Where are all the jersey calves?

solsikkefarms · #1 02/21/15, 08:55 PM

Been looking for a Jersey heifer calf, well since last spring, cant find anything... only bulls. We would love to get started raising one for a family milk cow. just venting I guess.. lol

stockdogcompany · #2 02/22/15, 07:19 AM

http://jerseysites.usjersey.com/wisc...ys/welcome.htm

Bottom left side of page, profiles in alphabetical order of all the Wisconsin jersey breeders association members and their farm profiles from 2011.

A few minutes on the phone or e-mail will yield results. With the advent of sexed semen the amount of available replacement heifers is up at most progressive dairy farms, and purebred breeders are purebred breeders because they believe they will gain value from selling animals as seed stock.

Tango · #3 02/22/15, 08:22 AM

Frankly I am surprised you can't find one in Wisconsin. I'm also looking for a couple of people and myself and it is hard. My search is spanning several states. Dairies will sell bull calves - sometimes they have minimum #'s which make it impossible for a small homesteader but the heifer calves are held for national sales, like the Pot of Gold sale, association sales or special private sales where they go for A LOT

you can understand their reluctance to sell to one person when the competition at a sale will bring twice what you might be able to offer. There are commercial heifer raising operations with contracts that buy the heifers from the dairies as well or the dairy will raise them for the added income and replacement. It used to be a lot easier. Right now it seems everyone is looking for a Jersey heifer and I have no clue why unless they are wanting to cash in on the craziness. It is much easier to purchase a Holstein heifer but there is that whole A2/A2 thing and they are mighty big girls. I use the Jersey directory posted above and many farms are closed or don't answer calls. When I purchased my first Jersey in 06 I found her calling the nearest local dairy. One call

I've made dozens of calls in three states this time around and nothing so far. But stick with it, eventually you will find a heifer.

stockdogcompany · #4 02/22/15, 05:29 PM

http://www.premierlivestockandauctio...IZ_UNL_id=2231
hoobly.com keyword jersey
bestfarmbuys.com keyword jersey
farmworldonlineclassifieds.com
mydadandmefamilyfarm.com

5 minutes of work shows that inventory is out there. A call to your nearest dairy route supplier (DeLaval, Germania,etc) and someone can probably point you to the people who always have cattle for sale. Ditto to large dairy specialist feed centers.

Check the forum Barter Board, post for jersey calves up now!

SueMc · #5 02/22/15, 06:10 PM

You could also contact some of the AI companies and see who makes the rounds in your area. For example, the Select Sires rep sells dairy semen all around my area. He knows who raises what breed around here.

kycrawler · #6 02/22/15, 06:27 PM

Can't find or don't wanna pay for ? Search Milwaukee craigslist found 10 breeding age heifers for under 900 and a registered jersey springer for$ 1200

arabian knight · #7 02/23/15, 11:51 AM

Many jersey heifers of breeding age we want a Calf one to 2 weeks ago. I have had a want ad on CL list for the last month and only one response but too far away. I just may have to go farm to farm like I did last year to get a Jersey heifer calf. LOL

solsikkefarms · #8 02/23/15, 02:33 PM

ok, I guess I have to clarify... I have not been able to find anything looking in a general 2 hour direction from where I live. Yes I know if I'm willing to drive hundreds and hundreds of miles of pay 2+ thousand for a calf I could probably find something. Either way it doesn't matter because yesterday I spent all day on the road and after driving 300+ miles (1 way) I found one.

Thanks to those with some actual good ideas.

kycrawler · #9 02/23/15, 09:38 PM

Only way I would ever pay 2000 for a jersey heifer calf is if she was attached to a ---- good cow . That 1200 springer or the 900 open heifers wouldn't be a bad deal if they were good , financially better than paying 200-400 for a bottle heifer 100 for milk replacer and feeding her for 16-18 months to get what you could have spent 900 on and got a year and a half head start. So just because it isn't what you wanted to hear doesn't mean there isn't sound logic or advice behind it

sammyd · #10 02/23/15, 09:57 PM

A few years ago I was looking for a Jersey calf. None in any sort of close proximity. SPent a few weeks hanging around the sales barns, reading the classifieds, going to auctions, (this was pre craigs list) only thing I got was a totalled truck and trailer on the way to an auction.
Ended up finding a nice Jersey/Holstein cross and something we were never quite sure of a few weeks after I wrecked the truck. Still haven't found too many Jersey heifer calves around.

myheaven · #11 02/24/15, 10:30 AM

A $2000 jersey calf better be pooping gold! Wow! now a gurenteed bred, registered,in milk jersey, vet check , tested and utd on all shots, that's more like 2,000.

Frosted Mini's · #12 02/25/15, 09:30 PM

I recently got 2 jersey heifer calves to be my future milk cows. The dairy I got them from is a nice little 80 head farm and has some really nice, long lived cows. They were $300 at birth, plus $75 per month of age, so I opted to get month old calves that were past most of the scours and were a little more sturdy. I also got their registration papers for $25 each. I am really happy with them, and excited for their future!

They are the sweetest little things!

francismilker · #13 02/26/15, 11:19 AM

If you've got a full tank of gas and a way to look at the craigslist adds for areas surrounding you they can be worth the trip to travel for. If they're that scarce in your area pick up two and put one of them on your local craigslist. You might find it to be worth your trouble and get some of the money back on the one you keep.

I've been looking for some guernsey heifers for years but there's none to be found in my area so I drove 350 miles and bought two. The results were very rewarding and worth the trouble. Jerseys and holsteins are easy to find. Guernseys, MS, BS, and Ayrshires are few and far between in these parts.

solsikkefarms · #14 02/26/15, 01:54 PM

I think its easy for people to forget how rural some people still are. lol

oh, just run to your local barn sale. hahahaha - and you would think jerseys would be more common, but if it's not angus or Holstein you'd think its illegal in some parts.