Need to pick your brains.....

allenslabs · #1 07/13/11, 02:09 PM

I am wanting a jersey milk cow to put this little orphan calf (I know...powder would be cheaper and easier but oh well) on and have the opportunity to buy one. Only problem is that she has mastitis in 2 quarters and he said she might just be a two teater. They've treated with Nuflor and I haven't even seen the cow, only talked to him on the phone (trip will have to wait till at least weekend as it's quite a drive). The reason I am thinking of it is that she is going to be quite a bit cheaper (like half the price of anything I've found) and I really don't want some massive amount of milk to have to deal with so a low producer is right up my ally.
Anybody dealt with a cow like this? What am I in for? Been around cows and goats a long time and can milk easily just didn't know if the mastitis will leave her useless later on...like make her udder useless? Thanks all!

tyusclan · #2 07/14/11, 06:15 AM

If the price is right it might not be a bad deal. Even if she is a two-teater she could still feed a couple of calves. You could raise 3 or 4 calves a year on her by breeding her and buying another calf when she calves. Wean those about 4-5 months, and get two more. If she is milking in all quarters you could raise 3-4 at a time.

linn · #3 07/14/11, 08:56 AM

The only problem with a two-teated cow is that they only have two teats left. If she has chronic mastitis, you will spend a lot of time and money trying to treat it so she won't lose the other quarters.

mozarkian · #4 07/14/11, 01:11 PM

Do you have any dairies near you? We got 2 of our girls from a small dairy that was culling them off the line--both were healthy, no mastitis, just lower producing than the dairy wanted. Bought them for the slaughter price, which was about half what milk cows were bringing on craigslist, etc. Gave $750 for the pair of them. Just an idea...

allenslabs · #5 07/14/11, 03:19 PM

mozarkian....I took your advice and took that route. Actually, there are no dairies around here that deal with jerseys other than one and they don't have anything and won't until who knows when. I was promised first chance over a month ago on one with no definate on when they actually would sell one. So, I called some from the jersey directory and may have found one. She is $600 while the other was like $350 or so but this one is bred back and the other was not. So....here's to hoping she works out ok! LOL! Hope to go see her in the next day or two.

mozarkian · #6 07/14/11, 04:53 PM

Allenslabs, Good deal, hope it works out as well for you as it has for us. Our dairy "culls" were stand-offish and suspicious when we brought them home, but (with a little ear scratching and sweet grain), quickly blossomed into inquisitive, affectionate, spoiled rotten pets that don't even need to be tied up at milk time. The two of the them, plus our original cow provided all our dairy needs, and enough milk to raise 18 bottle babies since Sept 2010, sometimes with a little extra to treat the pigs, dogs and chickens to some. Best of luck with yours.

allenslabs · #7 07/15/11, 03:24 PM

mozarkian....if this gal stays as sweet as she is now, we have it made. Just got her home and she was very skittish at the dairy and had me worried but then she let me put a halter on her in the trailer. So far my 8yr old son has brushed her all over while she stood and tried to figure out what those small 4 legged things were (the goats lol). So far she seems perfect....here's to hoping it stays that way!!!
And by the way wow on the babies! They have really earned their keep then huh? Amazing animals aren't they?

tailwagging · #8 07/15/11, 06:00 PM

I don't have any brains to pick

ozark_jewels · #9 07/15/11, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tailwagging

I don't have any brains to pick

Sure you do, you have enough to think you don't have any.

tailwagging · #10 07/15/11, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

Sure you do, you have enough to think you don't have any.

lol

ozark_jewels · #11 07/15/11, 06:16 PM

We got our first Jersey from a dairy that was converting over to Holstiens. I wouldn't call Old Ginger a real sweetie, but she sure was a darned good cow that gave us many great years.

allenslabs · #12 07/15/11, 10:23 PM

LOL! Well good ole' "Elenore" is going to be a something for sure. LOL! She did great for her first milking but she is in a small area and we have to be in each others space and so she didn't do bad. I smell like milk and poo but otherwise....went pretty good! LOL!

tailwagging · #13 07/16/11, 12:24 AM

aaahhh the small of milk and poo!