More Newbie Cow Questions..

[cjb]

The Jersey cow we just bought has a 5 week old bull calf by her side (adopted) and is due to calf in February.

What should I do with the bull calf? Sell him as a bull? I am not likely to feed him out so really just want to get rid of him. He's a beautiful little thing. How much can I get? Not much, I imagine.

I see that he picks at his Mom's hay, could he be sold now or would they have to bottle feed him? When is normal weaning?

Can I get his horns burned like a goats? Does the vet have to do this? How old do they need to be to be castrated? Can I band his nuts like a baby goat? When?

Do all dairy cows drink great gobs of water? This girl is sucking it down like there's no tomorrow.

Do I have to trim her hooves? They seem long. Can I so this? Is it hard?

Right now, she's letting me kneel next to her and milk a bit while she's eating. Would it be safer to tie her up or just let her be since she seems to accept it? Baby is 5 weeks old, can he be separated from her at night so I can get the night's worth of milk in the morning? If so, is that enough for him or would I have to supplement? If he's in a stall right next to her, are they less likely to holler all night? I can make it so they can touch noses.

[topside1]

I'll answer the calf sale question...At five weeks old a fair price would be $100-$125...Of course my price is based on my region and personal experience.

[matt_man]

Originally Posted by cjb

What should I do with the bull calf? Sell him as a bull? I am not likely to feed him out so really just want to get rid of him. He's a beautiful little thing. How much can I get? Not much, I imagine.

I agree with topside. But price varies by area.

Originally Posted by cjb

I see that he picks at his Mom's hay, could he be sold now or would they have to bottle feed him? When is normal weaning?

He is not really old enough to be weaned. The new owners would have to bottle feed him for a little while.

Originally Posted by cjb

Can I get his horns burned like a goats? Does the vet have to do this? How old do they need to be to be castrated? Can I band his nuts like a baby goat? When?

I believe he is still young enough that you could disbud his just like you would a goat. If you do your own goats, you could probably handle doing him as well. You can also band him just like you would the goats. I would do it at the same time and before selling him. It would probably make him a bit more desireable??

Originally Posted by cjb

Do all dairy cows drink great gobs of water? This girl is sucking it down like there's no tomorrow.

A cow in milk should get about 40 gallons of water a day.

Originally Posted by cjb

Do I have to trim her hooves? They seem long. Can I so this? Is it hard?

If her hooves are starting to overlap each other, they need to be trimmed. I have never done it myself so I can't tell you if it is hard to do or not. You will need a pair of nippers and a file.

Originally Posted by cjb

Right now, she's letting me kneel next to her and milk a bit while she's eating. Would it be safer to tie her up or just let her be since she seems to accept it? Baby is 5 weeks old, can he be separated from her at night so I can get the night's worth of milk in the morning? If so, is that enough for him or would I have to supplement? If he's in a stall right next to her, are they less likely to holler all night? I can make it so they can touch noses.

As long as she will just stand there you can try milking her that way. If you separated at night and milked in the morning you would not need to supplement the calf. Make sure you wait about an hour after milking or leave some milk in her udder so that he doesn't go after her and there is nothing for him. They should be more content if they are next to each other than if they were not able to see one another.

[SHELBY]

Originally Posted by topside1

I'll answer the calf sale question...At five weeks old a fair price would be $100-$125...Of course my price is based on my region and personal experience.

Be glad your selling there and not here.

Feeder calf prices have dropped here, beef feeder calves are only bringing $50 to $60 CWT.

Hopefully it will come back up but for now it's staying down.

5 weeks is way to young to wean him, he needs atleast another month if not 2 before you wean him.

Not sure about dehorning him, someone else will know, I don't dehorn any of the calves.

There is a certain number of gallons of water to gallon of milk ratio. Can't remember what it is at the moment. I think it's 3 to 1.
Ours drinks about 30 to 40 gallons of water a day in cool weather.

Better leave the hoof trimming to the professionals.

You can tie the calf up at night, just make sure he has planty of fresh water and some starter grain to nibble on, and hay and he'll be fine,

[animalfarmer]

Hi cjb,I sent you a P.M. It may be of interest. Best of luck.

[topside1]

CJB the selling price I mentioned is if you sold him directly to the public. If you just took him the sale barn expect $60.00, quite a difference....Sorry to tell ya but Jersey bull calves have little value, it's a shame. At my local dairy auction some of the three day old calves go for $35 each.....a pity, but reality.

[HazyDay]

Originally Posted by topside1

CJB the selling price I mentioned is if you sold him directly to the public. If you just took him the sale barn expect $60.00, quite a difference....Sorry to tell ya but Jersey bull calves have little value, it's a shame. At my local dairy auction some of the three day old calves go for $35 each.....a pity, but reality.

It is so true. Though most dairy claves sell for 50.oo at 1 week old, most go for veal. If you take them to an sale barn well likes just say it does depend on where are are, but here you are lucky to get 20.oo for one. And Jerseys.... well truckers can`t even give them away!!

[sammyd]

You can dehorn with a burner as soon as you start to feel the buds. Some guys will lop them off and then burn but I have had good luck just burning.
Castrate as soon as you feel the testes in the sack.
Dairy cows will drink lots of water, you should see what a Holstein can drink. I've had them down 10-15 gallons in one "sitting" after calving.
As for hoofs If she is on pasture and not getting excess grain they shouldn't be a problem. But then again anything is possible.

[AR Transplant]

If you can get your hands on a cow book that would be great. I have _Keeping a family cow_ and I love it.

Because your bull calf wouldn't be worth much, have you thought about putting some weight on him and putting him in the freezer? Jersey beef is our favorite meat to eat. You just have to get over the yellow fat. That is caused by the caratine in the fat.

I am worried about you not having a way out if you are in the stall with her and she acts up. Can you get a plan to jump out, or something? My friend got bruised up pretty bad when her jersey bull cornered her in the trailer. He became ground beef the next day.

I have read that you can butcher jerseys at 10-12 months. They put on weight fast then kind of even out. Of course, you'd have to determine the nature of this calf. Jersey bulls are the meanest, and most dangerous and you can never risk your family by keeping him around too long. I am guessing someone else on the board would know more about that than I would.

Enjoy your jersey, she sounds as if she is a keeper.

[cjb]

I could not jump out of this stall if she came after me so it worries me a little. The previous owner, however, had small children in with her, dealing with her all the time and she behaved.

I do hate to pull baby away from her, though. Always feel like she's going to come after me!

[HazyDay]

put her on a lead on a side of the pen then move the calf. That should keep her from killing you!