Where Can I find a young family cow ?

Pasohorsegal · #1 07/30/11, 08:59 AM

I have been looking now for 6 months and either found one

that was all to over priced or dident hand milk. This is Grandma's & Grandpa's farm Need gentle cow Bred back . We are in south eastern Colorado . Breed doesnt matter , needs to be perhaps a second calf cow .. No dairy reject .. We take care of are farm family with love and the joy of the grandchildren...

linn · #2 07/30/11, 11:18 AM

Have you tried Craigslist? You might also post a wanted ad on http://dextercattle.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=sale

If you were near NW MO I have a five-year-old Jersey ready to calve. She is gentle and broke to hand milk.

Pasohorsegal · #3 07/30/11, 01:11 PM

Yes I have checked Craigs list and the Dexter site No Luck as yet! Thanks

MARYDVM · #4 07/30/11, 07:21 PM

Too bad you aren't closer to southern AZ. I have a 3 yr.Dexter X Mini Jersey second calf heifer we will be selling this year.

Pasohorsegal · #5 07/30/11, 09:01 PM

Oh Thats is what Im looking for does she hand milk? Where in AZ are you anyway? Yes Do wish you were closer...

mozarkian · #6 07/30/11, 11:10 PM

Mine are "dairy rejects" and I wouldn't trade 'em, LOL. They all have personality, and a real appreciation to be where they get treated like queens. All are 5 year olds and will give us many years of service. Just because a cow doesn't meet dairy standards does not make them unsuitable. A cow that is a low producer by dairy standards can flood a family kitchen with milk.

Pasohorsegal · #7 07/31/11, 08:04 AM

Yes That is a good point . I think one can get a bad cow from any place or a good one too . Im not cow savy so have to be carefull with my investment . Money is tight as we all know and no one wants to make a mistake . On the other hand I guess one could eat your mistake . I did that years ago . I bought this cow that tried to kick everything when she was milked so we ate her... But that was a very long time ago.
This time I want to be sure my grandkids enjoy being around a family cow! City kids dont have a clue what a farm is about!

sammyd · #8 07/31/11, 09:19 AM

it isn't the easiest thing to find a hand miked cow anymore. And milk prices and beef prices are way up.
A cheap decent cow that is used to being handmilked is quite a rarity in most areas anymore.

MARYDVM · #9 07/31/11, 12:25 PM

I sent you a PM.

Pasohorsegal · #10 07/31/11, 05:52 PM

I recieved your message Mary , I diident know how to respond with the mail Box . I think you are to far from me and I dont like shipping a pregnant cow from that far away... It would worry me .. I dont have a stanchion just a converted horse barn for a shelter So will have to invent something I can build myself as hubby is on oxigen 24/7 PHEW .. More learning I guess .. I need to skill Up ! LOL

Pasohorsegal · #11 07/31/11, 05:54 PM

You sure have Got that right! However I still hope!

Timberline · #12 07/31/11, 06:23 PM

Have you tried here:

http://www.dallasdomedairy.com/forsale.php

allenslabs · #13 07/31/11, 06:49 PM

My girl is a dairy "reject" and I love her to death. Took about a week to hit our stride but I wouldn't trade her for anything now. My mom and dad picked up their "reject" yesterday and she is a doll as well. They came from the same place. Their girl gave them about 4 gallons between last night and this morning and so they are loving it. The reason they sold both these is they were low production cows.....4-5 gallons a day is their low production and my over-run me with milk! LOL!

Pasohorsegal · #14 07/31/11, 11:22 PM

I checked Dallas Dome dairy, Nice cows but they are too far away! I would hate to trasport a cow that far.... very hard on them!

Pasohorsegal · #15 07/31/11, 11:29 PM

Hi Allenslabs I hear more and more about dairy rejects thats a possibility ! There is a dairy or two Delhart Texas. about an hour and half from here!

allenslabs · #16 08/01/11, 10:12 AM

Yep. They are great. I am sure some sell for dried quarters or something but then some just sell as they don't produce enough which is the case of my girl. I had called another dairy and they had one that had mastitis in 2 quarters that might heal, might not and I didn't get her as I didn't want to risk that she wouldn't make it. But my girl has 4 perfect quarters and is very pretty to look at and so easy going. Loves her routine...that's for sure! LOL!

mozarkian · #17 08/01/11, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allenslabs

Yep. They are great. I am sure some sell for dried quarters or something but then some just sell as they don't produce enough which is the case of my girl. I had called another dairy and they had one that had mastitis in 2 quarters that might heal, might not and I didn't get her as I didn't want to risk that she wouldn't make it. But my girl has 4 perfect quarters and is very pretty to look at and so easy going. Loves her routine...that's for sure! LOL!

That's been my experience with dairy "rejects" also, they do really seem to like routine (but all cows do I think) and within a few days of being handled, and spoken too they become very affectionate. All of ours adjusted easily to handmilking, although one "held back" a little for a couple of days before she settled in and let the grain win her over.
And the price was right-- we paid the going slaughter rate at the time, which, of course, was less than now so our cows cost less than half what private sale cows were going and they were already bred back, so I didn't have to deal with breeding issues until after they were here about 6 months.

Pasohorsegal · #18 08/01/11, 03:07 PM

Yes This is something to think about. I know they are current with shots and all the cow testing stuff so thats a plus! I'll have to call and find out just what is available in this part of the country.

BlackWillowFarm · #19 08/01/11, 06:08 PM

I'll cast another vote for dairy "rejects". My first cow is from a dairy. She's the calmest, sweetest cow anyone could hope for. Her problem for the dairy was she got ill after calving and would not be able to meet their production requirements during that lactation. He sold her to me at meat prices. He also told me he was very happy I took her because she was too nice of a cow to go to the sale barn. He was right! When I brought her home four years ago,she was giving 3-4 gallons a day. Now that she's been here and I've had a chance to treat her like a queen, (because she deserves to be treated like a queen!) she gives between 8-9 gallons a day. I had her bred, got a heifer, that heifers been bred and I have a new heifer. So I have mother, daughter and granddaughter here and couldn't be more pleased with my dairy "reject".

I've also bought two other cows from the same dairy. One came and went quickly and the other is here with me now. She's half sister to my first cow and just as sweet.

I think you should consider calling around to the dairy's in your area. Your cow might be waiting for you there.

Pasohorsegal · #20 08/01/11, 09:51 PM

Oh Thats neat Carla, I have called two daries today but no ans. and left a message with one . Hopefully I get hold of some in one of the dairy's in Dalhart Texas thats the closest to me ...thank you for your input All this dialogue will be helpfull to anyone that is looking for a family cow!