Where do you get a good jersey milk cow?

[littlemother]

Frankly, I'm scared of craigslist. We want to invest in a good cow bred to be sold, not a used cow being sold for a reason. Where are those cows to be found?

[Rosepath]

If you'd put your location in, maybe someone will know of some possibilities.
The USA is a big place
You can try the breed associations, they'll have breeder lists by state,
for example the Jersey site: American Jersey Cattle Association.

[littlemother]

Good idea! Southwestern Missouri

[nosqrls]

You can ask a dairy if they have one that has a damage quarter or one that is not producing as much as they like. That way they don't have to haul her to the stockyards.
That way You get on their good side a friend even told the dairy that if she had a heifer he would let them have first dibs on it. She now calls him if she has a cow they need to home. The old lady hates taking cows to the stockyards.

[eggman]

You could try your local feed store for people who raise cows.

[bja105]

I bought a Jersey bottle calf heifer from a dairy that was also selling the mother. They had a mix of dairy breeds, but the Jerseys were too short for their setup. Ask at some dairies, they might know something.

The Amish guy across from me butchered his Jersey when she stepped on a teat. I bet she could have been saved. Then he sold his Brown Swiss when he realized he was sick of milking twice a day all his life. The other neighbor bought her. I expect he'll be sick of milking in another year or so.

[DJ in WA]

People generally don't advertise their favorite cow. So you can go see one you like and offer a lot of money, and they might consider.

I prefer to buy a calf which likely doesn't yet have problems. Assuming it is docile.

Of course, most newbies want to start with a Jersey and then get overwhelmed with milk, or they end up with mastitis or milk fever.

So the question is how much milk you need. You could start with a beef/jersey cross, and breed her to jersey. Practice on the cross, and be ready if you get a higher milking heifer out of her.

I have milked beef cows. You could also start with one of them, which are easier to find. Breed to jersey to get a heifer that will make more milk.

Again, docility is number one in my book, so spend time around them before you buy.

[kycrawler]

Springfield livestock auction dairy sale. Expect to spend 1700-2000 for a good cow . I have a few Holstein jersey crosses I will be selling in the spring also

[LittleRedHen]

I bought my heifer off craiglist. I asked a lot of questions and really felt out the seller.No regrets and tomorrowmarks 3 years I have had her

[francismilker]

Buying a heifer and raising her would be my suggestion if you have the time to wait. Then you have a chance of one that just never settles into being a gentle family milk cow. Otherwise, Craigslist has been a good avenue for me to find heifers. I never buy a mature cow. I only buy heifers and occasionally a bred heifer. I bought some guernseys off cl near bolivar, mo earlier this year. The guy has jerseys on there now. He's a retired dairyman that jockeys dairy cattle now.

[collegeboundgal]

Originally Posted by francismilker

Buying a heifer and raising her would be my suggestion if you have the time to wait. Then you have a chance of one that just never settles into being a gentle family milk cow. Otherwise, Craigslist has been a good avenue for me to find heifers. I never buy a mature cow. I only buy heifers and occasionally a bred heifer. I bought some guernseys off cl near bolivar, mo earlier this year. The guy has jerseys on there now. He's a retired dairyman that jockeys dairy cattle now.

hey! that's my neighborhood!!!

[francismilker]

Can't remember his name but he was a really nice gentleman. He offered me food and something to drink about a dozen times. I sure was proud to find the guernseys. They're extinct in my area (near Ada,OK).

[SueMc]

Check with the large animal vets in your area or the larger surrounding area. They know who has what plus will let you know, in so many words, who to call and who to stay away from. Vets I know won't bad mouth their clients but sometimes their silence can be telling.