Post by evamommy on May 15, 2008 20:31:03 GMT -5
Hi,
I'm new to these boards, although I have read off and on for awhile now. We don't own a cow yet, although we're hoping that will change soon! There is a family auction this weekend, where they will be selling a guernsey milk cow, 10 years old that "will freshen soon". It looks like this is an Amish family, and this cow has most likely been a family cow. So...for our first cow, inexperienced as we are, would this cow be a good choice, assuming that she is healthy? What is reasonable to pay for a cow this old? How old can guernseys keep being bred and producing? Any advice at all is much appreciated!
Thanks so much,
Carrie
PS...edited to add that I was able to speak with the owner over the phone...she has indeed been a family cow her whole life...he has had her since she was a calf. He is also selling 3 of her daughters, which are 1/2 guernsey, 1/2 black (angus?), that have calves with them. He seemed to think that we'd probably rather have one of the daughters, but I'm not so sure...they have never been hand-milked. The 10 y/o only has two quarters working....I didn't understand what he said happened to the first one (thick accent), and he said the other dried up when she got a cut on it..no mastitis, but it dried up. Anyway, he says that she's very reliable, has a calf every year, and gives good consistent milk, about 3 gallons a day (seems low for a guernsey, but probably because of only having two quarters, I'm thinking?). He figured that someone would buy her for a nurse cow; but 3 gallons a day sounds perfect to me, as far as how much milk our family could handle. Oh - she's bred to a black bull, and is due in about 2 weeks!
So the only drawback that I can see so far, other than her age, is the whole inefficiency of paying for feed, etc, to only get 2 quarters worth of milk from her. I can't wait to see this cow!
I'm new to these boards, although I have read off and on for awhile now. We don't own a cow yet, although we're hoping that will change soon! There is a family auction this weekend, where they will be selling a guernsey milk cow, 10 years old that "will freshen soon". It looks like this is an Amish family, and this cow has most likely been a family cow. So...for our first cow, inexperienced as we are, would this cow be a good choice, assuming that she is healthy? What is reasonable to pay for a cow this old? How old can guernseys keep being bred and producing? Any advice at all is much appreciated!
Thanks so much,
Carrie
PS...edited to add that I was able to speak with the owner over the phone...she has indeed been a family cow her whole life...he has had her since she was a calf. He is also selling 3 of her daughters, which are 1/2 guernsey, 1/2 black (angus?), that have calves with them. He seemed to think that we'd probably rather have one of the daughters, but I'm not so sure...they have never been hand-milked. The 10 y/o only has two quarters working....I didn't understand what he said happened to the first one (thick accent), and he said the other dried up when she got a cut on it..no mastitis, but it dried up. Anyway, he says that she's very reliable, has a calf every year, and gives good consistent milk, about 3 gallons a day (seems low for a guernsey, but probably because of only having two quarters, I'm thinking?). He figured that someone would buy her for a nurse cow; but 3 gallons a day sounds perfect to me, as far as how much milk our family could handle. Oh - she's bred to a black bull, and is due in about 2 weeks!
So the only drawback that I can see so far, other than her age, is the whole inefficiency of paying for feed, etc, to only get 2 quarters worth of milk from her. I can't wait to see this cow!