Buying a Jersey

The_Shepherdess · #1 04/07/12, 11:45 AM

Hey, gang! We finally found a jersey cow for sale--except that it's three cows, and advice on which to buy would be welcome! We're a small family, getting smaller as kids grow up, and we'll be swamped with the milk regardless of which cow we buy. Our pigs will help us cope with the overflow, but overflow is guaranteed. I'm leaning toward the pregnant eight-year-old, but what do you folks think? The younger girls are open because the AI didn't take....

Thank you for any and all advice!

MOM - Dazy (8 yr old) calf due May 27. $1500

DAUGHTER - Lily (5 yr old) open. $1200

GRAND DAUGHTER - Sage (2 yr old) open. $1200

All shown at Lancaster County Fair. Not registered.
Will consider your offer for complete family.

Rosepath · #2 04/07/12, 12:27 PM

If the older cow has been preg-checked, or has an udder already, I'd definitely go for her. There could be a reason why the others didn't take, and they're pretty high $$$ for open cows.
Of course, you'd want to be sure they're neg. for Johnne's disease, and that the cow you pick has a good udder, well-attached (can start to see sagging in the udder attachment as they age), good feet, and gentle - able to be hand-milked without a rodeo. First cows tend to spoil one forever, if they're good, so pick a good one and you'll enjoy milking and having all that rich Jersey cream.

Cliff · #3 04/07/12, 01:07 PM

I wouldn't buy the open ones either. Agree with everything Rosepath said. Do have whatever cow you buy tested for Johne's, it's a death sentence if she has it and it can live in your soil for years to infect future cows.

You don't have to drown in milk, even with a Jersey. You can easily slow them down to the amount of milk you need. That way you feed very little bought feed and just milk once a day. We used to milk a gallon a day max, often less, from ex-dairy Jerseys - who would produce around 8-10 gal if milked for all they were worth.

Good luck with your soon to be new cow and enjoy

Rosepath · #4 04/07/12, 05:58 PM

Plus, Jerseys will produce milk just on good grass and hay, they just produce less. So for less cost you can control the amount of milk to just what you can use.

MARYDVM · #5 04/07/12, 06:36 PM

Just be aware that with an 8 year old Jersey you may be facing a milk fever situation after calving, especially if she's been overfed or had an overlong dry period. It might be more of a challenge than you need if this is your first dairy cow.

**gone-a-milkin** · #6 04/07/12, 09:27 PM

Also, older cows are much more likely to already have some quarters compromised by previous mastitis infections.
That is not the end of the world, but something to consider.

I wouldn't be able to help you pick which of these cows to get w/o at least seeing pictures.
There are a lot of variables.

Good luck.

BlackWillowFarm · #7 04/08/12, 08:53 AM

You don't mention if you have experience milking cows or not. If not, I'd go with the gentlest one. If you like one of the open cows, you could make an offer contingent on her being bred and confirmed pregnant. It will take a few months, but might be worth the wait if she's gentle, has a better udder, etc... I would be cautious of buying an open cow.

MARYDVM brings up a good point about the older cow and milk fever. I have a high producing Jersey, 7 years old, who's had two calves here. The first calving went perfect, the second one she had milk fever. We got her up and going with the help of my dairy farmer neighbor who came right away and gave her a calcium IV to buy time so the vet could get here. If you don't recognize or can't recognize the symptoms of MF early enough, you could lose the cow. Do you have any neighbors or friends you could count on in an emergency? Or a great cow vet?

I love my Jersey's. Get a gentle one who'll love you back and you'll never regret it.

springvalley · #8 04/08/12, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARYDVM

Just be aware that with an 8 year old Jersey you may be facing a milk fever situation after calving, especially if she's been overfed or had an overlong dry period. It might be more of a challenge than you need if this is your first dairy cow.

I hate to disagree with Mary, but I am, I have many aged cows and have not found that age makes a big difference in milk fever. CARE makes the most difference, feeding the right feed while dry will make the difference. Over feeding during the dry period will be the biggest problem for any Jersey. And also extended dry periods are not good for Jersey`s, they just don`t seem to do well. > Thanks Marc

MARYDVM · #9 04/09/12, 09:20 AM

Age alone isn't a factor, but no matter how you feed a first calf heifer, you can't give her milk fever. Since the seller had trouble getting their other cows bred, I'd be looking to see if the older Jersey had a prolonged dry period.

nduetime · #10 04/09/12, 09:54 AM

I agree with marc. I bought and older Jersey for my first and never had an issue with milk fever. Course, some say that was pure luck. Care is always going to make a difference.I know that I personally would not pay that kind of cash for an open cow but that is just me. I can understand the 2 year old but what is the history on the five year old? If she has never taken i would def. stay away from her. Wouldn't it be odd that she would be a first timer at the age of 5?

ozark_jewels · #11 04/13/12, 04:24 PM

Are the open ones milking? And how long have they been milking?? If he has only tried AI(not a bull), and they *are* milking, I'd be tempted more by the younger cows. Of course, pictures and history would make all the difference in the world to this decision.
While care is obviously the biggest factor in milk fever vs no milk fever, genetics and age *do* make a difference.
Hiefers do not get milk fever, ever. We had Blossom who was always treated exactly the same her entire life. Only after the age of 10 did she get milk fever after calving. After that we took care to practice "milk fever prevention" on Blossom and she calved out for us healthily for 7 more years.

The_Shepherdess · #12 05/03/12, 06:54 PM

Thanks, everyone! We'll look out for the milk fever--we have experience milking goats, but not cows, and milk fever isn't something I've run into before.

I should add--the younger girls aren't heifers, just open. Their yearling calves were on the farm when we went over.

Our local vet says the oldest cow looks really good for her age, and the sellers lowered the price to $950, so....I think we are gettin' us a cow.

Thank you all for the input!

TroutRiver · #13 05/04/12, 02:12 PM

Definitely ask about her history of mastitis and milk fever BEFORE agreeing to buy her. We had a 12 year old jersey in our herd that just finally left us a few months ago. We had her since she was 4 years old and she got milk fever EVERY YEAR, no matter what. It was just protocol for her to need CMPK immediately when she calved. Milk fever won't kill them, so long as you know what to look for and you have CMPK on hand (or you call the vet out), but for obvious reasons it's better not to have a cow that's inclined to get milk fever every year

kkweinb · #14 05/06/12, 09:46 PM

I'm envious! We have been looking for a month now and haven't found one that we can afford. We are in Nebraska also but at the end of the state, and the ones I've found are from Colorado and are running $2500. I spoke with a man from Alma Nebraska but thats a 7 hour drive for us. My husband feels we need to get one that's already been milked.

Mrs. Homesteader · #15 05/07/12, 08:56 PM

There were registered Jersey heifers in the paper from the town over from us. They were 9 months and they were asking $550.

RoyalValley · #16 05/07/12, 11:13 PM

Best of luck, Sheperdess!!! I just love these cows!

We just found our pretty Jersey girl 2 hours away. Picking her up next week!