Help! Buying a jersey heifer.

[tlance]

I just talked to someone with a jersey heifer for sale. She is not bred. They bought her from a dairy dispersal sale. So what do I need to ask or look for? Jersey are known for small teats, how do I know what her teats will be like if she hasn't had a calf. All thoughts are appreciated.
Tracy

[Up North]

My fist two thoughts are, If a person is selling a heifer after buying her from a sale I would be asking why. If she is big enough to be bred why isn't she? The best way to get an idea of a heifers future teat size would be to look at her dam. Since this probably isn't an option I would just look at what teats are there. Try and imagine what they would look like when filled up. Heather

[tlance]

This man was buying two other cows at the sale for someone else. This heifer came with the group. The other two were already milking which is why they bought the other two. So now he's trying to sell her.
Tracy

[myersfarm]

tlance I have never and I have been to way to many dairy sales or dairy sell outs

seen them sell 2 heifers in milk with a open heifer

that just does not make sense

ones in milk worth up to $1800 and one not only worth $1000...that just sounds like a story to me

not only that but at most sales I go to
they sell the small heifers under 300 lbs
then sell any thing in milk
then go back to selling the bigger heifers


JMHO

tjm

[topside1]

Tracy, did you buy her? What else did you find out about her? How old, how much $?? If she was in milk you should buy her, if she's young 3-6 months old I'd buy her providing the heifer passes a freemartin probe test. If she's breeding age and not bred, well I'd keep looking elsewhere but that's just me....Once again did you buy her? Topside.

[myersfarm]

topside said if she's young 3-6 months old I'd buy her providing the heifer passes a freemartin probe test.
__________________
my instructions on the freemartin probe say it will not work on calves older then 6 weeks....do you know something I do not

[topside1]

NO, No, I don't want to buy her. I ment if she passed the test TLance should buy her....that's to funny....Myersfarm, what is the best months to sell heifers at the dairy auction...I'm taking mine in in March....Historically a good month to sell??? thanks Topside...TJM you surely know more about calves than me, as you know I only buy week old calves that have been freemartin tested....Never read up on what ages the probe is good for,,,time to hit the books again....thanks for the heads up...Topside.

[topside1]

Tlance I gave you bum information about the freemartin probe. Myers farm thanks for enlightening me. This paragraph explains the uses of a freemartin probe...Topside

Newly developed vaginal probe to detect freemartin heifers and/or determine if heifers born co-twin to a bull have a normal reproductive tract. The crucial probe end length is 7 cm. Research has shown that no freemartin calf has a vaginal length longer than 7 cm. The digital end of the narrower center section is 14 cm from the tip. Over 95% of heifers born co-twin to a bull and with a normal reproductive tract have a vaginal length of 14 cm or more. If vaginal length is 7-14 cm, a chromosome testing should be done to confirm if it’s a freemartin. It is designed to be used on heifers 30 days of age or less.

[myersfarm]

May and June is the best time to sell here in Missouri


what I do is print out the auction sheet and keep it on file look at the size I sell and track it that way

topside I just took your quote I knew you ment for her to buy the calf but it did not come out that way that I posted it sorry for the confusin

tjm

[topside1]

No problem TJM, Merrry Christmas to ya...Topside