Day old jersey heifer prices?

[redrider_00]

I am interested in starting up a dairy farm that we purchased two years ago and curious how much young jersey heifers are bringing. We could hold about 70 but I would probably only start out with about 20-25 depending on prices. Let me know if anyone has heard prices with this low dairy market. We are in northwest Iowa but that shouldn't matter. Thanks

[JKB07]

It all depends on where your at.... but expect to pay anywhere from $400 for day olds up to $2000 for springers....

Justin

[myersfarm]

first I would check and made sure there is a company that will pick up the milk .....at the amount your going to milk ...might be a limit on how many gallons each day you will have to make....that would tell u how many cows you will need

.but the price on jersey heifers day olds is $225 in tx



tjm

[haypoint]

It takes skill to raise day old calves. Homesteadingtoday has many threads started by well-intentioned folks that were suddenly fighting to keep their new calf alive. The end result is often tragic.

I am assuming that since you have no idea of the selling price of Jersey calves in your area, you have little experience in this risky business.

Jerseys are not the most common dairy breed, not even close. Finding a few for sale won't be too hard. But making a purchase of 20+ Jersey heifers, under a week old, wouldn't be possible in many areas.

Most cows are marketed thru Livestock sale barns, auctions. Some will tell you that everything sold there is sub-standard or diseased. For most it isn't like that at all. You decide.

If you haven't any experience, but are serious about this, let me make a suggestion. But 3 or 4 week old Jersey BULL calves. You can buy them for nearly free. You can learn as you go and you won't be out much when they die.

If, after spending a few nights in the barn trying to will a calf to live only to have it die in your arms or after pouring more money in medicines and Vet visits than you can afford, you still think this is something you want to do, then you may be ready to throw your savings into this risky business.

"starting up a dairy farm" is a huge task. Dairy cows are just a small part of the investment it takes for a small dairy.

Check with your local Extension Agent for local publications that list current market prices. Some livestock are sold per hundred pounds and some are each.

[sammyd]

what's popular in your area?
Got any Jersey farms nearby?
Several around here. Getting heifer calves is like pulling teeth. Bull calves for free though.
25 at a crack? Would have to be a dispersal somewhere.
Spend a few days down at the local sales barn. Check the farm papers for auctions and scope the prices at those. Keep your checkbook handy in case a deal falls in your lap.
Personally I'd start with holsteins cuz you can get them all over fairly cheap at the moment. Get some experience under your belt and buy in the Jerseys after you are up and running on 25 head of the black and white ones.
Don't know about your area but around here there are still enough smaller dairies that 20 cows worth of milk will be picked up without a problem. If you're sized for 70 you can go with every other day and save a bit on shipping.

[Ronney]

Originally Posted by haypoint

It takes skill to raise day old calves. Homesteadingtoday has many threads started by well-intentioned folks that were suddenly fighting to keep their new calf alive. The end result is often tragic.

.......If, after spending a few nights in the barn trying to will a calf to live only to have it die in your arms or after pouring more money in medicines and Vet visits than you can afford, you still think this is something you want to do, then you may be ready to throw your savings into this risky business.

I couldn't agree more. I would never buy day old calves of any breed - the trauma of birth, separation from the mother, the travelling involved, etc. is a recipe for death. It is also interesting that in this country it is illegal to dispose of a calf less than four days old either by sale or to the works.
So, if your really keen to go down this track and start from the bottom, buy in calves from reputable farmers whom you know do the right thing by their stock.

I am assuming you have done your homwork on this because as Haypoint says, the stock are the easy bit. You could well find that compliance costs will make it nigh on impossible for you to become a dairyman - which is why I settle for milking a small herd, raising pigs on the milk, selling excess milk, raising calves and generally keeping away from the expensive clutter of being a true dairyman.

Cheers,
Ronnie

[topside1]

Picked up some Jersey heifers just yesterday. $160-$220 range. The same calves were sell for $300-$350 only four months ago....Fresh cows usually 30-40 walk thur the ring, yesterday 100 plus, most selling for $650 to $1000
Talk about the global economy taking a nose dive....

[haypoint]

The global economy might not be totally responsable for that drop.
While the slowing in the economy has caused a drop in the demand for milk and milk products, causing a drop in the price farmers are paid for milk, thus stalling growth in dairies, feeder calf prices always tank in February and August. Knowledgable buyers understand that mortality increases when the weather is very cold or very hot.

We do a dis-service to redrider_00 if we provide answers to the questions without providing the warnings.
$3200 for 20 Jeresy heifers isn't a bargain if you aren't prepared and they die.