What is she worth?

CornerstoneAcre · #1 12/13/11, 08:28 PM

Okay, I know that this question can't be ideally answered here, but I'd like to have a "round-about" idea.
I have a 5 month old Jersey heifer that was raised on Mama until 3-1/2 months old. I do NOT know how much she weighs. I'm used to fat and sassy Boer goats and draft horses - dairy cows are so different LOL but she doesn't look thin too me. Healthy and vigorous. She's about 34" to 36" at the shoulder. She is now halter trained and very docile. I work with her daily and can now handle her udder and legs easily. According to the previous owner, Mama was a good milker even with baby nursing.
I didn't pay for this girl...just traded some meat goat breeding stock for her. I know what my goats would have been worth, but have no idea what the cow is worth. I really have my heart set on a Dexter (but couldn't pass up the "deal" on this one) so I am thinking of selling the Jersey. I'm in Michigan if that makes a difference....but would like to know what prices for a girl like her are even in other states. Thanks!!

copperhead46 · #2 12/13/11, 10:57 PM

I would think someone like Ozark Jewels would be able to answer, she has Jerseys. I would think she would be worth $350.00, maybe??? to me she would be worth $500.00 at 6 months, I think they are very valuable cows, to bad you aren't closer, I'd probably come up with a Dexter trade for you,

oregon woodsmok · #3 12/14/11, 04:34 AM

It sounds like she will grow up to be a very nice family milk cow. When they are gentle to be hand milked and they have just freshened, they can bring a pretty good price. But I have no idea what they are worth as weanlings.

It sounds to me like she is worth keeping, unless you have no use at all for a lot of cream and milk. She won't be any good for meat, but she would provide a lot of rich milk and give you milk to raise some bottle calves with.

If you want meat, maybe a dairy would trade you a couple of day old Holstein Angus cross steer calves for her.

Cindy in KY · #4 12/14/11, 09:11 AM

Jersey bottle baby girls go for $225 down here. That is a week or so old. I would figure she is worth $500 being she is 5 months old and tame. Is she full stock Jersey? They are worth quite a bit if you know for sure they were not a twin calf.

myersfarm · #5 12/14/11, 10:28 AM

I RAISE AND SELL THEM seems every day they are getting cheaper I raise to many to sell any were but auctions...this is what they bring there

Open Heifers:
Approved – 150-200 lbs 290.00-295.00
200-240 lbs 330.00-345.00, 225-300 lbs Jerseys 320.00-340.00
350-400 lbs 375.00-450.00, couple 355 lbs Jerseys 460.00
400-500 lbs 460.00-600.00, pkg 435 lbs Crossbreds 420.00
lot 548 lbs 620.00
600-700 lbs 590.00-710.00
745-750 lbs 740.00-750.00
Medium and Approved mixed
100-150 lbs 150.00-170.00, 125-200 lbs Crossbreds 115.00-145.00
200-300 lbs 235.00-305.00, 220-250 lbs Crossbreds 145.00-150.00
pkg 313 lbs 325.00
pkg 421 lbs 370.00
pkg 507 lbs Crossbreds 375.00
700-775 lbs 600.00-700.00
825-900 lbs 720.00-760.00
Medium - 258 lbs couple Jerseys 200.00
300-335 lbs Crossbreds 195.00-280.00
300-370 lbs Jerseys 240.00-300.00
450-500 lbs 360.00-400.00

BlackWillowFarm · #6 12/14/11, 11:44 AM

I'm in Michigan and I would expect to pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $300-$400 for a purebred, unregistered Jersey heifer calf. Can you confirm she's not a twin/freemartin? Also, if she's truly 34-36 inches at the shoulder, she's quite small for her age. Was her mother a small cow? It sounds like you're doing a good job with her and being so tame will help her sell. Can you post pictures of her?

haypoint · #7 12/14/11, 12:00 PM

On a large profitable dairy farm milk production is the main factor for setting value.
On a small farm, temperment should be the first thing to consider.

