Opinions on this article re:Guernsey cows

[NewEnglandBeth]

A friend of mine wants to invest in a family cow. She came across this article on the web, and now is considering a Guernsey.

What are your opinions on this breed? Is a Guernsey a good family cow? Would a Guernsey provide enough milk for a family of five? Would she have enough left over to sell?

She has no experience with cows, but her husband was brought up on a farm, so I am confident she will be able to adequately care for the animal.

http://www.newholland.com/na/News/nh...5/V51No5_1.htm

[Tango]

More important than the breed, I think is the cow itseldf but I read that article a while ago and it made me start looking for a GUernsey. I currently have the very first cows in my life. One Jersey I've had for two years. One Jersey for 7 months, and one Guernsey heifer calf for 4 months. The Guernsey heifer calf is always in a good mood For a first - timer, I think a Jersey would fit the bill as nicely as a Guernsey would. My first Jersey gives about 4.5 gallons a day at peak and she is very easy keeper, being a smallish Jersey at 850 pounds (she weighed 650 when I bought her as a 3 year -old and I put some needed weight on her). Jersey milk is rich in butterfat and is delicious. They are also good natured cows with a sense of humor aimed at humans sometimes. A Guernsey is a little bit larger and will need that much for feed, etc. to maintain good weight- not a big deal most of the time. If they can find a calm, experienced Jersey or Guernsey or a mix between either, I think they would have done well. Either cow or a mix of both breeds will provide enough milk for a family of five with some to sell. Don't let them forget to have a series of negative tests for things like Johnnes or TB or BVD, some people out there will try to sell them a sick cow that doesn't look sick yet. It can be a heartbreaker.

[DaleK]

Guernsey's work just fine. The other thing to consider is if she's going to want it bred Guernsey, most local AI techs don't carry Guernsey semen anymore and might not be prepared to order it in for just one cow. She'll probably be better off crossing it.

[ozark_jewels]

My experiences with Guernseys made me appreciate my Jerseys even more. The Guernseys were sweet, and gave good milk. But I also found them not too bright(to put it nicely), not as hardy and the milk not as good as Jersey milk. Not saying they weren't good cows.....but the Jerseys were better.
The steer we ate, raised up exactly the same as our Jersey steer at the same time, wasn't as tasty as the Jersey either.
So if I had a choice between the two breeds, I'd certainly go with Jersey. I did, actually.

[sammyd]

Every barn around here used to have a Guernsey or 2 to keep the fat count up. We had our share. I have seen some really nice ones tucked away here and there in registered herds but few and far between these days.
They seemed a little more aggresive than the Holsteins to me but that might depend on the cow and where you get them from. I can't remember where we got ours but they weren't home bred.
If I could find one I wouldn't hesitate to try her out.

[NewEnglandBeth]

I'll pass this thread on to her. I think she should go for a Jersey, myself. We both are purchasing raw Jersey milk from the same woman, and it is absolutely delicious!

[JulieLou42]

My 3/4 Guernsey, Ginger, is 6 y.o. now. She's an easy keeper, very mild mannered, never kicks during milking, unless it's flies she's after...and that, not much. She's a very good mother to her calves...can be defensive when they're young.

Her present bull calf is half Jersey,and has lotsa vigor, is very nervous compared to her. I think he learns things a bit faster than did she...like, if he was gonna get hitched to his lead rope from the grain bowl -- in the beginning -- it only took him once to figure that one out and start backing away from the bowl. Of course, now that he's older, he's learned that the only way out of the pen is ON that rope, he doesn't mind being hitched to it so much.

She was much easier to train than he...more cooperative. Does that equate to less intelligent? I don't know.

My only problem with her is that she's a larger one, perhaps because of the 1/4 Angus in her...over 1400# ...and I'd rather have something smaller to milk.

There are a few cows around here that appear to be Guernseys, maybe four altogether. I think that our local AI tech carries Guernsey...I'll know in a few months.

[Tango]

Can some of you share your AI tech contact sites or phone #s? I couldn't find an AI tech that would visit my farm for two Jerseys this time around. Had to use my Angus again. None would come out for just two. Next year I will have the Guernsey also but doubt 3 will get a tech here. Do ya'll live close to dairies? Sorry for the tangent.

[savinggrace]

I have an interest in preservation of heritage livestock breeds, and began my search with a few breeds in mind. During my search I went through the Am. Guernsey Assoc. and contacted nearby breeders; one particular farm stood out above the others-the owners are true ambassadors of the Guernsey breed, a real class act. I purchased a 6yr old 3/4'ed well bred cow; halter trained and as gentle as can be.

Being a first dairy cow owner; my top priority was to find a gentle cow.

I think it all really depends upon what is important to you. Personally, I would consider the cow more on a case by case basis than "I must have a XXXX breed!"

Best of luck!

Melissa

[savinggrace]

Tango, have you checked out Select Sires? They also offer courses in AI.

[Tango]

SS will not come out for two cows. None of the vets in the area have the equip. (beef cattle country) and the leads given by a vet didn't pan out. I am not really interested in taking a course or getting the equipment which I hear is very expensive.

[sammyd]

Getting the equipment for 2 probably wouldn't go well either...a couple of straws in the tank and the need to keep it topped off with liquid nitrogen.
I'm surprised the AI guy wouldn't come out, I've talked to a few around here at the farm shows and they didn't seem to have a problem with coming out for my 1.

[JulieLou42]

Mine will come out for one, and he carries Jersey...don't know about any others but Salers...those are popular here. I know of one dairy about 45 min. drive from here, but don't know what sort of cows they milk and how many. I know of a gal about 20 miles from here has Brown Swiss and milks her. Milking cows isn't something we hear much about in our area. I only know of three of us in less than an hour's drive. There are goats around, tho', and I hear about them at a local natural health/herb shop. People who shop there seem to think goat's milk is better for the body...it's that beef fat bias thingy!

[NewEnglandBeth]

I passed the info onto my friend, Anna. I think she is considering a Jersey for a family cow. I can't wait...selfishly I'm going to be her sub if she and her family go on vaca...I'll get to keep that milk!!!

[Tango]

Originally Posted by NewEnglandBeth

I can't wait...selfishly I'm going to be her sub if she and her family go on vaca...I'll get to keep that milk!!!

"vaca" is the Spanish word for cow so your ulterior motive is plainly evident :baby04:

I was surprised that SS said no way for two cows since I've read on this board how friendly and helpful they are. I followed all the leads given to me a few months ago when I was going to breed my Jerseys. Eventually th eleads kept getting further away until I decided it wasn't worth it to take my two Jerseys two counties over. I never received a return e-mail from the area rep. the only correspondence was from their central office. Perhaps next year it will be easier since I will also have the Guernsey to breed but just in case, I kept my bottle bull calf son, Fortune to breed them back next year.