Sooner than i thought...

[doulanobles]

We weren't going to even look at a milk cow til next fall but...I was looking on Craigslist today and someone within an hour of me is selling a jersey, halterbroke and gentle, freshened in May of this year and bred back to an Angus, I think, for $600. This seems like a good deal but i am totally new at this. What questions should I ask? My neighbor said just yesterday that you can't even find jersey's around here and if you could they's be super expensive because someone in Idaho sells minis

My fence is so-so but doable, I think and I have a barn and 2 goats for her company. I'd need to get a few milking supplies I guess??

Ad said she's currently givinf 1.5 gallons a day.

Whadda ya think?

[cjb]

Fun - we just got our first a bit over a month ago.

I would suggest that you get a picture of her and, specifically, of her udder, get the registration information and post it all on here. The advice is great.

You can also search by my name and read all the advice that was given to me, in terms of questions to ask etc.

[doulanobles]

Correction...it just says she's bred back but doesn't say to what.

[matt_man]

Ask about her health history: has she had mastitis (if so is it recurring), milk fever, are all four quarter working (if not, why?). How old is she? Shots? Tested for Bangs, Johnes? Why are they selling her??? Is she halter broke, if not will she at least let you lead her around/follow?

At that price and that she's bred back, I'd say she won't be on the market long. Try to go look at her right away. Go at milking time and milk her yourself. She might not cooperate fully because you are new to her but it will give you a chance to handle her teats. Are they too short? too fat? good placement?

Also pay attention to her body condition. She should look "hippy" because she is a dairy animal after all but you should not be able to see more than a couple of ribs. Even if she is a little thin, some good hay and proper feeding can bring her back up in no time. Body condition can be a good indicator of parasite overload. Ask when the last time she wormed was and what they used. Cydectin is the only one approved for use in dairy animals without a withdrawal time (from what I've found).

Can't think of much else....

Good luck!!

Rachel

[doulanobles]

Thanks all. We decided to pass. We don't have enough hay to get a cow through the winter and there is a serious hay shortage around here so...I guess we'll wait after all.
That way by next year, we'll have fences ready and a good hay supply in the barn.

[dezeeuwgoats]

Good thing it wasn't available down here in my neck of the saguaros.....I'd have been really tempted, and I'm not even looking for (another) cow!

Niki