Jersey/Holstein Crossbed Bottle Calves

[countrygirl25]

I was wondering if you thought that $150.00 is a good price for a 1 week old jersey/holstein crossbred heifer, the guy that I am considering getting them from seems to be very honest, and he has several calves for sale and this seemed like a good price, I was just wanting some opinions, thanks!

[greenhorn]

That seems a little high to me. Are they on his farm with the mama now, or did he get them from somewhere (dairy or sale barn) for like $10 each and is trying to turn a quick profit? This happened to me with my first calves..I overpaid and then half of them died

If they won't have to travel far to get to you they may be good, but I'd say more like $75 for Jersey/Holsteins in the fall that you'll have to buy hay for during winter (spring ones can eat pasture if yu have it once they're weaned). They will not grow as quickly as Holsteins either.

This is just my opinion based on my small amount of experience. Bottle calves are hard to keep healthy unless you know what you're doing (I didn't know much with mine) and they're a dime a dozen directly from a dairy at that age. HTH and hope like I didn't sound like I really know what you should pay...this is just my gut feeling after being a little sheistered (is that a word?)

[greenhorn]

Oh, I'm an idiot! you said heifer! i was thinking steers. Never mind...my bad!

[maude73529]

That is a very good price. I gave $300 for mine but i would make sure they have had their colestrum and are in good health. Way to go.

[countrygirl25]

I thought this was a good price and am thinking about getting two of them I hope it works out were I can. I just wish I had a milk cow I could milk to use to feed them instead of using milk replacer.

[Cheryl aka JM]

I paid $300 each for my heifers we think are Jersey/Holstein cross as bottle babies. The man who sold them to me told me they were Beef/Dairy cross~ but we are pretty sure they are Jersey/Holstein cross.......and once I determined they are NOT freemartins I think $300 is a fair price for healthy heifers of that cross...................

For the price you being quoted you need to determine that they ARE healthy and that they are NOT freemartins. If you can get those guarantees.........well......I really wish I was close enough to buy a couple!

[Tad]

Good price for a hiefer, especially if it is from someone you trust. We have several half breeds that preform very well.

[willow_girl]

Good price. There are a couple reasons they might be for sale by a commercial dairy. The Jersey/Holsteins I saw as a milk tester didn't produce as much milk as a purebred Holstein nor was their butterfat content as high as a straight Jersey. Unfortunately, IMO this cross seems to result in a cow with Jersey production and Holstein butterfat! (Your mileage may vary. I'm aware I might be stepping on a few toes here.)

I'm guessing the dairy farmer may be displeased with his/her mature crosses and has decided to go back to purebreds. Or he/she might have used a Jersey bull (or semen) to breed a Holstein who was slow to settle. Outcrossing like this is pretty common ... the Norwegian Reds are another breed of choice, but I'm seen some farmers even resort to using an Angus bull on a cow that was "way out."

Of course, this is all idle speculation on my part ... just to counter the assumption that the only reason a dairy would sell heifers is because they're freemartins.

And to close on a brighter note, those Holstein/Jersey crosses usually are pretty little cows! (And should produce plenty of milk for the table.)

Good luck!

[ozark_jewels]

We are a dairy and sell Jersey/Holstien heifers. We only keep 10-20 each year and sell the extras. The Jersey/Holstien crosses are a great cow for a grazing dairy. We don't sell heifers because we don't like them. We sell heifers because we have too many!
Oh, and *if* they are good healthy heifers off the farm, that price is a steal.

Some really good Jersey/Holstien milkers:







Make sure you are getting decent, healthy calves, but don't be scared to buy.