Years ago, I had a dairy cow that I could call her up from the field, put my arm over her heck and walk her anywhere. When the weather was nice, I'd milk her in the pasture behind the house, didn't need to be tied up.

She produced plenty of milk but I don't recall how much. That doesn't matter as much as how nice it was to have her around.

Not all Jerseys are this quiet. I know of a guy that got rid of his Dexters because they were so wild.

If there is someone that you trust that knows dairy cows, have them take a look.

No matter how much milk a cow produces if you can't catch them or can't keep their hoof out of the milk pail, they aren't much worth on a small farm.

springvalley · #8 12/14/11, 01:54 PM

sounds like you have spent a good amount of time with your calf. Halter trained calf that is in good shape should bring 400.00, but hard to tell from several hundred miles away. If I were you, I would keep the jersey. You have spent more time with this calf than you might get back out of her, just keep her and breed her to a red angus and raise freezer beef from her. > Marc

CornerstoneAcre · #9 12/14/11, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackWillowFarm

I'm in Michigan and I would expect to pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $300-$400 for a purebred, unregistered Jersey heifer calf. Can you confirm she's not a twin/freemartin? Also, if she's truly 34-36 inches at the shoulder, she's quite small for her age. Was her mother a small cow? It sounds like you're doing a good job with her and being so tame will help her sell. Can you post pictures of her?

I'll be honest - had no idea what a freemartin was...went and looked it up. She was not an obvious twin. She was an AI baby that the previous owners "choose" her sex. I will try and get some pictures tomorrow and perhaps somebody can look at her lady cow parts and guess at her being a freemartin or not. I'll have to measure her height again. Since she seems healthy and in good shape - I honestly wouldn't mind her being a small sized heifer (that is my main reason for wanted a Dexter - smaller size).

Someone asked if I had a use for all the milk....I do have pigs now and would be able to use all "extra" milk I get for raising pigs.

Maybe she'll just have to stay here

BlackWillowFarm · #10 12/14/11, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CornerstoneAcre

I'll be honest - had no idea what a freemartin was...went and looked it up. She was not an obvious twin. She was an AI baby that the previous owners "choose" her sex. I will try and get some pictures tomorrow and perhaps somebody can look at her lady cow parts and guess at her being a freemartin or not. I'll have to measure her height again. Since she seems healthy and in good shape - I honestly wouldn't mind her being a small sized heifer (that is my main reason for wanted a Dexter - smaller size).

Someone asked if I had a use for all the milk....I do have pigs now and would be able to use all "extra" milk I get for raising pigs.

Maybe she'll just have to stay here

I vote for you to keep her. I started with one Jersey, now I'm milking her and her daughter. Daughter had a heifer calf, so now I have the granddaughter too. I'll be breeding her next summer. I love my Jerseys!

I've never had any trouble using the extra milk. Dogs, cats, pigs, chickens and people take it all. Plus there's the cream, butter, yogurt and cheese too.

Heck, you better keep her or I might just have to come and buy her from you! Did I mention I love my Jersey's?

springvalley · #11 12/14/11, 11:34 PM

Carla LOVES Jersey`s

kycrawler · #12 12/15/11, 06:03 PM

Keep her . 2 weeks ago at the topeka livestock auction (northern Indiana right next to michigan ) I bought 18 head of jersey and jersey cross calves , 280 lb jersey heifer brought $170 I bought 550lb breeding age/size heifers for .67 -72 cents per lb I bought a jersey springer heifer 7 months bred for $485 a registered ayrshire 7 month bred heifer for $725 a group of 10 registered holstien heifers 190lb average $142 per head

If your going to sell her go for private sale you cant make any money selling young stock at the auctions around here at this time I have been starting bucket calf steers for a couple years and feeding them out . For what i have been buying these started hiefers for i sure wont mess with bucket steers anymore

farmergirl · #13 12/16/11, 07:18 PM

I just sold a jersey/holstein heifer calf, 7 months old gentle but not halter broke. Delivered her for $400. If Texas were not in the grips of the worst drought in over 100 years, I would have asked more.