Got a new Cow

[Karen in Alabam]

Today we drove to the Chattanooga area and picked up a 4 year old Jersey/Guernsey cross. She is 7 months pregnant. Paid $650.00. This is her 2nd calf. (I never heard back from other potential sellers)

After her 3ish hour trip home we took her to the vet and he checked her out and said she was healthy. He gave her some shots and palpated her and so forth. She has 4 open quarters, so that is a good start.

She is trailer trained which is great!

I looked at 2 places to find a halter for her and didn't--guess I am the only one in the area who want one.

Story is she came from a dairy in KY, was sold because she was not high output--she doesn't look high output, which is fine--I can live with that.

She will spend the night in our strawberry patch--she was happy to get some feed and hay. She looks a little under weight and her bag is not as full as it should be for 2 months left, but we started giving her a scoop of diary feed and will gradually increase it.

All the other cows lined up at the fence to check her out and she gave them a runway look at her.

She dined with the chickens.

Tomorrow we will turn her out with the rest.

I took a few pictures tonight but it was a miserable day and so they aren't the best. I will post some new ones tomorrow when it is brighter.

I named her Sissy (it was a nickname I had as a kid--that I forbid anyone to call me when I got old enough to forbid it--only one uncle calls me it now). Since I named Liza after me, figured I would name this one as well.

I am not sure who is more excited about this cow, me or my husband. He is like a little kid

[farmergirl]

Sounds like a bargain!

I remember how much energy you spent rehabbing the very think cow you got last year, or was it the year before, lol.

Are you starting a small dairy?

[linn]

Congratulations on what sounds like a great buy.

[Karen in Alabam]

You would think I am starting a dairy hah!

I got Yo last year, she was severely underweight. She is who I milk now, and she gave me a calf (Rita) 9 months after I got her. Yes, she was one project that we are happy with.

Then about a year ago, I got Maggie (Jersey). She was fine, but then got sick (I think there were a number of factors that contributed). We worked with her for 3 weeks, having to pick her up twice a day with the tractor and Easter morning, I found her dead, and we thought she was getting better--she had gotten herself up a couple of times.

Then August I picked up Bones (Holstein)--2 months old, pneumonia, then ear infection, then swollen infected leg--he is a monster now. (he was FREE)

I am certainly getting an education.

I have a year old Jersey that I traded a bull for this summer--she is fine--had her dehorned before Thanksgiving.

And now I have this cow.

I hope they don't all come into milk at the same time next time.

We also have a Charolais who is just over a year, and a red Angus.

We had my sister's bull (red Angus) on the property, but doesn't seem to have done his job--he went to the butcher Monday--she has a new bull now, from a neighbor of mine (Black Angus) and he sired a bunch of nice calves. So we know he works

We have decided to let the girls wait till Bones is big enough to do his magic. Liza is just a year and so don't want her to be bred yet, and same with Charlie (our Charolais).

I would like Yo bred, but to a dairy bull, so will wait. I may bring my angus over my sister's.

I plan to have my sister help me make cheeses and stuff. I have elderly friends who enjoy the milk, as well as some family in the area.

I think my problem is addiction.

[G. Seddon]

Glad you finally found one! Congratulations, take good care of her!

[gone-a-milkin]

I can hardly wait to see her.
It's just a matter of time until you have all of them in milk at the same time. LOL

[Karen in Alabam]

I will. I am paranoid after Maggie dying. The slightest issue I freak out.

[Karen in Alabam]

My vet and his wife both had dairies, and he was telling me the other day that he used to had milk his, he had about 20 cows, his wife had a lot more.

My sister already thinks I have man hands.

The guy we got him from said he knew someone who got rid of his Jerseys--got too old. And that he had a milker (I think a belly milker), he was going to check with him and see if he wanted to sell it.

I may have to resort to that. I just imagine that it is a bear to clean. I hate doing any cleaning I don't have to--its easier to just wash your hands that parts.

[gone-a-milkin]

I dont think that feeling ever totally goes away.
Farming is just tough like that.

I have been told I am hardhearted when it comes to dealing w/ sick and dying animals.
Maybe I dont show the pain as much because I have been around it my whole life?
It still hurts to lose one, esp when you are not expecting it at all.

No matter what, you will have some losses though.

A good example is when I spent $25 on a tree. My DH questioned me on spending the money (it was bday giftcard even), because "What if it dies?"

Heck, I sure wouldnt have had any children if THAT was my line of thinking.
Same for critters.

You just do the best you can! Dont give up and keep on learning.
Best of luck with them.

[gone-a-milkin]

Crosses fingers for you to get that milking claw set up. You are going to need that sooner or later.

[Karen in Alabam]

Here is one picture of her.

will do a post of a bunch of pictures from today--he actual meeting with everyone--they all went wild. She met them over the fence last night.