Jersey Heifer Calf FS/ FT: TN

[Tango]

I went to sale today and there was a Jersey heifer there. The owner knows me and he was looking last year for a Jersey heifer for me so I guess everyone there thought I would buy her so I did. But I don't need her anymore. She's 275 pounds, looks like 8 months or so. Full bllood, at least in appearance. Thought someone on this board would like her so I'm posting her for sale. Asking $450 and I'm willing to have the vet come out to examine her for the additional cost of his services. Will trade for hay since hay is hard to find this year for us. Square or round bales of good grass hay or cash. May trade for horse plow, draft horse equipment, or similar items. Please pm me. I will post a photo of her in the morning.

[RedHogs]

How much Hay do you want??? I've got clover/grass hay that hasn't been sprayed or mixed grass and even some premium horse hay - and i've got large trailers.

[Tango]

It would be hay to equal the asking price RedHogs. Do you have square bales or round bales? How much are you asking per bale? People seem to be going crazy at the thought of getting rich with hay this year but I can't afford to make others rich I found 22 6 x 5 round bales at $20 each - $25 prob after shipping. That was a very good deal given to me by my builder whom I've purchased hay from since I moved here. Don't expect to find anymore like that and don't need anymore since 22 round bales is what I go through each winter but I have a neighbor who will be very short so any hay I find will be given to him for the same price I find it at.

[Tango]

Here she is. She's at that awkward stage in growth where her head is smaller than her body. It doesn't last long , she'll be a pretty girl with a lighter colored coat.

[cybercat]

She beautiful I wish we had our place by now I would take her. Unfortunatly we are still waiting on things to get done. Maybe in July we will be ready. Where are you located in Tn Tango? I know we do not have any here so when we are ready we have to look outside our county. This gives me a good idea that when we are ready to have those that attend these sales to look out for one for us. Thanks for I had not thought of that. Good luck in selling her.

[Paula]

Originally Posted by Tango

It would be hay to equal the asking price RedHogs. Do you have square bales or round bales? How much are you asking per bale? People seem to be going crazy at the thought of getting rich with hay this year but I can't afford to make others rich I found 22 6 x 5 round bales at $20 each - $25 prob after shipping. That was a very good deal given to me by my builder whom I've purchased hay from since I moved here. Don't expect to find anymore like that and don't need anymore since 22 round bales is what I go through each winter but I have a neighbor who will be very short so any hay I find will be given to him for the same price I find it at.

My dh is out cutting hay right now.
With the price of gas your builder lost money on selling you that hay when you figure in all the costs and labor involved. Unless it was last year's hay or someone gave him the hayground...

[Tango]

This year for him was a total bust in terms of hay. He's in Hohenwald. He was giving everything to the cutter/baler instead of the usual 50% but I called him and asked him for some so the 22 I am buying are the only ones he is keeping back to sell. It is a very generous offer right now. His hay is excellent.

[Tango]

Originally Posted by cybercat

She beautiful I wish we had our place by now I would take her. Unfortunatly we are still waiting on things to get done. Maybe in July we will be ready. Where are you located in Tn Tango? I know we do not have any here so when we are ready we have to look outside our county. This gives me a good idea that when we are ready to have those that attend these sales to look out for one for us. Thanks for I had not thought of that. Good luck in selling her.

I'm in south middle Tennessee, right at the MS/AL junction of moonshine fame I attended the sale because my last steer was selling. I don't plan on going back and hadn't planned to buy anything , LOL. I've shifted gears away from raising livestock for religious reasons. If you pm me I will give you the name and # of the buyer I use. He's the owner of auction and comes across a lot of cows but the nice dairy ones are rare. I asked him for a Jersey heifer back in May last year Neighbors bought a registered Ayreshire 6 years old in milk. Lovely udder with papers for $625. They took her home and say she milks like a dream. Big, big girl. Good buys can be found but it is a risky thing.

[cjb]

I cannot find a Jersey heifer here to save my life. The one that I did find had a mother with a nightmare of an udder (I posted pics here).

I don't suppose you know anything about this heifer's mom, lineage etc?

[Tango]

Sorry cjb, I certainly don't know any of that. I called the closest two dairies to buy a Jersey heifer last year as well as enlist this buyer and I had no luck. Then I found a Guernsey heifer in March and this Jersey heifer now. I don't need her here and am trying not to get attached But the longer she stays the more valuable she is since she will be that much closer to breeding and selling as a springer. So I'm good with her being here I consider her a lucky find.

BTW, the udder is half the sire's from my understanding, someone please correct me if I am wrong. She might have been sired for an improvement in that area. Finding a dairy calf is difficult but obviously not impossible. You have to be patient and in my case, give up the search It is easier and more certain to buy a mature cow. That way you have milk right away as you are getting to know each other. I have the Guernsey heifer and am really attached to her. She's a sweetheart. I've no idea why she was at a sale though or what her udder will look like. You have to take the chances you are comfortable with.

[cjb]

Thanks Tango - Oregon is prob a little far to come get her anyhow ;-)

We are trying to find a mature cow but would settle for a heifer, at this point.

[Tango]

Looks like this one is spoken for. I'll call the vet to do a physical and give her shots. Any advice on what to get blood tests for at this age?

If she is not suitable for this family, I will put her back up for sale with the vet bill of health.

[Paula]

Well, I think you know what my main concern would be... Johnes, which most likely wouldn't show up till she freshned and can't be effectively tested for right now.
I've been meaning to tell you this but keep forgetting - we have a Jersey cow I'm sure had Johnes. We did an experiment based on something we read in AcresUSA. We put her away from other cows on grass only (no hay, place was big enough she could get enough grass all winter) for one year. Didn't breed her even. Just supplied grass, and kelp for mineral and some white salt. She got better and is in our herd now fat and healthy and raising a calf every year. I told dh we should've had her tested at the beginning but he said nobody would believe it anyway so why bother. She's had 3 healthy calves since then and never a runny poop from her and she holds a good weight. Of course, she's on the grass/hay thing like the rest of the herd. I'd be afraid to ever give her concentrates again. I'd use alfalfa if we milked her.

[Tango]

Paula, Johnnes is a big concern. You are right. I was convinced Abby had it. You probably know about Abby, the Jersey I got through the same buyer back in November. I took her 6 month old steer calf to market last week and he weighed 450 pounds. The next few days of milking Abby yielded 4 gallons which I couldn't get entirely out of her do to being so slow milking. Her production has dropped to 3 gallons which I am getting now. Lots of butterfat. She's gained weight while put up on hay and her poop is no longer runny. I still haven't gotten the Johnnes fecal results back but her blood test came back negative. I can't say whether the fecal will come back positive or negative but her improvement is astounding- she's like a different cow.

This calf in particular is very well cared for but it is still a risk. Raising a calf is risky whether or not something like Johnnes is possible. Being open about the possibility of Johnnes and the origin of this calf is about as honest as I can be.