Dairy Cow Conundrum

[DownHome]

So here is the problem. We have been trying to sell a 3 year old jersey milk cow that we machine milked last year. She went from not letting you get within 25 feet of her to standing solidly while she was getting milked. She never offered to kick, but she did fidget for the first week of milking after that she was great. She has tamed down so nicely. She still doesn't like to have her face touched, but she doesn't mind a back or neck scratch. We had her listed for $1300 with very little interest she is currently listed for under $1000, but my husband pointed out that she is worth nearly $2000 in just hamburger!! My problem is at what point does financial common sense take over? She's a good cow and deserves better, but it seems silly to sell her for half of what she is worth especially when I could use some burger in my freezer. Anyone have any advice?

downhome

[Sensiblefarmer]

it seems silly to sell her for half of what she is worth especially when I could use some burger in my freezer.

You've answered your own question.

[Rosepath]

If she is currently in millk, and bred back, that's a great price.

[~Tomboy~]

Sent you a pm that might be of some help

[Awnry Abe]

A $1000 asset is not worth the same as $2000 in ground beef. It is worth immensely more. Milk revenue. Revenue from offspring. Think it through. Sell the value in your as and she'll move.

[Ronney]

The first question that came to mind was, why are you selling her? - and there may well be a good reason. However, personally I don't think that a Jersey put into $2,000 of mince is a sound investment and to that end I agree with Awnry.

Many years ago I kept a record for two years of the production my Jersey cow gave both in terms of milk and calves. It was colossal. Unfortunately the paperwork has long since gone, as has the cow, but I do remember that by the time she died I didn't owe her a thing. She had contributed to the rearing of pigs and orphan lambs, her own calf, reared a second in the same season, put meat in our freezer and milk in the fridge.

Cheers,
Ronnie

[Madsaw]

That would have to be a huge jersey for that much burger. By the time you took her to a processor paid that bill. You be better off selling her for s 1000 and buy your meat. A 1000 pound jersey milk cow might yeild 300 lbs of meat.

[Madsaw]

Yeap with current prices and the yield rate if a Jersey. You might be looking at maybe $1000 worth of meat. As others said look at the long time on a dairy cow. Just for example. 5 heifer calves out of her over the years is 1500 alone. Not even figuring in the bull calves for the freezer.

[happydog]

I'd work on upgrading your ads. Play up her strong points and don't mention the weak. See where else you can place ads. Feed stores? Local ag papers? Craigslist ads in different cities?

I usually advertise on all the craigslists within about a hundred mile radius. Take flattering photos of her. Talk about how sweet she is, how much milk she gives, what a good mother she is.

It doesn't matter if the ad gets "very little interest." You only need one buyer. There aren't very many cow tire-kickers out there. You only need one person who's been looking for a family milk cow, and 90% of the time they will show up with a trailer and are thrilled to buy her.

[Donna from Mo]

Where in Kansas are you?