When you don't have CALPC, so the universe gives you a shove
Jun 23, 2016 2:12:59 GMT -5
3cows, susaq, and 1 more like this
Post by dunderi on Jun 23, 2016 2:12:59 GMT -5
Today I'm innocently online, TRYING to do my taxes. (let me wax lyrical about the art of procrestination?)
and in the course of my legitamate efforts to do my bookwork, I wasn't even on KFC (ok, maybe a little) but I get this email;
Hi Morgan, I have heard via XXXXXXX & XXXXXX XXXXXXXX that you may be looking for a cow or two to milk for your cheese making venture. I have a Jersey cow and her heifer calf (6 months old) they are Sykes jerseys. Because of health I am having to downsize, thus finding a home for Daisy and Summer is a necessity. The price for them would be very reasonable. hope to hear from you, cheers XXXXXXXXX
SO.
firstly, I have zero idea who the first XXXXXX & XXXXXX are. folks who apparently know I'm not just a girl with cows, but as of recent times, a girl on a mission to be able to legitamately sell actual cheeses to people and make the freeloading slackers *cough* I mean cows, pay for some of their feed
(you see, I'm in talks with the council, and Tas dairy, about being able to sell artisanal cheeses, and make it a bit touristy, maybe even buy the house next door for a bed & breakfast... anyone wanna invest in a commercial venture? there's wine involved too )
Sykes, are a local family (like, first fleet, colonised the area type family) who have good jerseys. and ayrshires, but mostly good jerseys. petite little milk factories with no horns and huge udders that fairly scream "butter!!"
so the lady who's contacted me, I replied with the following;
Hi XXXXXXXX,
My farm is Glencoe (on Branxholm) and while I'm not specifically loooking for another milker, I'm certainly always interested!
I have two guernseys and one Holstein currently in milk, the Holstein is due to return to her dairy herd come the spring calving in a few weeks (she's been agisted here for the winter as she didn't breed, and they didn't want to cull the lovely old girl, she's 12!) I have a range of other cattle, both beef and dairy.
I milk by hand as well as having a bucket machine milker, so I'm open to both styles. I have around 40 acres of pasture, and I supplement with grain where needed. Feel free to ask me anything.
I'm more of a guernsey person, I've milked plenty of jerseys in the past. I have a cream separator due to arrive, and I could use a butter making cow as I generally prefer the guernsey for cheese making and drinking. jerseys are wonderful cream cows :-) as I'm sure you know.
Sykes do have good jersey lines, is your girl a registered jersey, or unreg?
How old is the cow and how many lactations?
Hand milked, or machine milked, or both?
Restrained for milking? ie headcatch, rope & collar, leg rope?
What is her current production and is she once or twice per day?
Does she have all four quarters milking, and does she have any mastitis history?
Is she bred, or open?
Please let me know if there's anything else to add.
Cheers, Morgan
So I figure I'm not really looking for a jersey (I've got plans to hitch another Guernsey or possibly two, to my wagon if the whole cheese thing goes ahead) but like stated, I could use a jersey for butter, or at worst, feeding calves, or pigs, or what have you.
have I missed any questions? being a Sykes jersey she's likely poll or dehorned, not that it worries me. I can't think of anything else really. maybe location - I'm thinking since she's from a local breeder she's likely a local cow.
back to my taxes.....