesian/Jersey/Simmenals. All of them are as soft as butter and any one of them produce enough milk to keep a household going.

An ex-dairy cow will be fine if she has a good temperament. She is used to being handled, she is used to having her udder handled and at some time in her life she will have had some or all of her quarters stripped out by hand. She will make the transition from machine to hand milking without a qualm - and I know that from experience. Her biggest problem will be the environmental change and that will go for any cow that you buy. It will take a few days for her to settle down and get used to new people, a new place and a new regime.

Cheers,
Ronnie

linn · #15 02/26/07, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronney

An ex-dairy cow will be fine if she has a good temperament. She is used to being handled, she is used to having her udder handled and at some time in her life she will have had some or all of her quarters stripped out by hand. She will make the transition from machine to hand milking without a qualm - and I know that from experience. Her biggest problem will be the environmental change and that will go for any cow that you buy. It will take a few days for her to settle down and get used to new people, a new place and a new regime.

Cheers,
Ronnie

I agree with Ronney. A healthy ex-dairy cow can be a good choice if she is gentle and easy to handle. Make sure she is bred back and does not have chronic mastitis. Make sure her feet are in good shape; concrete is hard on a cow's feet. It may take a few days for the cow to adjust to a new environment; but an older experienced cow will adapt to hand milking a lot quicker than a first-calf heifer. Make sure the cow has been tested for TB, Bangs, and Johnnes Disease. If she is in a dairy line it is most likely that she has been tested. Dairymen get rid of cows for several reasons:
1. They won't breed back.
2. They have chronic mastitis
3. They have bad feet
4. They have bad temperments
5. Cows that don't give enough milk for a dairy to make a profit.
Just because a cow is sold because she doesn't meet production requirements for a commercial dairy doesn't mean she won't make a fine house cow; but whatever you do don't buy someone else's problem.

HazyDay · #16 02/26/07, 01:27 PM

HOLD ON!!!!! Im tried of hearing don't get a Holstein I have been breeding them for 30 years! NOT ALL HOLSTEINS are huge! you get the odd one that is over 1000pounds but if you breed for milk you will get milk! if you breed to get a huge animal you will get a huge animal! Try going to as many farms al you can! Most breeders will own a few older cows that are on hte shorter side. This is because they haven't always been this big we have made them to milk a TON! But what ever your choice have a barn all setup for a cow! don't think you can just tie her to a wall and milk you need a barn and LAND! to keep her.
If your mother has never had cows try goats for a little they are alot easier to handle and if she doesn't like them ok try a cow but 1 goat is cheaper to kill then a cow! (not saying she will kill it!)

moosemaniac · #17 02/26/07, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HazyDay

If your mother has never had cows try goats for a little they are alot easier to handle and if she doesn't like them ok try a cow but 1 goat is cheaper to kill then a cow! (not saying she will kill it!)

I love my goats....great idea. The milk is awesome too. My goats look like little holstein cows too...black and white spotted.

Ruth

APPway · #18 02/26/07, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HazyDay

HOLD ON!!!!! Im tried of hearing don't get a Holstein I have been breeding them for 30 years! )

Quote:

HazyDay wrote Ok it's all over and No my mother doesn't know im on this because im 34

Do you like your bucks with horns?
So lets get real

HazyDay · #19 02/26/07, 04:37 PM

A yea! my grandparents got me my first cow at 4 and let me pick a bull for her!! thats called breeding!

HaysFarm · #20 02/26/07, 05:07 PM

o lord, if i started something i'm sorry. I just didn't know which to look at or which would be a frist one for her.
I don't belive she has ever milked a cow before i know that she has been aroud them when they have been milked.
We have goats there not dairy goats. I thought about getting a dairy goat before going all out and getting her a cow.
Once again, i'm sorry if this started something, i was just looking for help from people that would know better then i.
Holsteins, When it came to dairy cows that's what has always came to mind. But i've been told that they wouldn't be the best to start with, yes do to there size, but also been told there a bit on the mean side.Don't know if this is true, never owned one, just grape vine info. As for them being too big, I really don't think that would be a problem, she so use to my drafts, feeding, cleaning, foaling, ext..
No she wouldn't kill it, my fear is that we don't get the right info, or just jump in with both feet and everything goes worng or it doesn't work out and she gives up, That's what i don't want to happen. ( yes i under stand that things go worng, i'm just trying to keep those things down)