I want a dairy cow and need help/ideas

[janij]

Hi. I am new to the forum and new to farming. We have 12 acres in East Texas. We currently have a 7yr old British White cow and British White calf. I would like a dairy cow. Now, that being said, we have a small family. We do raise pigs and will continue to do so. So the amount of milk I need is not huge. I would like to quit buying milk, yogurt and soft cheese at the store as well as butter and sour cream. I know how to make most of it. So my question is what cow? So I go buy a milking cow? Can I breed the British White with a dairy cow and hope for a female? What would I cross it with? This would put me a few years out on having milk, which I am torn about. I need a milking shed first so that would give us time to build it, but I can't breed the calf til late next summer at the earliest. Any ideas? Anyone know of dairy cows for sale in East Texas?
BTW- I have done a lot of searching of this forum and you guys are a great group of people. Very willing to help and bounce around ideas. Great site!!

[stifflej]

Can't really answer this, but keep in mind any excess milk you have you can feed to your pigs. It could save you money there as well.

[francismilker]

Not sure what part of East Texas you're in, but if you're anywhere close to Sulphur Springs, TX you can buy a very reasonably priced heifer, cow, or bred heifer right now. I'm not a big fan of buying a short bred older cow from a sale because you never know what problems she might have that caused her to be sold.

You say you're interested in breeding your British White to a dairy cow. That would be just fine. ANY breed of cow can be milked if trained. Some just give more milk/cream than others. If you intend on milking one of the crosses, just make sure they are handled from day one like a dairy calf is.

My suggestion would be find a jersey, dexter, or cross bred dairy cow that would have less production than a holstein but with more butter fat. Besides, if you're raising pigs you'll never have milk go to waste.
Welcome to the forum!

[Madsaw]

You have a dual purpose cow right now. The white parks were used for meat and milk just like highlanders. If anything else have her crossed with a jersey. This will increase the milk quality with out up the quanity to much. Also the white's are second to jersey's for calving ease. I have a few crosses right now in the herd. My first cross was a a jersey and white parks bull.
Bob

[Shoupie]

You can take the guesswork out of the gender by AIing her using sexed semen, that way you'd be guaranteed a heifer. But depending on your area it might be cheaper to just go buy a bred proven dairy cow.

[janij]

Thank you so much everyone. I live in Frankston about 20 miles south of Tyler. Who in Sulphur Springs sells dairy cows? I don't mind working with the Bella. She is the younger British White we have. She is about 9 months. But it will be awhile before I can milk her. And it may be easier to buy one ready to milk or close to it.
I thought you could get sexed semen but was not sure. I will probably have to take the girls to Canton to have them AIed anyway.
What is the best small housing arrangement for one milking cow?
And with the pigs I would not be wasting any milk so that was another thought.

[Creamers]

I'd say Jersey, Dexter or a cross between the two.

[francismilker]

Here's a link to the Sulphur Springs Livestok Auction. They sale dairy cattle every Thursday.

http://www.sslivestockauctions.com/default.asp

[janij]

Thanks, I will check out the auction. Now I just need to come up with a milking shed plan!! I will also look into crossing my heifer with either a jersey or a dexter when she is ready!