Making a sound decision.. Honest input please again!

[cjb]

I tell you - we have had the hardest time making up our minds about a family cow. We have considered a 3/4 Jersey, 3/4 lowline - we almost bought a pure jersey and the honesty and expertise on this forum saved us from that mistake (bad udder and genetics), and we are still looking. There are two that we are now considering. One is on Craig's list (the one named "Eve"). Here's the link: http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/grd/364741908.html. Hard to tell because she is a ff. I don't get their statement about the breeding so I emailed to ask (the other one sold). If she was bred by a galloway, would that be a troublesome first birth? Would the calf we worth anything etc.

The second was is from a local organic farm that can only legally have 3 cows at once. They are always upgrading their hand and are wanting to sell a milking cow that is tame etc. but has 1 non functional teat. Here is what they said about her. Please let me know your opinion. I will try to get records and a picture.



Also – if you know anyone else looking for family cows - our milking Jersey cow is for sale, “Jewel,” five years old, pregnant with second calf and due to deliver September 29, currently milking 3 gallons a day+. Bob Bansen’s certified organic Jersey stock – premium genetics. Experienced and gentle hand-milker, halter-broke, beautiful high, firm udder but only three functioning teats due to mechanical (suckling) damage by other calves in Bob’s calf barn, ideal family cow $1500. Last month’s somatic cell count for this cow was 130!!!

[cybercat]

$1500 seems a bit high for a FF and one with a bad teat. I would get on the jersey association and look up jersey farmers in your area. you might be a ble to reserve a heifer from a breeding for alot less money from a producing dairy.

[Sunraven]

I think I'd visit local dairies and see if I found anything there. First decide on how much milk you want or can handle and what you plan on feeding your cow- what and how much you feed her will partly determine her production, the other part is genetics. We have a lot of three titted cows that still produce a lot of milk, generally when they loose a tit the other three will compensate. I would consider three titters in my search and you can generally find these from a commercial dairy pretty reasonable as they'll eventually be culled- it's getting them at the point of culling when they'll be cheap can be a trick. Of course at that point they probably won't be producing much.

That 'Eve' heifer may or may not be bred and would want her checked if I was buying her as bred, she obviously didn't settle with AI if the Galloway bull bred her later and I wouldn't just assume that he got the job done either.

[tyusclan]

I agree with Sunraven on checking with local dairies. I've bought several cows over the years from a local Jersey dairy that they were culling due to low production. The udders were good on them, and they usually gave around 2 gallons a day. Just about perfect for a family cow.

You also get them at cull price. They usually sell them a little higher than they would get at the sale barn, but still way below what a Jersey would sell for. I've usually paid between $300 and $500.

The one drawback is that they're usually not used to hand-milking. Some take right to it aren't a problem at all, but some take several days and a little effort.

[Ronney]

I don't have a problem with a three titter but I would certainly have a problem paying that much for her. I would consider less than a third of that price to be reasonable. Mind you, in fairness, I'm often amazed at the price Jerseys go for in your part of the world so I could be out of line in saying that.

I would agree with what Sun and Ty have suggested. I've bought ex-dairies in the past at a very good price and they have been worth their weight in gold. They are often culled for reasons that don't much affect us smallholders so you can often buy a very good cow for a very reasonable price.

While I don't advocate paying big money for a three titter, don't knock them out of the equation either. They will often produce as much milk from three teats as they would have from four - and I know this from experience and was mildly surprised at the time. So look around, don't rush things and you'll know when you've found the right cow.

Cheers,
Ronnie

[jerzeygurl]

i also would not be worried about the blind quarter, they can come back...

but the price seems high