Guernsey - Need input

[Jeremiahc]

Hey there, I was hoping some of you could look at this Craigslist add and tell me what you think. We are hoping to get a family milk cow in the near future.

Registered Guernsey Family Milk Cow

Jeremiah

[DaleK]

Pass. She MIGHT be bred 2 weeks, dried up after 10 months with no calf on the way. Save your money for something you know will milk in the short term. This one may never give a drop of milk again.

[springvalley]

Run, don`t walk away from this one. A dry cow that maybe ???? was just bred. I have no idea why people do this. She is very thin for a dry cow, only thing she is worth is hamburger price > Thanks Marc

[Jeremiahc]

Thanks, that's good to know. We are new to milk cows. Is there a concern when a cow has been dried up for a long period of time as far as health/production is concerned?

[DaleK]

Has more to do with being dried up with no confirmed calf on the way. A cow that isn't well in calf by the time she's dried up should be going in a freezer or on a truck. Also if she's gone that long without being pregnant there's a good chance that there's a reason why.

[myersfarm]

She was pasture bred on September 30 to a purebred Guernsey bull.

Last fresh in Dec 2011, dry now.


as others said some dairies do not bred back as soon as the cow would bred back...but that is sure a long time.....plus you will have a $1350 dry cow for 8 months with out milk......PASTURE BRED means nothing to me but a bull was interested.....I bet he runs a bull with cows all the time..and either she has been cycling and not breeding or not cycling at all...either way HIDE when he calls...


One other thing about a milk cow he does not state how much milk she does give not even the 4 or 5 gallon answer

[Sparkie]

Besides what everyone else said, she's extremely thin with loose poop on her rear end and tail. Good chance she has Johne's. Google Johne's, you will need to know about it if you're looking for a dairy cow. There's no cure and their poop contaminates your land for future cows.

[Jeremiahc]

Originally Posted by DaleK

A cow that isn't well in calf by the time she's dried up should be going in a freezer or on a truck.

Is this because most people wouldn't want to pay to keep an unproductive cow around?

I appreciate all the input. We are still in the planning stages, but as I was browsing I thought I would get some input so I know what to look!

Thanks all!

[Ruralnurse]

Here are a couple of Gurnseys in my area. I know they are too far but might be good for comparison. I don't know much about cows but these two seem to be in better shape.

Milk Cow for sale

Milk cow

Ruralnurse