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12/01/10, 05:08 PM
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Family Jersey Dairy
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 4,773
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I went and did it !!
Yep thats right, I listed my herd of cows for sale yesterday. Not selling enough milk and It`s not going to get anybetter with winter coming on. As many dairies that are going out of business, I really don`t see selling them very soon. So if anyone wants a small herd of uncertified organic cows heifers and bull, let me know I will hook you right up. PS- I am trying to sell them as a package because I would like to see them stay togeather, however if I still have them in the spring I may sell them single, but its going to cost alot more per cow then. > Thanks Marc
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Our Diversified Stock Portfolio: cows and calves, alpacas, horses, pigs, chickens, goats, sheep, cats ... and a couple of dogs... 
http://springvalleyfarm.4mg.com
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12/01/10, 06:23 PM
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Retired Coastie
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Monterey, Tennessee
Posts: 4,651
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Holy cow, didn't see this coming...Topside
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TOPSIDE FARMS
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12/01/10, 10:41 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 1,309
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I'm sorry to hear that Marc. Are you keeping a house cow for yourself?
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~Carla~
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12/02/10, 05:21 AM
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Family Jersey Dairy
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 4,773
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Thats a silly question Carla, do you think I`m going to buy milk up town, not a chance in L, yes we will keep a couple cows, our daughters and one of her favorites, and a couple heifers. The heifer that was a pre-me two years ago that we worked so hard to save, and one of the cows were going to keeps heifer from this year. I really don`t want to sell them, but it comes to a point in time when a hobby gets to costing to much. > Marc
__________________
Our Diversified Stock Portfolio: cows and calves, alpacas, horses, pigs, chickens, goats, sheep, cats ... and a couple of dogs...
http://springvalleyfarm.4mg.com
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12/02/10, 06:27 AM
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Dairy Farmer
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: southern missouri
Posts: 119
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How many and how much?What's your current level of production and what are you currently feeding?Average stage of lactation?Open or bred?Average age?What's your vaccination schedule?
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12/02/10, 06:29 AM
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 17,225
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Marc, I know you are not asking for advise, but have you considered other options? If you could find a small Artisan cheese maker that could take all your milk you could avoid all the marketing hassles. Another option would be to raise calves on the cows. You could put at least two bull calves on each of those cows (besides their own calf). I'm betting you could wean 1500 pounds of feeder calves off of each cow every year. You could do this as a sideline to raising "Homestead" cows. Just some thoughts.
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Flaming Xtian
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
Mahatma Gandhi
Libertarindependent
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12/02/10, 08:38 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 1,309
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Quote:
Originally Posted by springvalley
Thats a silly question Carla, do you think I`m going to buy milk up town, not a chance in L, yes we will keep a couple cows, our daughters and one of her favorites, and a couple heifers. The heifer that was a pre-me two years ago that we worked so hard to save, and one of the cows were going to keeps heifer from this year. I really don`t want to sell them, but it comes to a point in time when a hobby gets to costing to much. > Marc
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You're right Marc. It was a silly question. 
My cow is dry and I'm in sticker shock. Had my daughter pick up a quart of half and half, $3.49. I about fell out of my chair. I'm not so sure anymore that it cost more to grow your own milk as it does to buy it from the store. Besides that, who can drink that stuff anyhow??
I wish you the best Marc. You've made a difficult decision and I don't envy you.
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~Carla~
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12/02/10, 08:43 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: VA
Posts: 6,971
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So sorry you are selling. I hope you find a buyer on here. 
I too had to make some hard decisions this year, and sold all my goats and some Jacob sheep. It means less feed/hay to buy for the winter and money to pay taxes and for the feed/hay we still needed to buy.
All ewes left are bred, so we will double our flock in February. 
Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. especially in these hard times.
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12/02/10, 10:17 AM
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KS dairy farmers
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KS
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Sorry to hear that. I hope you can find a good buyer. It's tough but they're out there. Our friend is faced with the same situation right now.
