Jersey - What do you think of her? Opinions please...

[cjb]

Long story but from a nutritional standpoint, my wife has decided that we need to drink raw milk that is organically produced and higher in butter fat content. She found a somewhat local farm but it is $10 a gallon!!! She is looking around and saw this jersey on craig's list. What do you think of her? Is $1500 a good deal? I have no idea....


http://portland.craigslist.org/nco/grd/312013271.html

Also, what do you think of Jersey's? We have 5.5 acres, mostly pasture but we already have two horses. Is this enough space? We have electric fencing - do we need to do something diff?

Absolute newbie here. Prob by the time we decide, this girl will be gone but my wife is pretty convinced that we need to do this.

Yikes.

Jerseys are awful cute, though....

Cliff

[cjb]

oh and - how often do you have to freshen a cow? What do you do with the calf?

I have goats and horses but have never had a cow - well.. I've had a tantrum but not a bovine!!!

[tinknal]

That price is about right, if she is fairly young, say 6 or under. Cow should freshen once a year. You should have enough pasture if you are on the wet side. Raise the calf on a bottle, or let her at the cow 12 hours a day. If it is a heifer, you will have no problem selling it. If it is a bull raise it up for some mighty fine eating.

[ChickenMom]

Her udder looks funny to me. Maybe because the pictures are right before she calved. If she's good and healthy that's a great price since you get a milk machine too. I don't know where you are but most Jersey's around here start at $1500 and go up from there.

[JElfering]

That's about right. We sold our 4 yr old in November for $1500 without the milking machine. She was giving about 5 gallons a day. We're in Northeast, Wisconsin. We graze and supplement with hay and some grain. It's hard to tell her dairy character with those pics. The bag is so large because she is ready to freshen so she is a bit engorged.

[cjb]

Thanks - keep the advice coming. I would, of course, want to see her in person and be sure she is reasonably tame etc.

I'm sorry - dumb question but... I assume she would need a shelter in the winter? What about summer? Will a walk-in barn do? Are cows pretty hard on pasture - I know my horses are. Thanks

[cjb]

more questions: can she be pastured with horses, goats?

[ozark_jewels]

She looks just like our first Jersey we bought when I was 6 years old......I'd buy her for that reason alone if I was closer.. ..what a sweet face!! I agree with what the rest are saying......and the fact that they are throwing some milking equipment in for that price...extra good deal!

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by cjb

Thanks - keep the advice coming. I would, of course, want to see her in person and be sure she is reasonably tame etc.

I'm sorry - dumb question but... I assume she would need a shelter in the winter? What about summer? Will a walk-in barn do? Are cows pretty hard on pasture - I know my horses are. Thanks

Cows are pretty much weather proof. She needs shade in the summer and bedding and wind protection in the winter. A cow is no harder on pasture than a horse and she will eat weeds a horse won't touch.

[ozark_jewels]

Cows are not that hard on land as long as long you don't overgraze it. Much easier on it than the average horse.

Our Jerseys have always pastured with our horses, its never been a problem.

We do not provide our Jerseys with shelter, when we did, they didn't use it, preferring the valleys with woods. If you have mostly cleared land, yes, I would give her the option of two or three sided shed for winter use. Our cows hang out under shade trees in the summer, no shed needed.

Be sure you check and see if she is good for standing and being milked. If you decide to buy, ask what feed she is getting and see if you can get the same feed to feed her during the transition at least. Then if you decide to change her feed, you can do it slowly.

[cjb]

Hmmmm... you guys are really just egging me on, aren't you.

I want her now. What about minitaure jerseys/milk cows? Any opinions there? Prob hard to find? I should start a separate thread prob..

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by cjb

Hmmmm... you guys are really just egging me on, aren't you.

I want her now. What about minitaure jerseys/milk cows? Any opinions there? Prob hard to find? I should start a separate thread prob..

Ok, my honest opinion is that if you are sure you want a cow, buy this one now. Then go buy a pig to feed the excess milk to.

[cjb]

I don't want a pig.

I have six kids - not sure there will be excess. Someone is looking at her tonight, if they don't buy her - we get to.

aahhhh... scarey.

Nobody answered about the fence - I have two string electric - I assume I need something more then that? I have a stall to keep her in, in the meantime.

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by cjb

I don't want a pig.

I have six kids - not sure there will be excess. Someone is looking at her tonight, if they don't buy her - we get to.

aahhhh... scarey.

Nobody answered about the fence - I have two string electric - I assume I need something more then that? I have a stall to keep her in, in the meantime.

Electric will be fine as long as she has enough grub. I just built a two string electric for my cow today. She goes in tomorrow, I'll let you know how it goes.

[cindy04]

If I was in the market I'd go look at her with cash in hand! You may have to supplement with hay and grain, dependent on where you live, pasture condition and such. PLEASE use caution with the horses. We have several horses,mules, and ponies. We NEVER put our (2) Jerseys with the mules, only would trust one old horse and even the ponies can push them around. These Jerseys are rather slow and laid back, MOST horses are not. Yours may cohabitate just fine, but please be careful.

Good Luck

Cindy

[JeffNY]

She is bred to a good bull, should be a decent calf, marketable. I wish they took a rear udder picture, but she appears to have a well attached udder, good support as it is above her hocks, or about even. Strong frame, good F&L. Seeing how she is bred, built well. That price sounds right. The calf could be worth as much as what is being asked. She is also registered, so the calf is registerable. Looks like a good buy.



Jeff

[DJ in WA]

I hate to say it, but I have learned that not everyone selling cows is completely straightforward with information. I would approach it as though you were buying a used car.

First obvious question is, “If she is such a great cow, why are you selling her?” Then see if you believe the answer. I have had cows and cars show symptoms of problems months after I bought them. Problems the sellers knew about but ‘forgot’ to mention. Cars with heaters that didn’t work (bought during summer), cow with mastitis that they couldn’t clear up, etc. Cows can have low-grade subclinical/chronic mastitis that lowers production. Maybe she’s an 8 gallon a day cow that’s down to five. Maybe she’s had problems with milk fever (happens at calving time).

I didn’t see an age. Hopefully she’s as young as the photos – when were they taken? Does her udder now hang lower?

Even if she’s got problems, might not be a bad deal – as Jeff said, calf might be worth a lot IF it’s a heifer. Just thought someone ought to give you some things to ask about.

If you’re like most horse owners I know and don’t ride them much, might consider trading them for a steer/cow to keep the Jersey company.

[JulieLou42]

In my neighborhood, one doesn't see cows and horses pastured together. Horses eat the grass shorter than can cows. because they have upper incisors, where cows generally leave 1-1/2" of it they cannot eat. Pasture regeneration, I'd think, would be slower, for this reason, if you do any rotational grazing.

I keep my cow and calf in their paddocks with just one wire that hits them a few inches above their briskets. They go right over my field fencing if I don't have it working.

Mine don't usually seek shelter from the rain, but do from strong winds...and sun in the summer months.

I agree with DJ

[tinknal]

I emailed the seller because I was curious about their milking outfit. That milker that is included with the cow sells new for $1300.

[ozark_jewels]

Yep, I'd be cautious and ask all the right questions...but I'd go with money in hand!