A-1 YIPPEE! Maybe a cow for me! . . . Help!

[Deleted]

I'm so excited and maybe scared to pieces too! We got a call this morning out of the blue from an Amish family that my husband Howie had talked to several months ago. My dear sweetie (who decided, I guess, that as Mitra would say "resistance is futile" when it comes to both chickens and cows) was wandering around in a town about 30 miles from us where our local vet had told us there were some Amish with Jerseys. He went in an Amish sawmill and bravely annouced that he was looking for a for a family cow and even admitted that we are complete beginners at this! He was introduced to an older gentleman who told him that come summer he might have something for us.

A few days later the 42 chicks arrived and I put my bookmark in the Keeping a Family Cow book at a little less than halfway and opened the chicken books and it's been nothing but chickens ever since (combined with trying to wind up our homeschool year, mowing and garden work, and a few minor disasters along the way!!) We just got the chicklets into the big house, even though it still needs a few days work to really be finished. We didn't know if we'd hear from the Amish man or not - and thought that at least we had some time to prepare.

His son called this morning and if Howie got the details straight (the Amish man had quite an accent) they have a 2 or 3 year old Jersey, first time freshened and they are asking $750. He asked if we'd be hand milking and said that she should be a good one for that. Howie asked if she'd been bred back and the son wasn't sure, but assumed that his Dad would have done that before offering her for sale.

So Howie is going to the Amish place at milking time tonight - just a couple of hours away now!! (I was dying to write to you all this morning, but had to take my kids on the long journey to the orthodontist and we just got back.) My mind is just reeling with the thought of all this! I'm one who likes to be well prepared and boy - we sure aren't! Yet I really want this cow to be ours - oops - I haven't even seen her yet - have I!!

Sorry - I am rambling on. Okay, I guess my question for now is what does Howie need to find out or look for tonight. I'm assuming he may get to watch her being milked. Do you ask if you can have a vet come in and test the cow? When we talked to the local vet before he didn't think he would worry much about TB or brucellosis, buy would want it tested for Jhonne's (sp?) disease. But I don't think Howie made it clear to the vet that we were going to drink the milk raw. I wouldn't want to take any chances on milk the kids will be drinking. How much do all these tests cost? What do you look for as far as the appearance of the cow?

He is going to call me right before he goes to see the cow so ANY advice you have for us would be very appreciated! We still feel fairly close to clueless and now we may need to learn quickly!! How I wish I could be at one of your houses and follow you around for just a day. I guess I must be a visual learner - I'd feel confident if I could just SEE how it all is done. I don't even have a milk bucket yet!

Thanks!
Shari in MO

[Claire]

The best way to learn is to work with the cow and ask lots of questions, both to the Amish farmer and here.
Find out what she is being fed, how much she is milking, and if she is bred back yet. Have your DH watch their milking routine carefully so it can be replicated as much as possible when you bring her home.

A happy cow needs a good barn, a dry bed, all the water, hay, minerals, and pasture she wants, regular milking, and lots of love.

She'll be pretty nervous when she comes to a new place, so make her first weeks calm and quiet, no screaming children or dogs. Especially milking time needs to be relaxed and peaceful.

You can read all the books in the world, but will still feel very overwhelmed and ignorant for the first few weeks, heck, I still feel pig-ignorant many days after 3 years of having a cow! Take your time and we are all very happy to help you out here.

[Deleted]

If you can "pay rent" to leave her at he sellers until your place is ready it would be much easier on you. Maybe the gift of her milk will be enough.

I left Jasmine at the sellers until she was clean and I had everything ready for her. In my case that was about a week but I can imagine it might take longer.

Every cow is unique and so is every milking. Maybe you will have a cow that is bad one day and good another.

This morning I ended up with an upside down bucket of warm milk in my lap. It was warm and drenched me. Carmella's filthy foot had been in the bucket of milk and fliped it out onto my lap. Joy Joy Joy.

I still like hand milking.

[Joann]

Your vet is right. TB and brucellosis are not an issue. She will be clear of those diseases. Johnne's is what you want to test for.

How are your fences? Most dairies do not teach their cows to lead. You will need to manage your cow with fences and gates, bribes and tact, at first. If you have a large acreage, arrange to confine her in a limited area at first until she becomes accustomed to her new home.

Cows are herd animals and feel frightened when alone with no other cows. As Claire mentions, keep dogs well away and tell the kids to be very quiet so your cow is not frightened. A cow in a new place has been known to run away.

