3 Quarters OK? What else do I ask?

squirrelgirl · #1 03/27/07, 05:28 AM

We have been looking for a Jersey milk cow. Talked to a dairy that has 1 for sale, she is a 5 year old with "3 good quarters" and not confirmed breed but "served". What should I ask in this case? I was going to ask the cause of the 3 quarters, mastitas, born that way, or something else. What else would you recommened me asking. I will have to drive almost 3 hours to get her. Really want to ask the right questions to see if she is what we want, before we make the drive. Also he is asking $500. Thanks foe the advise.

francismilker · #2 03/27/07, 07:13 AM

$500 seems like a "to good to be true" price for a five year old,(3 quartered or not). You might ask if you can show up during milking time and try handmilking her when she comes in the parlor. Some dairyman would allow this, some would not. UpNorth and JeffNY could offer you more sound "dairy cull" advice. Good luck!

sammyd · #3 03/27/07, 08:22 AM

For 500 bucks the guy probably just wants to get rid of her. With 3 quarters and 3 lactations behind her she may not be up to his standards. But it's not really too far off for an older non holstein cull in this area.
Without looking at her it's hard to say if she'd be worth it.
But if you're not out for max production, a sound cow with only 3 teats is OK.

Do try to handmilk her before buying if that's how you do it at home, at least do the premilk strip yourself to check for clumps or clots that would signal mastitis in any other quarter.

How far along in lactation is she? How many times has she "been served"? This could be a problem if she won't settle.

What is her ration like?
If he's feeding a "hot" ration with lots of grain you'll have to do that as well for a bit and work her down to what you'd like to be feeding.

linn · #4 03/27/07, 09:24 AM

By all means ask why did she lost one quarter, was it due to an accident or mastitis? If she has a problem with mastitis, you don't want to fight that battle. I would ask when she was served and how far along she is. You may be able to have her preg. checked by a vet. Ask about behavior problems. I agree with the others, try hand milking her to see if she stands well. That will give you a chance to check out her udder for hardness or lumps and chunky milk. Make sure the owner will have her tested for Bangs, TB and Johnnes Disease and guarantee your money back if she doesn't test negative or better yet don't pay him until she tests clean.

Up North · #5 03/27/07, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linn

Make sure the owner will have her tested for Bangs, TB and Johnnes Disease and guarantee your money back if she doesn't test negative or better yet don't pay him until she tests clean.

Linn - I am sure this is well-intended advice. For discussion's sake, Let me offer the commercial dairy farmer's point of view. The dairy farmer can walk that cow to the livestock trailer that stops at his barn every Tuesday, and receive $500 no questions asked. This will take him about 15 minutes.

If a dairy farmer offers you a 3 teater cow that is in reasonable health at cull cow price, he accomodating the buyer's inquiry for a low cost but functional cow. If you expect to add $150 in Vet and Lab testing bills at the seller's cost to the equation as well as two-three weeks delay, expect to buy retail cows at retail prices.
As far as "gaurantee your money back" a cattle buyer should never expect this. Once you have paid for cattle and they are loaded on a trailer, the buyer now owns them and they are the buyer's responsibility. As is where is. If you make arrangements to have cattle tested for disease, do not take animal off seller's farm or pay full purchase price until all tests are complete and you are satisfied with the results. But expect to pay for all or a share of those testing costs, if you are the one requesting them.

BTW I do agree with everything else you said.

jerzeygurl · #6 03/27/07, 10:15 AM

my first one had two bad, not blind but almost blind quarters when we got her, i always just dried up the back two, and she would produce apx 4 gal with the front(a mini sized jersey) the back two are now fully functional, and she will give about 5 gal, but as i have easier milkers she raises calves,

so bad quarters dont always stay bad, and it seems to me that the other 3 quarters will make up for the bad one.

linn · #7 03/27/07, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Up North

Linn - I am sure this is well-intended advice. For discussion's sake, Let me offer the commercial dairy farmer's point of view. The dairy farmer can walk that cow to the livestock trailer that stops at his barn every Tuesday, and receive $500 no questions asked. This will take him about 15 minutes.

If a dairy farmer offers you a 3 teater cow that is in reasonable health at cull cow price, he accomodating the buyer's inquiry for a low cost but functional cow. If you expect to add $150 in Vet and Lab testing bills at the seller's cost to the equation as well as two-three weeks delay, expect to buy retail cows at retail prices.
As far as "gaurantee your money back" a cattle buyer should never expect this. Once you have paid for cattle and they are loaded on a trailer, the buyer now owns them and they are the buyer's responsibility. As is where is. If you make arrangements to have cattle tested for disease, do not take animal off seller's farm or pay full purchase price until all tests are complete and you are satisfied with the results. But expect to pay for all or a share of those testing costs, if you are the one requesting them.

BTW I do agree with everything else you said.

Not where I come from. If you take a cow to the sale barn, you pay to have her preg tested and tested for disease. It comes out the seller's pocket, not the buyer's. And besides that if the seller sends the cow through the sale ring or to the stockyards, she will most likely be sold by the pound, especially is she has lost a quarter. You and I both know Jersery cows don't bring very much when sold by the pound. I can can go along with splitting the cost of testing; but the buyer should not have to pay for the whole cost. As I said, don't pay for the cow until she is tested and then you won't have to worry. If the farmer is selling even a three-teated cow for $500. there is a reason. I don't think the buyer should just take the seller's word that the reason the cow is being sold is because she has lost one quarter. And if you are a dairyman, you are looking at it from your point of view. If the cow's udder goes bad or if she gets sick, you ship her because you have how many others? Someone who is looking for a family cow probably invests money they have saved for a cow. If they pay $500 for the cow and another $150 for tests and the cow tests positive for Johnnes, Bangs or TB, they are out $650. and still don't have a cow. I can see your point of view; but remember the salvage value of a Jersey by the pound probably won't be close to $500. Anyone can just take or leave my advise, it makes no, never mind to me.

Sunraven · #8 03/27/07, 12:07 PM

I wouldn't worry about her being a three titter unless she's got a current case of mastitis. We milk a number of three titters, the remaining tits normally will compensate for what you loose from the fourth. We have a three tit cow that is one of our top producers, she's just an exceptional cow and it's a shame she lost the one quarter. Anyway, for $500 that seems like a good price to me, I've not seen many jerseys around here but the couple I've seen sell at auction went more than double that price. As long as she's healthy, will stand for you to milk her (some cows do not like being hand milked if they are used to a machine and will tell you about it with their feet!) Find out how far along her lactation she is, if she's not been fresh very long I wouldn't worry if she didn't take the first time she was bred, of course if they couldn't get her bred that may be the reason they're selling her. If you do buy her and you can't get her bred she can go in the freezer after she dries up and you can look for another.

ozark_jewels · #9 03/27/07, 12:08 PM

We bought Honey, 3 yr old registered Jersey cow, freemartin by side, for $500. She was 3 quartered and we knew it. Dairy didn't want to fool with a three-teater. Wonderful cow, nothing else wrong with her. Sometimes you just run across a good deal. Not saying not to be careful......but sometimes things are just what they seem. For $500....I'd say the buyer ought to be willing to pay for any tests he/she wants run.