What are the Chances?

Judy in IN · #1 07/18/12, 07:13 AM

That a 10 year old Jersey cow, who has been a 4H animal and pet all her life, might still be fertile?

She hasn't calved since 2007-8. She hasn't been around a bull.

Going to look at her this morning. I'm thinking of having a vet out to sleeve her.

There's a shot you can give old mares that helps their fertility. Is there something for bovines along those lines?

The price that they have on her is so low that I could sell her for meat and not get stung. I can get access to a Jersey bull. (although not papered)

What do you think? I knew an old Jersey family cow that was still milking at 16, but she'd been bred right along.

willow_girl · #2 07/18/12, 07:29 AM

My Christine is 10 and hasn't calved since 2007, and I think she'd be fine to have another.

Cows age a lot more slowly when they don't have to pump out a calf and 25,000 pounds of milk every year!

I would caution you that if she's kinda fat, put her on pasture for awhile ... take some weight off. Fat cows are more prone to metabolic issues, and with her age and long dry period, you want to knock down the risks as much as possible.

Good luck, hope it works out!

bigbluegrass · #3 07/18/12, 07:31 AM

If she hasn't been around a bull, then I would not suspect the cow of poor fertility at this time.

10 years old is old for a dairy animal that has been working. If she has been treated well, I would think she could have a few more good years in her. Who knows, she may have another 10 years in her - no likely but it is possible.

I would look at her udder pretty close. Make sure she still has a solid mouth of teeth. Check her feet.

With as dry as it has been, people are going to get rid of some good animals if they don't have the grass and feed to take care of them.

springvalley · #4 07/18/12, 07:34 AM

Well it could be that she may breed, but if I was a betting man, I`d say she might not. Seems the longer it is that they have bred it is harder for them. But a bull may get the job done, I wouldn`t want to try AI. > Thanks Marc

Judy in IN · #5 07/18/12, 08:25 AM

Hmmm, well, I called and talked to the daughter. She's left the nest & is in college. She doesn't remember much, except the cow may have a blank quarter. That's not a deal breaker for me, but she needs to be able to raise a calf or two

I hear you about the hay situation. I will definitely check that mouth. I'm
REALLY leery about buying a dry cow.

oregon woodsmok · #6 07/18/12, 01:28 PM

If she is meat price, I don't see how you can lose. Either she breeds or you get a freezer full of delicious hamburger.

arnie · #7 07/22/12, 08:58 PM

Can you keep her in with the bull for a couple months to see if this will get her with calf .this often does the trick also flushing or feeding her well with sweet feed a couple tablespoons of wheat germ oil added every day .home milkers often go into there late teens not burning out like the extra high produceing hosteens a missing quarter is a bad sign but if you are willing to gamble on her one important factor is her personality if your going to milkher you don't want a fight .:-)

Madsaw · #8 07/23/12, 08:36 AM

Jerseys can calve right along till their 20's. But most important about jerseys are their back legs and hips. Check to make sure she is not rolling back in her heels and stands fairly straight on the leg angle. I would guess to have been a 4h animal she maybe of good genetics. This will lend to a good frame. Jerseys tend to be culled more for bad hips and back legs more then any other problems.
Bob

PaulNKS · #9 07/23/12, 09:29 AM

there's no reason any 10 year old cow would be infertile just from lack of breeding.

If cows are healthy, they will breed into their 20's.

You've given no reason to assume that the cow would be infertile, unless it has been tried repeatedly and she never took.

springvalley · #10 07/23/12, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulNKS

there's no reason any 10 year old cow would be infertile just from lack of breeding.

If cows are healthy, they will breed into their 20's.

You've given no reason to assume that the cow would be infertile, unless it has been tried repeatedly and she never took.

It is not a point that a cow would be infertile, if they have not been bred for a few years they can close down the reproductive track from lack of use. Some cows fire every month like normal, but the tubes may have closed down and unable for the sperm to reach the egg. As long as a cow calves every year like clock work, and has no health problems, she should and could very easy have a calf every year till she is in her teens, and possible into her twenties. But dairy cows that are not bred for years and fat and sassy, more times than not will not breed easy. Using a bull will help, a bull will breed her many times if she is in heat, and a lot of sperm will be better than a small vial of AI sperm. I have been around the pike a good many years and seen a lot of cows that won`t breed to AI, but will to a bull. I have also seen retired cows that will not breed to AI, but will to a bull, and some just don`t anymore. I never like to see a cow left unbred for very long, because chances are they will have a hard time rebreeding. So take this with a grain of salt. But I have seen a good many cows in my life. > Thanks Marc

Judy in IN · #11 07/23/12, 02:35 PM

Well, they never called me back, so I don't get to gamble.

I did stop by a neighboring county fair last night and collected names of three dairy farmers with Jerseys and Guernseys. Maybe I'll get exactly what I want this way.

PaulNKS · #12 07/24/12, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by springvalley

It is not a point that a cow would be infertile, if they have not been bred for a few years they can close down the reproductive track from lack of use. Some cows fire every month like normal, but the tubes may have closed down and unable for the sperm to reach the egg. As long as a cow calves every year like clock work, and has no health problems, she should and could very easy have a calf every year till she is in her teens, and possible into her twenties. But dairy cows that are not bred for years and fat and sassy, more times than not will not breed easy. Using a bull will help, a bull will breed her many times if she is in heat, and a lot of sperm will be better than a small vial of AI sperm. I have been around the pike a good many years and seen a lot of cows that won`t breed to AI, but will to a bull. I have also seen retired cows that will not breed to AI, but will to a bull, and some just don`t anymore. I never like to see a cow left unbred for very long, because chances are they will have a hard time rebreeding. So take this with a grain of salt. But I have seen a good many cows in my life. > Thanks Marc

Been around cattle all my life and didn't know they would "shut down" if not used.

But, we've never kept a cow that didn't breed. If she doesn't breed or can't raise a calf, she's usually gone. I do have a a couple old cows that are almost 20 that are still raising a calf every year.

I have done AI in the past, but I still prefer the natural bull-proven way. lol

PaulNKS · #13 07/24/12, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judy in IN

Well, they never called me back, so I don't get to gamble.

I did stop by a neighboring county fair last night and collected names of three dairy farmers with Jerseys and Guernseys. Maybe I'll get exactly what I want this way.

I think you're better off doing that, than you are buying one that you don't know will freshen.

There is one Jersey dairy near me and they've always refused to sell heifers. However, once in a blue moon, they'll sell culls and even their culls are sometimes good for family use. I had one years ago they sold because she had mastitis in one quarter and lost that quarter. She still gave almost 6 gallons per day from three quarters. So, if I were you, I wouldn't be afraid to check out the dairy's culls.

Judy in IN · #14 07/24/12, 09:04 PM

Paul,

That's what my sister did....ended up with a registered 3 quarter cow that can raise two calves or right now is giving 2 gallons a day. (late in lactation)

I'm thinking the farmer would prefer to sell a cow like that to a family situation rather than go to slaughter.

She told me of a woman that's buying "pet milk" from a farm about 6 miles away from her for $6 a half gallon. She's scared to get in trouble with the law, though. The woman would LOVE to buy milk from Sis. but she'd rather raise calves.

I want an A2A2 girl.