Please critique this Jersey for me

SueMc · #1 12/21/12, 12:50 PM

...if you can tell anything from the small pictures. She's a first freshener, last summer. The owner milks her once a day and gets about 2.5 gal. "on very little grain". Is her conformation decent? Is she too thin?
I want a Jersey in the worst way but want to be cautious and not just buy a pretty face! Thanks for the input!

SueMc · #2 12/21/12, 12:56 PM

I'm having a terrible time uploading photos! Sorry that I can't make them bigger.

Dusky Beauty · #3 12/21/12, 01:32 PM

Her teats are a little short in my opinion, but she's probably not a bad cow. She's not too thin-- is she tame and friendly? Did she calve and breed easily? Do all her quarters work? ds she hae good openings for good flow?
She looks young and productive enough to be a very good cow. I would probably buy one just like her!

myersfarm · #4 12/21/12, 01:38 PM

1st calf heifers breeding back is a big problem in all heifers.....do not see she is bred in your post..thats what would worry me

SueMc · #5 12/21/12, 01:44 PM

Myersfarm, she is open as is another, older cow that is for sale. I'll ask the seller about this. She's a young woman selling her 4H cows so may not have tried breeding. Thanks for the input.

bigbluegrass · #6 12/21/12, 02:06 PM

I agree with myersfarm - breeding back at this age is a huge concern. If she is open - why is the big question.

From the limited pictures, bag looks good. Hard to tell from the other picture but I think she looks a little thin. I count 4 ribs, but it might be the picture. Not terrible for a first calf and late in the lactation.

Things I would check:

1) Why is she not bred back?
2) Johnes test?
3) Disposition

Callieslamb · #7 12/21/12, 02:18 PM

Ask if there's a possibility of having her bred for you - if she has more than one cow it will be easier for her to tell when the cow is in heat. I think she looks great and wouldn't hesitate to buy her if the other questions can be answered. I'd also ask to milk her myself (then you'll know for sure how easy it will be) and have the milk tested. Jerseys always look thin. She is perhaps a tad thin but not too bad in my eyes. A tad thin is easy to fix.

SueMc · #8 12/21/12, 02:26 PM

Also, I just thought that I need to find out what documentation I might need to transport her over IL/IN state line. I'm sure I can get that online.

matt_man · #9 12/21/12, 02:30 PM

She will need a health certificate from a vet and at least a TB test. Many states are also requiring trich testing now. She will have to have the testing done before you get her and the paperwork will have to travel with you. You will have a certain number of days that the certificate will be good for. TB tests take 3 days.

I don't think she looks bad and her teats don't look all that short to me. Her not being bred would be a concern since she has been open for about 6 months. Find out why she's not been bred back yet.

linn · #10 12/21/12, 02:35 PM

I think she looks pretty good for a first calf heifer that gets no grain. I woudl make sure she was tested. If she has been shown, she may already be tested and have her vaccinations. Make sure to ask. If she hasn't bred back just because she wasn't exposed or AI'd, then I would probably take a chance for the right price.

Judy in IN · #11 12/21/12, 05:09 PM

I LIKE HER! I think she has pretty good teat length for a first calf heifer. I've seen some that were only an inch long. Talk about a pain!

So she's in IN? What are they asking, if you don't mind telling?

If I were looking for a Jersey, I'd be all over that one. Needs a few groceries, but we've had a drought.

Jennifer L. · #12 12/21/12, 05:44 PM

She looks good to me. I would be concerned about the breeding only if she's been exposed to a bull and keeps coming into heat. If the owner simply hasn't gotten around to it, she's probably good to go. I would probably have a vet check her, though, before I bought if it's a significant amount (more than cull price), just to be sure there's nothing hidden.

But I'd buy her.

MARYDVM · #13 12/21/12, 08:14 PM

I'll be a wet blanket and say I really don't like what I think I see in her udder attachment. The camera angle may be at fault, but for a first calf heifer that looks like the kind of udder that will sag lower with every lactation.

Dusky Beauty · #14 12/21/12, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARYDVM

I'll be a wet blanket and say I really don't like what I think I see in her udder attachment. The camera angle may be at fault, but for a first calf heifer that looks like the kind of udder that will sag lower with every lactation.

multiple perspectives are a great thing!

springvalley · #15 12/21/12, 09:16 PM

I can`t say good or bad just because the picures are not the best. When taking udder pictures, get right down at it`s level and take the picture with the leg back and then another one from the rear with the tail out of the way. And yes I see some ribs also but thats pretty common when not feeding much grain, Illinois has been dry, dry, dry and the hay we did get wasn`t the best. I would want to know if they have tried to breed her or not at, that would be my biggest worry. > Thanks Marc

DaleK · #16 12/21/12, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARYDVM

I'll be a wet blanket and say I really don't like what I think I see in her udder attachment. The camera angle may be at fault, but for a first calf heifer that looks like the kind of udder that will sag lower with every lactation.

Terrible fore attachment if she's a first calf heifer. Judging by the udder and the flatness of bone I'd be surprised if she actually is a first calver, unless she was 4 year old when she had it.

SueMc · #17 12/22/12, 05:00 AM

Well, I haven't heard back from her. Maybe I asked too many questions! I wondered about the fore udder attachment too, but I just have dairy goat experience. It's hard to see a good comparison when most online jersey pics are show cows with full udders.
Even if I don't hear back from the seller or don't get this cow, all the imput has been very helpful to me because I will find one, one of these days.

Jennifer L. · #18 12/22/12, 11:42 AM

I don't see that sagging lower is a problem as long as the suspension doesn't break. She's not going to win at a show with front quarters like that, but they are that bad as far as milking, and it's rare that the ligament lets go entirely. She's showing a nice flat udder floor right now and it will probably last a long time.

BlackWillowFarm · #19 12/22/12, 02:18 PM

She's a pretty cow and you'd be happy looking at her in your pasture. If she's friendly, quiet and milks without a fuss she looks like she'd be a nice cow. Her fore udder attachment based on the picture isn't the best but in a family situation she should be fine. I like how her udder is well above her hocks. I would ask about mastitis. Something about that left front quarter looks a little bulgy to me but from pictures it's hard to say. It could just be that she's ready to be milked or it could just be the way it's attached to her body. The red flag here is not being bred back. See if you can find out why she's not pregnant.

Dusky Beauty · #20 12/22/12, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SueMc

Well, I haven't heard back from her. Maybe I asked too many questions! I wondered about the fore udder attachment too, but I just have dairy goat experience. It's hard to see a good comparison when most online jersey pics are show cows with full udders.
Even if I don't hear back from the seller or don't get this cow, all the imput has been very helpful to me because I will find one, one of these days.

It's also a very busy weekend for most people Sue, she may still get back to you!