Post by Kathie on Sept 1, 2015 10:34:21 GMT -5
Okay, I've been waiting to see if someone else would mention this, but since no one has, guess it's up to me. Guernseys (or mine, anyway) are inherently cleaner than Jerseys (only other breed I've had to compare.) I know, go ahead and laugh, I didn't believe it at first, either.
When we first moved here (a long time ago) and I got my Guernsey, I would, once a week, go fluff the straw in the loafing area, changing it out fall and spring. Added a Jersey and went up after 3 days, thinking more cows, sooner fluffing. EEK! WTH?! No straw (eaten), manure everywhere, including in/on the minerals, salts, blocks. I had already noticed the Jersey's udder took LOT'S more cleaning, but had given her the benefit of the doubt, assuming it was cuz she was so much shorter. Fast forward a few years, sold the Jersey when I added 2 more Guernseys. Nice, clean loafing area again. A couple years later, I need more milk...as you know, you can't find a Guernsey on short notice. Along came Tipsy, another Jersey. Okay, she did not destroy their sleeping area as bad-- a few pats here and there--but she didn't paint the walls or foul the minerals.
BUT there was the tail! I was used to those fluffy white CLEAN switches. Ginger used to like to curl her switch on top of my hat whilst I milked, no big deal. If Tipsy had ever tried to get near me with her poop-covered, wet, bedraggled switch, I'dve screamed. Again with the filthy udder. But Tipsy was a sweet girl, and I kept her for many years, even though she tried my patience with her dirty habits and tendency for milk fever.
But now I'm back to all Guernseys, my loafing area stays clean, udders are clean(er) and I am happy. I'm sure not everyone has had this experience, and many girls live in conditions where they can't stay clean. Maybe it was just that my first girl liked it clean and the others learned from her. Idk. But that's my story, and I'm sticking to it--and with total honesty, too.
When we first moved here (a long time ago) and I got my Guernsey, I would, once a week, go fluff the straw in the loafing area, changing it out fall and spring. Added a Jersey and went up after 3 days, thinking more cows, sooner fluffing. EEK! WTH?! No straw (eaten), manure everywhere, including in/on the minerals, salts, blocks. I had already noticed the Jersey's udder took LOT'S more cleaning, but had given her the benefit of the doubt, assuming it was cuz she was so much shorter. Fast forward a few years, sold the Jersey when I added 2 more Guernseys. Nice, clean loafing area again. A couple years later, I need more milk...as you know, you can't find a Guernsey on short notice. Along came Tipsy, another Jersey. Okay, she did not destroy their sleeping area as bad-- a few pats here and there--but she didn't paint the walls or foul the minerals.
BUT there was the tail! I was used to those fluffy white CLEAN switches. Ginger used to like to curl her switch on top of my hat whilst I milked, no big deal. If Tipsy had ever tried to get near me with her poop-covered, wet, bedraggled switch, I'dve screamed. Again with the filthy udder. But Tipsy was a sweet girl, and I kept her for many years, even though she tried my patience with her dirty habits and tendency for milk fever.
But now I'm back to all Guernseys, my loafing area stays clean, udders are clean(er) and I am happy. I'm sure not everyone has had this experience, and many girls live in conditions where they can't stay clean. Maybe it was just that my first girl liked it clean and the others learned from her. Idk. But that's my story, and I'm sticking to it--and with total honesty, too.