market value of potential milk cow

[agmantoo]

As some of you may recall I bought what was thought to be a barren heifer from a nearby dairy. Well, she was bred and I kept her and she calved last Nov. both she and her steer calf faired fine through winter on stockpiled grass along with the beef herd. IMO the cow has bred back and is probably 5 months along. Her steer calf is ready to wean and will in time go into my freezer. The cow was in training to go through a dairy milking parlor and is not skittish but she has not been handled. She seems curious and aware and IMO should become tame with some human contact and a bag of sweet feed. I want to take the dairy cow out of my beef herd and would like to sell her. I want what is a fair price to the buyer and to myself but have no idea of her value. I had rather not send her to market as she could benefit some family wanting a young cow. What are the thoughts on her value?

Cow and her calf

[francismilker]

agman,
In my area she might bring 6-800 at the Sulphur Springs, TX dairy sale. (Depending on her udder). Did she raise only her own calf? Or, did she let others steal from her in order to keep her udder in good condition?

[cathleenc]

I paid $800 last year for an organic 5 yr guernsey/jersey, recently freshened, from a commercial dairy. That price worked well for me.

When you get her friendlied up and want to sell make sure to post a listing on the family cow board - http://familycow.proboards.com/index.cgi

[agmantoo]

francismilker

That is her calf in the pic with her. The calf is still nursing.

[francismilker]

agman,
I was referring to the fact that being a dairy cow, they usually produce way more milk than one calf at birth can consume without either ruining her udder or scouring the calf or both. Most cows will adjust down to provide for their calf alone but it takes a while for the transition. If she just nursed her calf alone it may be because of the grass-based diet she's on and not getting 25# of feed a day.

[tinknal]

Just had to note, typical cows, knee high grass and sticking their heads under the wire to graze!

[Callieslamb]

I think if you can settle her down a bit and get her ready to milk - get her to allow you to touch her all over, etc...you can get a lot more from her. Is she a breed - or a cross? I have a jersey/holstein cross that was bred yesterday. When she is confirmed pregnant, I hope to get at least $1000 for her - better would be $1200. She is 16 months old and a great little heifer.

[agmantoo]

Callieslamb
She is the result of a registered Jersey cow being artificially bred to a registered Holstein. She is currently bred to a registered Murray Grey. Thanks for the suggestions.

[DaleK]

Not sure on your market agman. Saw similar Jersey crosses last week going for $300-400 here.

[gone-a-milkin]

About the udder being ruined, I say not necessarily. This was her first calf and so she was not giving the same amount as an 'established' dairy cow. Plus, she was not being fed up to make milk.

It would be hard to assess her actual value w/o seeing that udder though. Here xbreds go for between 4-8 hundred at sale, lately. If she has a nice balanced udder you should get the high end of that for her, I would think.

I hope you find a wonderful home for her.

[Ronney]

She's a very pretty cow, is of reasonably good breeding, has had some training which will stay with her and make her easier to handle and milk, has reared a good looking calf and is in calf again. Knowing Agman, her udder will be good or he wouldn't be selling her.

While cow prices are regional and seasonal, I would pay $800.00 for her if vetted in calf. MT, $600.00 as I would have to get her in calf and graze her for another 9 months for no return.

As an interesting and cultural aside, a stand alone Jersey cow over here, no matter what her breeding, would be worth no more than about $400.00. If she was one of a herd, she would be worth about $1,200 - $1,500. Theoretically, a farmer would be better off buying single cows rather than an established dairy herd Even I can't work that one out.

Given that, my reasoning for buying Agman's cow would be that she has a lot going for her, plus I would be looking at having her for the next 10 years at least all being well, by which time she will have more than paid for herself - and much more besides.

Cheers,
Ronnie

[RosewoodfarmVA]

I think the best market for her may not be in the established dairy business but the homestead/homeschool types. I know several families that value homegrown milk so much they would probably pay $1,000 or more. Prices among this kind of family are often much higher than what would be paid at the market because they realize the true value of such an animal. Her advantages are that she is young, yet without worries of that first calving trouble, thrives on grass alone, and would provide plenty of milk for home use plus a calf on just grass with no purchased feed. That puts her in a different category altogether from the typical grain fed, shedded dairy cow. Taming can happen rather quickly given the right person and a little effort...

[francismilker]

Originally Posted by RosewoodfarmVA

I think the best market for her may not be in the established dairy business but the homestead/homeschool types. I know several families that value homegrown milk so much they would probably pay $1,000 or more. Prices among this kind of family are often much higher than what would be paid at the market because they realize the true value of such an animal. Her advantages are that she is young, yet without worries of that first calving trouble, thrives on grass alone, and would provide plenty of milk for home use plus a calf on just grass with no purchased feed. That puts her in a different category altogether from the typical grain fed, shedded dairy cow. Taming can happen rather quickly given the right person and a little effort...

I would second that notion rosewood as that's the market I try to find when selling a milk cow. The dairy sale barn is the last place I take an animal and expect to get a decent price for it.

[Callieslamb]

I think she is worth more than $4-600! When you buy from a commercial dairy, you are often buying their culls. If it were a great cow, they would keep it. Dairies around here will sell you their culls for meat price. Though many commercial dairy culls make great family cows, you are taking a risk for that cheaper price. Animals that have been well cared for and have a written history are worth more. I know I would pay more for a cow that I knew had never had mastitis, calved easily, etc, etc. Often commercial dairies buy and sell cows so often they don't have good records.

Agmanto - put an ad out on Craigslist and see what you get. Are you selling the calf with the cow? It kind of looks to me like it is big enough to wean. She is a nice looking cow...I wish you were closer.

[agmantoo]

I plan on keeping the current calf but she will be sold to be pregnant.

[DJ in WA]

Hard to say what the value is in different areas.

As Callieslamb said, she'd be worth more to me than a cow from a dairy. Not the exposure to contagious mastitis and other diseases as occurs in a milking string. Less standing on concrete, etc. Those are the kind of points I'd make while marketing.

I'm curious as to why they bred a Jersey to Holstein and then sell the heifer?

[matt_man]

I'd advertise locally with an $800 price tag and I don't think you would have her much longer.

[willow_girl]

I'm curious as to why they bred a Jersey to Holstein and then sell the heifer?

Yeah -- that's not exactly a calving-ease selection, especially for a first-calf heifer!

[JKB07]

Originally Posted by willow_girl

Yeah -- that's not exactly a calving-ease selection, especially for a first-calf heifer!

Agman,


$800 sounds like a good starting point.

Who said her dam was a first calf heifer??


Justin