Post by Tammy on Jul 30, 2009 13:44:44 GMT -5
Who doesn't love the look of a Dutch Belted beauty? I also love the fact that they are a rare breed and that folks are working hard to preserve them for future generations.
My girl is only half Dutch Belted and the other half of her is Jersey. However, I am convinced that the DB characteristics must be dominate with this girl. She does not look or act "Jersey", she is huge compaired to my Jerseys and her milk/cream is very different.
While I think preserving the DB breed is a worthy goal, it seems my share customers prefer the Jersey milk over the DB milk as does my husband. In time, if Cookie's original owner decides she is not able to buy her back, I will have to sell her. I am mostly using her milk right now to feed calves and chickens. I can't justify keeping her forever when my share members/family members won't drink the milk.
I had a couple questions come up after reading posts from those of you who have DB's or DB crosses.
Cookie was giving six gallons of milk a day on 12 hour milking schedule when she was owned by my friend. However, she was being fed quite a large amount of 18% protein feed. She does have a six week old calf on her now but I am only getting about two gallons a day from her. I am sure her calf is not drinking four gallons of milk a day. I don't need six gallons of milk a day from her but I am curious why there is such a difference in her production level. The only thing that I can attribute it to is the fact that I am only feeding her about 2.5 pounds of 12% feed per milking (5 pounds a day). Her body condition, IMHO, is good and I am satisfied with the amount of milk I am getting as long as I know that the decrease in production is simply due to the fact that I am not over-graining her. I am also curious to know what others DB cows are producing and whether you all feed grain or simply stay with pasture only. (I have read that DB's do well as grass fed only cows.) I also have to question whether I can justify keeping her too many winters when I see the amount of hay/feed that she is going to consume over the winter to keep up her body condition. Does anyone have any experience with keeping a producing DB over the winter?
Melissa, if you read this, I am also very curious about your sweet, little Flurrie and the cream that you described. The cream you described is more like Jersey cream and if she is DB/Dexter (and she looks like she is) I am wondering how you got blessed with that thick, yellow cream on that milk? My DB cross cream is so different and it's presenting problems for me!
I honestly think that if someone could consistently breed a little DB/Jersey or DB/Dexter cross that they would be a huge hit with buyers but how to get to that point? Everyone that sees Cookie just comments on how BIG she is and her size intimidates most and most folks don't want to feed a cow that big. So, should I hang onto this little 3/4 Jersey 1/4 DB belted red bull calf and hope that I can cross him with mini Jerseys and come up with a belted breed of minis? Mom and Sire's mom have excellent udders and teats.
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I am just rambling here in hopes that someone can help me find a great use for my Cookie. I really love her and she is a sweetie but I need to find a way to work her into my program in a way other than feeding calves and chickens! My cow share program is growing but I can't find anyone that wants her milk! Maybe if they had never had the Jersey milk, they would not mind Cookie's milk? Please don't get me wrong, the milk is great, it's just not Jersey milk.
Has anyone made cheese with DB milk and Jersey milk? Perhaps this winter when I get back to my cheese making, that will be the ticket for Cookie's milk? Any thoughts on that?
Here is a picture of Cookie's milk with a thin cream line that is normal for her. You can see how thick the cream is after only 12 hours. It has a different consistency and won't mix back into the milk.
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My girl is only half Dutch Belted and the other half of her is Jersey. However, I am convinced that the DB characteristics must be dominate with this girl. She does not look or act "Jersey", she is huge compaired to my Jerseys and her milk/cream is very different.
While I think preserving the DB breed is a worthy goal, it seems my share customers prefer the Jersey milk over the DB milk as does my husband. In time, if Cookie's original owner decides she is not able to buy her back, I will have to sell her. I am mostly using her milk right now to feed calves and chickens. I can't justify keeping her forever when my share members/family members won't drink the milk.
I had a couple questions come up after reading posts from those of you who have DB's or DB crosses.
Cookie was giving six gallons of milk a day on 12 hour milking schedule when she was owned by my friend. However, she was being fed quite a large amount of 18% protein feed. She does have a six week old calf on her now but I am only getting about two gallons a day from her. I am sure her calf is not drinking four gallons of milk a day. I don't need six gallons of milk a day from her but I am curious why there is such a difference in her production level. The only thing that I can attribute it to is the fact that I am only feeding her about 2.5 pounds of 12% feed per milking (5 pounds a day). Her body condition, IMHO, is good and I am satisfied with the amount of milk I am getting as long as I know that the decrease in production is simply due to the fact that I am not over-graining her. I am also curious to know what others DB cows are producing and whether you all feed grain or simply stay with pasture only. (I have read that DB's do well as grass fed only cows.) I also have to question whether I can justify keeping her too many winters when I see the amount of hay/feed that she is going to consume over the winter to keep up her body condition. Does anyone have any experience with keeping a producing DB over the winter?
Melissa, if you read this, I am also very curious about your sweet, little Flurrie and the cream that you described. The cream you described is more like Jersey cream and if she is DB/Dexter (and she looks like she is) I am wondering how you got blessed with that thick, yellow cream on that milk? My DB cross cream is so different and it's presenting problems for me!
I honestly think that if someone could consistently breed a little DB/Jersey or DB/Dexter cross that they would be a huge hit with buyers but how to get to that point? Everyone that sees Cookie just comments on how BIG she is and her size intimidates most and most folks don't want to feed a cow that big. So, should I hang onto this little 3/4 Jersey 1/4 DB belted red bull calf and hope that I can cross him with mini Jerseys and come up with a belted breed of minis? Mom and Sire's mom have excellent udders and teats.
[]
I am just rambling here in hopes that someone can help me find a great use for my Cookie. I really love her and she is a sweetie but I need to find a way to work her into my program in a way other than feeding calves and chickens! My cow share program is growing but I can't find anyone that wants her milk! Maybe if they had never had the Jersey milk, they would not mind Cookie's milk? Please don't get me wrong, the milk is great, it's just not Jersey milk.
Has anyone made cheese with DB milk and Jersey milk? Perhaps this winter when I get back to my cheese making, that will be the ticket for Cookie's milk? Any thoughts on that?
Here is a picture of Cookie's milk with a thin cream line that is normal for her. You can see how thick the cream is after only 12 hours. It has a different consistency and won't mix back into the milk.
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