How common is this cross?

GoldenMom · #1 01/27/08, 12:17 PM

Well it looks like things are finally going to come together this spring and my new fence is going in! That means that the biggest hurdle to my having more/larger animals is gone. I *really* want a cow. I really like the looks of Shorthorns, but am a little concerned that the size might be a bit much. I was thinking that a nice mix might be a Shorthorn/Jersey. Has anybody had one of these? How did it milk? Are they very common? I plan to breed to a "beef" Shorthorn bull if possible, or maybe another beef breed if needed to ensure a good beefy calf.

Another thought I'd had was maybe just getting a "beef" Shorthorn cow and milking her because I'm a little concerned about having too much milk. I have chickens I can feed extra milk to, but I don't have any pigs.

If anyone knows of any of this cross, please let me know. I'd take just about anything from a heifer calf on up. I'd like a red or a roan if possible, too. Or if you have other suggestions, I'm open to others' thoughts. Thanks.

wistful · #2 01/27/08, 12:38 PM

I had a jersey shorthorn cross, and got plenty of milk. How many people will be using the milk? She was a little taller than a jersey, but had a very deep and broad body. Had her bred to a jersey the first time around, and the resulting heifer eventually gave too much milk. Next time around we had her bred to an angus, and that resulting heifer gave about enough for a moderate to large family and a few chickens. As for how common they are, I don't know. Just happened to be someone in the community that had some. (I bought her as a wild 4 month old) She tamed down ok, but never really trusted people. Temperment wise, I really like the angus cross. Nothing flusters her, as mellow as they come and quite personable. Good milk, too.
Hope that helps!
wistful

linn · #3 01/27/08, 04:20 PM

I don't know how common the cross is; but I have seen cow from that cross and she was a great looking cow. Our milking shorthorns are very gentle; but maybe that's because we have worked with them from the time they were both calves. The beef shorthorn may not be as good natured.

GoldenMom · #4 01/27/08, 05:04 PM

Thank you both! The main reason I mentioned the "beef" Shorthorn is because my brother's neighbor has shorties and that would be an easy place to look for a cow/heifer or possibly a place to get a cow bred. Maybe I could keep a heifer calf if the first cross produced too much milk.

There's just DH and myself for the milk, though I do plan on either sharing the milk with a calf (or two) or using the extra to bottle feed the calf. I do want to make butter and maybe cheese, so the higher fat content a Jersey might add would be good. My folks might use the milk too, I don't know.

genebo · #5 01/27/08, 07:27 PM

I owned and bred a series of Dexter/Shorthorns. They were very gentle and much smaller than the standard Shorthorns. Annie, who was 1/2 Dexter, 1/2 Shorthorn, stood 45" at the hip. She had a 2.5 gallon udder. All of Annie's calves were bred from Dexter bulls and all of them were smaller than her. The smallest is 35" tall. Her mother is 36".

I just went to visit them this afternoon. They are pretty cattle.

Genebo
Paradise Farm

GoldenMom · #6 01/28/08, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genebo

I owned and bred a series of Dexter/Shorthorns. They were very gentle and much smaller than the standard Shorthorns. Annie, who was 1/2 Dexter, 1/2 Shorthorn, stood 45" at the hip. She had a 2.5 gallon udder. All of Annie's calves were bred from Dexter bulls and all of them were smaller than her. The smallest is 35" tall. Her mother is 36".

I just went to visit them this afternoon. They are pretty cattle.

Genebo
Paradise Farm

Now there's a thought. Will have to consider them too!

Rick Allen · #7 02/11/08, 07:47 AM

Shorthorns are good duel purpose but probably produce the least amount of milk of the duel purpose breeds. They are not easy to find and may cost you a good bit. Jerseys are easier to find and birth well. If you're sold on this cross I'd look for an older Jersey and AI her to a SH.

A real good duel purpose cross for not a lot of money is a Hereford/ Holstein. You can find older Holstein whose production has dropped off for pennies at the sale barn. I'd AI her to a polled hereford so I wouldn't have to dehorn and you'd have a very docile beefy cross that would milk well. Blessings/ Rick Allen