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12/02/10, 12:52 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 265
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Marc, I'm sorry to hear that. Exactly how many cows are you looking to sell together?
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12/02/10, 02:18 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Oregon
Posts: 4,783
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Quote:
Originally Posted by springvalley
Thats a silly question Carla, do you think I`m going to buy milk up town, not a chance in L, yes we will keep a couple cows, our daughters and one of her favorites, and a couple heifers. The heifer that was a pre-me two years ago that we worked so hard to save, and one of the cows were going to keeps heifer from this year. I really don`t want to sell them, but it comes to a point in time when a hobby gets to costing to much. > Marc
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I hear you Marc. We are in the process of selling off many of our goats and one heifer. Sometimes you have to do things that are best for you but still hurts.
I hope you are able to find a buyer for your entire herd.
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Idleness is leisure gone to seed
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12/02/10, 02:25 PM
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Family Jersey Dairy
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 4,773
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private message
Last edited by springvalley; 12/02/10 at 02:28 PM.
Reason: I screwed up > Marc
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12/02/10, 09:40 PM
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Udderly Happy!
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,830
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Just because you're selling out and quitting commercial milking doesn't mean you're not still a homesteader! I wish you the best and hope you continue to hang out here with us. Keeping a cow for the house will still give you your milk fix and keep you country. I hope you find a good buyer and once again, I wish you the best. God Bless!
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Francismilker
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" James 5:16
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12/02/10, 10:40 PM
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Family Jersey Dairy
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 4,773
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I`m not going to quit everything I do, this may give me more time to work my horses, now thats homesteading in my book. We went through something like this back in the ninties, got out of the hog business when they went in the dumper. Raised a couple thousand of them bugers a year. Havn`t had a call on the whole bunch yet, not going to hold my breath. > Thanks Marc
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Our Diversified Stock Portfolio: cows and calves, alpacas, horses, pigs, chickens, goats, sheep, cats ... and a couple of dogs...
http://springvalleyfarm.4mg.com
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12/03/10, 09:43 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 251
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Have you tired listing them over on www.cowboards.com? That seems to move a lot of cows.
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12/03/10, 09:46 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: VA
Posts: 6,971
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Quote:
Originally Posted by morningstar
I hear you Marc. We are in the process of selling off many of our goats and one heifer. Sometimes you have to do things that are best for you but still hurts.
I hope you are able to find a buyer for your entire herd.
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Morningstar, I had great success when advertising mine on Craigslist farm and garden. Could have sold my goats and sheep a few times over!
Good luck with selling yours.
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12/03/10, 10:09 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Wisconsin by the UP, eh!
Posts: 3,003
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You may also want to check with ...well, it used to be DHIA - Dairy Herd Improvement Association. The organization who you can "hire" to help evaluate cow & herd production.
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12/03/10, 02:20 PM
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Family Jersey Dairy
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 4,773
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I went to cowboards and it can`t find it, something else I`m doing wrong> Marc
__________________
Our Diversified Stock Portfolio: cows and calves, alpacas, horses, pigs, chickens, goats, sheep, cats ... and a couple of dogs...
http://springvalleyfarm.4mg.com
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12/03/10, 04:25 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 251
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Quote:
Originally Posted by springvalley
I went to cowboards and it can`t find it, something else I`m doing wrong> Marc
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Nope... my mistake. Head full of mucus makes for poor brain function. Anyway...try this:
: http://familycow.proboards.com/index.cgi
See if that doesn't work for you. Good luck.
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12/03/10, 05:39 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 251
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Quote:
Originally Posted by springvalley
I went to cowboards and it can`t find it, something else I`m doing wrong> Marc
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Nope... my mistake. Head full of mucus makes for poor brain function. Anyway...try this:
: http://familycow.proboards.com/index.cgi
See if that doesn't work for you. Good luck.
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