Post by learninglots on Nov 6, 2012 20:31:32 GMT -5
We have called lots of people about lots of cows and I finally liked the answers on this one enough to just go look. They are asking $1200 for the cow and her heifer calf. She is a 5-6 year old Jersey, retired from a dairy this June, bought by a family, she just freshened a month ago with a heifer calf. Calf is nursing well and family milks mom 2 times a day getting 3 gallons total for the day. We have had milk goats for a few years and so I went there to see the Jersey and touch her etc.
Compared to my goats, she seems to be in good flesh but not fat (rib area felt like the backs of my fingers-can feel ribs but not like knuckles that have no meat over them), she had large milk veins running down her belly, she wasn't overly dirty, but not immaculately clean, not limping or standing funny, not too tall, good barrel shape like a 55 gal drum, no lumps or bumps on her body or legs, udder was soft and pliable, each teat worked and milk appeared the same color and texture from each quarter, two front teats were as long as my pointer finger, back as long as my thumb but all good large orifaces and good flow. She stood like a statue without being tied, just eating hay in a stall for me to try milking her. She was machine milked in the dairy, a little skittish, but now appears easy to lead and friendly. I think she is real nice. My only after-thought now that I think I want her for sure is-are there any tests that I absolutely should do. With our goats we bought them from clean herds, but had one come down with something contagious and she left the farm in an hour after I got the results. I need all of your experienced advice before I do something and (hopefully not) regret it for years to come. I wouldnt want to infect my goats, pigs, horse, chickens, or most importantly our family of the 10 of us.
Like I said, we have never had a family cow before, but I think she would be the one. They do not vaccinate their animals, rotational grazing, kelp/salt, grass hay primarily. They are selling a bunch of animals-horses, goats, cow as they "don't have the money for hay for all of them for the winter."
I had considered asking if we could have her tested for (fill in the blanks) before buying, or buying with the condition that I will have her tested and if she comes up positive she goes back.
I appreciate ALL the help I have already learned from this site. Please help me know if this is a good choice.
Krista in Minnesota
Husband and 7 children with one on the way
Compared to my goats, she seems to be in good flesh but not fat (rib area felt like the backs of my fingers-can feel ribs but not like knuckles that have no meat over them), she had large milk veins running down her belly, she wasn't overly dirty, but not immaculately clean, not limping or standing funny, not too tall, good barrel shape like a 55 gal drum, no lumps or bumps on her body or legs, udder was soft and pliable, each teat worked and milk appeared the same color and texture from each quarter, two front teats were as long as my pointer finger, back as long as my thumb but all good large orifaces and good flow. She stood like a statue without being tied, just eating hay in a stall for me to try milking her. She was machine milked in the dairy, a little skittish, but now appears easy to lead and friendly. I think she is real nice. My only after-thought now that I think I want her for sure is-are there any tests that I absolutely should do. With our goats we bought them from clean herds, but had one come down with something contagious and she left the farm in an hour after I got the results. I need all of your experienced advice before I do something and (hopefully not) regret it for years to come. I wouldnt want to infect my goats, pigs, horse, chickens, or most importantly our family of the 10 of us.
Like I said, we have never had a family cow before, but I think she would be the one. They do not vaccinate their animals, rotational grazing, kelp/salt, grass hay primarily. They are selling a bunch of animals-horses, goats, cow as they "don't have the money for hay for all of them for the winter."
I had considered asking if we could have her tested for (fill in the blanks) before buying, or buying with the condition that I will have her tested and if she comes up positive she goes back.
I appreciate ALL the help I have already learned from this site. Please help me know if this is a good choice.
Krista in Minnesota
Husband and 7 children with one on the way