Pictures

[Mrs. Homesteader]

This first one is my Jersey that we are currently milking. We milk once a day and she gives between 3.5 and 4.5 gallons. She is 14 years old.


This one is a Jersey and not a Holstein. Her Mom (the cow above) ran with a jersey bull. When this heifer, Clover was born, her spots were brown. They have darkened with time. I left the picture big, because I wanted you to see, she has a nubbin like a tiny 5th teat up between the back two teats. It is black and high up on the udder. Have you ever seen this?

[jirwin]

From what I have read, some are born with more than four teats. But these extras usaully get trimmed off at a young age.

[francismilker]

It's not uncommon at all to have more than the standard four teats. (Usually), they don't work. Although I have seen a few that had a droplet or two of milk appear in the parlor. Usually, they get trimmed off with a pair of scissors at a young age and doctored with iodine.

Great looking cows. Are you sure there wasn't a Holstein bull hanging out on the grassy knoll somewhere? LOL....

[gone-a-milkin]

What lovely ladies!

What are their names?

[topside1]

Great photos, I'd like to see a few more though...Topside

[Mrs. Homesteader]

The first picture up above of the honey colored Jersey is Buttercup. The one that looks like a Holstein is Clover. Here are a couple of pictures.

This is Clover when she was little and still brown.


This is Molasses. She and Clover are both daughters of Buttercup. Molasses's sire came from an old strain of Jerseys that have not been bred up for production and do extremely well on grass.


Here they are all out in the field. I had a better closer picture, but can't find it.

[Schlegelgranny]

Such pretty cows you have, you take good care of them and it shows. Very nice

[dosthouhavemilk]

Sure looks like a Holstein bull slipped in there somewhere. She has the Holstein coloration and the udder is not a coloration you find in purebred Jerseys. Still a pretty cow and probably produces quite a bit.

Extra nubbins are pretty typical. Few cause problems later, but some will have an extra productive quarter attached to them. We've had two (in the Norwegian Red crosses) that had extra productive quarters with their extra teats. One would squirt milk while she was letting down. We would just let the extra quarter dry up. Though the wet tail she would then slap us with was not appreciated.
Clover's doesn't look like it would have extra though.

[topside1]

Thanks for the bonus photos...Topside

[Mrs. Homesteader]

My heifer calved tonight. We bred her to angus and got a little heifer calf.

[gone-a-milkin]

Congratulations on your new little girl.

Do you milk by hand or have a machine?

[Mrs. Homesteader]

We have an old surge milker that we have used in the past. We have been just milking the one cow and did that by hand. I am not sure if we pull the milker out for 2 or not.

[dosthouhavemilk]

Congrats on the new calf! Where you wanting a heifer out of that breeding or a bull?

[nduetime]

My Jersey, Lucy, is 13 and could be your Buttercup's twin or little sis. They look so much alike! They have both been struck by gravity in all the same places too! We love our girl to death. We sold our first little heifer from her earlier this year due to my DD health issues. Now, Lucy will freshen in April and we are hoping for a heifer that can be used as a milker eventually. Lucy can then retire to being a wonderful pasture buddy.

your pics are simply lovely, so peaceful and content.

[Mrs. Homesteader]

Originally Posted by dosthouhavemilk

Congrats on the new calf! Where you wanting a heifer out of that breeding or a bull?

Actually, a bull would have been better. We love the meat that comes from a jersey angus cross. I always hate to eat the girls.

[Mrs. Homesteader]

Originally Posted by nduetime

Now, Lucy will freshen in April and we are hoping for a heifer that can be used as a milker eventually. Lucy can then retire to being a wonderful pasture buddy.

your pics are simply lovely, so peaceful and content.

I think Buttercup is going to just be a pasture buddy once we get done milking her this time. She has been the best cow.

[Silver Marten]

Great pictures.
Congratulations on the new calf!

Emily

[DJ in WA]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Homesteader

Actually, a bull would have been better. We love the meat that comes from a jersey angus cross. I always hate to eat the girls.

If the heifer isn't crazy, the cross would make a nice family cow for milk and meat. Breed to a beef bull and get a 3/4 beef calf. Most people don't need all the milk a pure dairy cow produces, though it seems many insist on a name brand Jersey.