Good luck with your wonderful new adventure. Cows are so fine.

[MooMad]

Great news Shari ;D
It's time to get Joann's book dusted off

I can't advise on what tests you need done in the States as we really only have TB to worry about in our country and our herds are tested annually.

I have quite a bit of experience at choosing cows now and do intend to put together a document about it one day in the not too distant future.

If the cow is happy and healthy looking and the seller can give an honest account of the cows health record, the next most important thing to look at is her udder. There's quite a bit to checking this out but the first thing you see is the shape of it. If it's an ugly pendulous droopy looking peice of equipment with teats sticking out at odd angles give this cow a miss.

If it's well attached, ie blends in nice and gradually with her belly it's a good one. Big ropey looking milk 'veins' are an asset. Teats should shouldn't have any sores on them and should hang down nicely. The four of them should be well set, line up nicely with the ones in front or back of it. For hand milking, larger teats are a bonus. The udder shouldn't have any hard lumps or heat in it. The heat thing can be difficult for someone new to cows to pick.

It's important to check out her manure too. Most cows will oblige with this one LOL If it smells putrid she has a digestive problem and needs treatment ASAP. Most cows will have quite runny poo at some stage but this is more often due to what they're being fed.
Good luck, don't forget to post a pic of her

[DanMa]

When my bull Jake arrived, the elderly cow hand who delivered him here strongly recommended I block the windows in the barn from sunlight and keep Jake in there for two weeks until he has time to adjust saying that he may indeed try to go through the window to re-join his herd--and his mom. Jake definitely had some separation anxiety and by two weeks was quite settled down. I tethered my cows on a 20 foot long chain for quite a while with no problem, brought them out in the morning, in in the evening and sometimes moved them during the day if the area they were in was not quite so lush with growth as to last all day. I made sure their water was within reach and that they could not get tangled up. This may be an option for you while you're working on fencing.

[Deleted]

Thanks for all your suggestions! It gives me confidence knowing I can come here with my questions - which I'm sure will be many - hope I don't wear out my welcome!

Abraham, the Amish man, let my husband milk the cow - showed him how to do it!! I'm happy about this - but a little jealous! Howie came home and got out of the truck shaking his head, but grinning from ear to ear. I thought to myself "He's hooked! He's on board for life with this cow thing"!

She is about 2 and a half and has been bred back to a Jersey, due to calve on December 16 (a few days after my birthday!) She is not a big milker - is giving about 3 gallons a day - and Abraham told Howie that is the reason they chose to sell her, but also said that she is not hard to milk. He can milk her in about 7 minutes - it took Howie about 30! (Abraham and his daughter milk about 8 cows and sell their milk to a cheese maker.) We are only a family of 4, so 3 gals. a day would probably be plenty to keep me busy.

She is on pasture and is fed ground ear corn and oats at milking time. Unfortunately she is not trained to be halter led, but at least she seemed gentle and relaxed. The only thing Howie noticed that might be a negative was that one of her back hooves had a crack on one side and was growing out a little funny. Looked like it needed trimmed on the one side. Abraham said that she had stepped on something awhile back, the vet had looked at it and said that was why the hoof was growing that way. I don't know if that is a big deal, or if after several trimmings then the hoof would look normal. Howie will have to look and make sure she is walking okay on it.

How does all this sound to you? Does $750 seem a fair price? Howie's invited back to milk for the next couple of nights, so we'll have more chances to ask questions. I'm sure hoping I can go the last night, too!!

We don't have a barn yet. Will a three-sided steel run in shed be sufficient to get us through the summer if we pour a little concrete along one side for the milking area?

Thanks everyone!
Shari in MO

[Claire]

She sounds like a wonderful deal, especially since they are giving milking lessons!

A shed will be fine, she justs needs somewhere to get out of the heat and the rain. I wouldn't even bother with concrete in the shed, its not at all necessary. The floor justs needs to be clean and dry, my entire barn is compacted gravel. Will you put up a stanchion or is she just tied for milking?

[Deleted]

Thanks Claire - it is good news that gravel will work well. That will be much easier to accomplish. We will put up a wooden stanchion like the one they are using with her now.

Shari in NE Missouri

[sherry]

Shari,
I am so happy for you . She sounds a lot like my Camelia. I get about 3 gal. a day also and we are a family of four. That is PLENTY of milk for drinking, selling, and making butter and cheese. You're going to have so much fun!