Up North said:
Emily, are we to assume these heifers are open? If so, how soon would you estimate they would be eligible for breeding? Are they all siredf by your herd bull? TIA
Yes, these are open heifers. They are only about 4-5 months old, so it will be at least 6-8 months before they can be bred. #772 is a smaller-boned gal, always has been, so she may take a little longer.
They are all heifers we bought as babies this spring to raise on extra goat milk, so they were not sired by our bull. The dairy we bought them from is one I much admire. I worked there for two years and they cull for hardiness, easy-calving and milk production. They run all crossbred cows and they are tough, hard-working little ladies. These heifers will be mostly Jersey blood, with some Holstien or Brown Swiss(or both) mixed in.
If they were ones that had been born and raised here, I would be able to let them go cheaper, but as it is, I have to have a decent price from them to cover the cost of buying them and raising them. Baby heifers aren't cheap.
If someone wanted all three of them, I could give them a little price break though.
#772 is going to be better as a home milker than a production cow, in the dairy owners opinion. Her dam wasn't a super-producer and was culled to a family milk cow position for that very reason. So #772 will make a good family milk cow for someone who only needs a couple or 3 gallons a day.
