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1:36 pm
March 9, 2010
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LK
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| Mighty Chicken | posts 148 | |
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I forgot to add that Jerseys can have a problem with milk fever. All dairy cattle can get it, but I understand that these are more prone to it. They have so much calcium that comes from their bones to go into their milk anywhere from calving to three months afterward, that it can kill them really quickly.
For this it is good to have some calcium drench on hand to give to the cow as she is having the calf, or you can change their feed to not rich feed for I think a month to a month and a half before they calve and for a bit afterward. We went the feed route when our cow calved and it worked out great. We discovered the calf shortly after it was born, so we were thankful that we had done this.
We are honing up on our dairy knowledge by reading a book called "The Family Cow" by Dirk (can't remember???). The book is green anyway and can be found online. It would be a great book for you to have on hand.
We also bought a book that is called "Treating Cows Naturally". It is also green! It has some good natural ideas on how to treat different things that cattle might get. Scours can be treated with an egg…who knew?
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10:35 am
March 10, 2010
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Michelle B
| | Missouri | |
| Big Chicken | posts 14 | |
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I have been so excited to find all the recipes here and especially the cheese recipes. We have Dexter cows and have a heifer who will calve this fall what we are grooming to be a milk cow. She has been my daughter's 4-H show heifer, has been to petting zoo's, been in parades and is just so sweet. I have been told that she should be able to give us about a gallon of milk a day while feeding her calf at the same time, just take the calf off 5-6 hours before we want to milk, milk what we want and then let the calf back to it's mom. This seems like the perfect situation for me, because I don't want to have to milk twice a day! 
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10:41 am
March 10, 2010
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CindyP
| | Hart, MI | |
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Michelle, wonderful to have you here with us!  Will you go over to http://suzannemcminn.com/forum…..-yourself/ so everyone can welcome you???
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“Learn all you can from the mistakes of others. You won’t have time to make them all yourself.” ― Alfred Sheinwold
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10:33 pm
March 10, 2010
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lavenderblue
| | WNY | |
| Mighty Chicken | posts 204 | |
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Michelle, perhaps you could clear something up for me. I love Irish Dexter cattle. I don't have a farm, yet. May never have one if I continue to live in NYS. Not farm friendly, if you ask me, but I do like to gather information that could be helpful. I thought Dexters were beef cattle, not dairy. Are they dual purpose?
Does anyone else have any insight on using Dexters for both meat and milk as opposed to Jerseys or other standard dairy breeds. It would be so cool if I could raise one breed for both purposes. Although, as my sister points out, they are awfully cute. She isn't so sure that I'd be tough enough come butchering time.
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Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long. Ogden Nash
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6:44 pm
March 11, 2010
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Flatlander
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yes Dexters are dual,meet and milk
I looked into it quite a bit…because that was what I wanted…and still like a lot
I like that they are hardy for our wintes, and they look so cute
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9:45 am
April 2, 2010
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Michelle B
| | Missouri | |
| Big Chicken | posts 14 | |
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LavendarBlue,
Dexters are very hardy and considered a dual purpose breed, dairy & beef. You will also find some used as oxen. Some have a more dairy look and some have a more beefy look, but generally speaking a single cow should give amply milk for a family, and they are quite tasty as well. The American Livestock Breeds Conservacy did a taste test of rare breed cattle vs angus beef and you can see the results here: http://www.dextercattle.org/AL…..tetest.pdf. You can also find information about milking dexters at http://www.dextercattle.org. If anyone is from Tennessee or close, the national Dexter cattle show will be held in Athens, TN in June. My daughter and I will be there and I have yet to meet someone with Dexters who would not love to talk to you about them!
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11:10 am
April 2, 2010
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52
| | Stringtown, WV | |
| Mighty Chicken | posts 391 | |
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How old is too old for a cow ?
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11:55 am
April 2, 2010
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wvhomecanner
| | North Central WV | |
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Are you asking about yourself or the cow? 
Dede
…….already running fast………. 
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"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." ~ The Lorax by Dr. Seuss ~
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1:19 pm
April 2, 2010
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52
| | Stringtown, WV | |
| Mighty Chicken | posts 391 | |
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You'd Better run !!!
The COW——now just answer the question. 
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2:03 pm
April 2, 2010
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wvhomecanner
| | North Central WV | |
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Oh, well, I have no idea about the cow …… 
Dede
…… soon approaching the VA/WV state line ………. 
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"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." ~ The Lorax by Dr. Seuss ~
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7:17 pm
April 2, 2010
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BuckeyeGirl
| | N.E. Ohio | |
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My SIL is right here who's family has been dairy farmer for eons… she says that, (assuming it's a Jersey) you want a cow that has at had at least one calve so they're proven…. and that 10 is old for breeding, calving or producing milk, they still can carry on at that age, but they tend to get arthritis and have difficulties getting preggers, though in a family situation, it's possible to manage all that, still it's asking for trouble.
She says if it were her, she'd get one fairly young so the cow had plenty of years to milk, and she'd make sure it had already been halter broken and used to people… possibly a 4-H cow who has had lots of personal attention. A cow who has never had a halter or been led is asking for trouble.
