I came home with

[65284]

We made a road trip yesterday and came home with the first Jersey I've had in 50 years. I finally found one of the smaller, fawn colored, black faced, Jerseys I remember milking so long ago, all that's missing are horns. She was a little reluctant to get in the trailer, but after a little persuasion she loaded. We made the 200 mile trip home just fine, she hopped off the trailer and strolled into the barn like she owned it. I let her settle a bit and didn't try to milk her until this morning. She did just fine, followed the feed bucket, stuck her head into the stanchion, began to eat and stood politely as I fumbled around trying to milk and for a little grooming atfaer that. I got about 1 1/2 gallons, but my arthritic, injury damaged hands gave out well before the milk supply did. I'm going to take another shot (pull?) at it this evening. I hope in the not too distant future my hands tone up some and it's not so painful. But, I am going to milk this cow, one way or another.

[pheasantplucker]

Probably good for the both of you. Congratulations, and how about a pic soon?

[farmergirl]

I shall live vicariously through you! Oh how I want a jersey cow to call my own. How much did she cost you?

[jerzeygurl]

good deal, takes me about a week to get back into the swing of things, after a break from milking.

[65284]

Originally Posted by farmergirl

I shall live vicariously through you! Oh how I want a jersey cow to call my own. How much did she cost you?

I gave $1500.00 for the cow and probably another $100.00 to get her home. A lot of money, but not outrageous, all things considered. She is dual registered, with the American Jersey Cattle Association and with the American Miniature Jersey Cattle Association. Not really one of the tiny mini's, she's about 44". Very friendly, easy to handle, loading issues aside, and a nice size to milk. She will give more milk than we need without flooding us, although we have a lot of takers for the excess, until we can get organized to make cheese, butter, etc.

[Jcran]

Originally Posted by 65284

I gave $1500.00 for the cow and probably another $100.00 to get her home. A lot of money, but not outrageous, all things considered. She is dual registered, with the American Jersey Cattle Association and with the American Miniature Jersey Cattle Association. Not really one of the tiny mini's, she's about 44". Very friendly, easy to handle, loading issues aside, and a nice size to milk. She will give more milk than we need without flooding us, although we have a lot of takers for the excess, until we can get organized to make cheese, butter, etc.

Mini jerseys? Never heard of them! Where can I get one!!!!!!

[Still Learning]

Originally Posted by farmergirl

I shall live vicariously through you! Oh how I want a jersey cow to call my own.

Same here! I'd love to see a picture of her if you have one. I want a family milk cow so bad I can't stand it. Congrats to you!

Ashley

[francismilker]

]Mini jerseys? Never heard of them! Where can I get one!!!!!![/QUOTE]

If I understand correctly, mini jerseys aren't a breed apart from full size jerseys. They are able to be registered as a mini because they meet certain size and weight criteria. It's kind of like a horse foal that has Paint Dam and Paint Sire only can't be registered because he/she is solid colored with not enough white marking to be registered as a paint. This colt may be registered as a Quarter Horse, but not a Paint.
I may be way out of line on this, but that's the way I understand it.

[tyusclan]

I don't know about the qualifications for registration for mini cattle, but you cannot take a solid foal out of two Paint horses and register it as a Quarter Horse. You can only register a Quarter Horse out of two registered Quarter Horse parents, or appendix register the foal if one parent is a registered Quarter Horse and one is a registered Thoroughbred. You can breed a Paint to a Quarter Horse, and register it with the Paint Horse Association.

[matt_man]

Mini Jerseys are ones that are under 42 inches in height at maturity (3yrs). Mid-size is from 42 to 46 inches. We have 2 jerseys right now that are registered with the AJCA but also qualify as mid-size and could be registered with the AMJA (American Miniature Jersey Association and Registry). We might do this as we have one, and hope to have the other, bred to mini-jersey.

Here is a link the the website:

http://www.miniaturejerseyassociation.com/index.htm

Rachel