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If tomatoes are a fruit, then isn’t ketchup technically a
smoothie?
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11:38 pm
April 2, 2010
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Flatlander
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I'm going to look at a Jersey cow tomorrow.
Don't know her age..since they have more to get rid off.
This a small dairy farm, a mom/daughter operation.
So I'm very exited…(and take you advice with me Buckeyegirl)
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11:59 pm
April 2, 2010
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BuckeyeGirl
| | N.E. Ohio | |
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Company gone, I can take a minute more. She said 2 is ideal in her opinion, but she's used to handling cows, so she'd like to get a young one that she can train herself, but they can be tricky so watch the temperament. 3 is good to, 4 to 5 is ok if they're handled a lot and cooperative especially if you're new to the whole thing, 6 to 8 had better be a darn good price, but isn't terrible especially if you know they breed and bear easily and are good milkers. Over 8 is very questionable in her mind due to the limited time she'd have to milk, possible problems getting bred, problems calving, reduced milk, possible arthritis in the near future if not already… Does all that makes sense? One thing, you can always keep and raise one of her heifer calves to replace any cow you do get.
Getting a cow sure sounds exciting! Can't wait for pictures!!!
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If tomatoes are a fruit, then isn’t ketchup technically a
smoothie?
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3:35 pm
April 3, 2010
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52
| | Stringtown, WV | |
| Mighty Chicken | posts 391 | |
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I don't know the age of the one I found, and neither does the owner, but he says she's very easy to milk, has been milked by children, and gives about 1 3/4 gallons a day with just one milking cause they don't need/want a LOT of milk. ( I told Suzanne about this last night, so it's no secret now—-just a known birthday present.) It's a Jersey, and has obviously had a calf—has been in with a bull for a few months, so there's a good chance she's pregnant. Don't know how to tell a cow's age, but guess they're kinda like horses, whose teeth tell a lot—-as in, how worn are they—-and how many are missing :) We're gonna go look at her tomorrow and talk to the owner about behavior, whatever history he knows, etc.. He's asking $500—–
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3:54 pm
April 3, 2010
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CindyP
| | Hart, MI | |
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http://www.agweb.com/BeefToday…..?id=148291
How to tell the cow's age by her teeth……………
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“Learn all you can from the mistakes of others. You won’t have time to make them all yourself.” ― Alfred Sheinwold
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4:07 pm
April 3, 2010
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BuckeyeGirl
| | N.E. Ohio | |
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Well, if she's easy to milk, calm and used to being handled (which it sounds like she is) and especially if she's preggers now…. that's all good.
So she's dry now right? I'd still walk all around, keeping a hand on her hide all the way, watch about her kicking tendancies!!! See if she's sensative about her udder, though if they aren't currently milking her that wouldn't be unreasonable for her at least a little… crazy is another whole topic! You guys know the drill as far as having trouble milking a goat, imagine a cow that's unwilling!!! Just saying! But unless you have some reason to think the current owner is not honest, (and I wouldn't think he'd be so myself) it sounds like she's ok about all that.
You'd know prices in your area best, and that doesn't sound unreasonable… did he say why they're selling her? Just tired of the routine, or they have several others and have too much milk… if that's enough milk for you then it's enough! No one says she must produce 40# a day (she'd be a Holstein if she was, but you know what I mean) It sounds like enough to drink AND still make lots of goodies, AND still have some to feed pigs and what-not to me! Chances are you can increase her production depending on what she's eating and how often you milk. Twice a day will up the numbers, but then you must continue to milk twice a day! … up-side/down-side!
Here's an article about teeth. http://www.agweb.com/BeefToday…..?id=148291 More than this I don't know and my SIL is unavailable for now.
I'd have the vet out, and want to know what immunizations she's had if any…
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If tomatoes are a fruit, then isn’t ketchup technically a
smoothie?
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4:10 pm
April 3, 2010
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BuckeyeGirl
| | N.E. Ohio | |
| Admin
| posts 3992 | |
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ROFL Great minds think alike eh Cindy?
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If tomatoes are a fruit, then isn’t ketchup technically a
smoothie?
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9:12 pm
April 3, 2010
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Flatlander
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Buckeye, you can milk while their pregnant, as long as you let them go dry 2 months before they are due for the next one.
I bought one today..pictures will follow, she is a 4 year old, just got her 2nd calve.(.who will come with her.)
I milked her..pet her, hugged her etc, she is all fine and quite about it.
She just got in heat, first time after the calve..so we will start counting, that her next calve won't be born in January..but March..so a few more months and we will get her bred again…
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9:24 pm
April 3, 2010
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Pete
| | WV | |
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| posts 7875 | |
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Congratulations, Astrid! How exciting for you. Like Cindy with her chicks, you have waited long enough for your cow. Enjoy having her, and the calf!! 
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Anulos qui animum ostendunt omnes gestemus!
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9:42 pm
April 3, 2010
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CindyP
| | Hart, MI | |
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| posts 7628 |
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Awesome news, Astrid! A cow, a calf….your farm is growing, growing, growing! Can't wait to see pics!
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“Learn all you can from the mistakes of others. You won’t have time to make them all yourself.” ― Alfred Sheinwold
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