Alright dairy cow people!

[neener92]

As most of you know I've gone mad cow crazy, getting one milk cow not too long ago and now wanting another! I found a farm that has a purebred guernsey heifer that will be two years old this spring, she is AId to a guernsey bull. They said they would consider trades so I asked if they wanted my red bull calf and offered three lambs, they like the calf and were interested in the lambs as well, this would make it an even trade as they were asking $1300 and the bull calf is worth about $700 and the lambs about $200 each. They sent pictures and I am wondering if the heifers back is a little odd looking, I'm kinda upset that her back looks weird I was soo excited about this heifer, they were even going to deliver her from about three hours away. What do you guys think? I mean I'm not going for registered amazing looking show cows I just want nice healthy looking stock.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

Thank God I have an iPad to be able to look at those pics lol. She looks not too bad.

 

[kstaven]

What may be throwing you on this one is that she has a highly defined dairy frame. Would love to see a pic from the back.

 

[Cricket]

The second picture kinda throws you, but that's an awkward age for heifers. Do you think it's just an odd angle? She looks good in the first one. I take it you will go look at her before buying? I don't know much about conformation, but my biggie is udder attachment--hate a beautiful, productive cow with a sloppy bag. It'd be nice if you could see her mom, too.

 

[neener92]

They are getting pics of her back end.

I was thinking the angle was weird too. We actually weren't going to go look at her since it would be a three hour drive with a trailer and we are pretty busy this time of year.

 

[neener92]

Here is a few more pics, one of her cute face and the other of her udder.

Here is another option. Four month old registered jersey heifer. She isn't halter trained but neither is the guernsey. They said she is extremely sweet. Her price is $700 plus $120 for delivery, after she turns 6 months her price will go up to $1000. She is a very gorgeous girl!

So that is a $1300 guernsey (they are pretty hard to find around here) that is pregnant, we would be trading two ram lambs a a wether and a bull calf for her....or a 4 month old registered jersey heifer for $820 total (they are going for that much around here if not more). I like them both not much for the guernseys back, but other than that. I don't really know which breed I like better, I have never been around a guernsey.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Would be nice to see a picture from the back end.

I like them both. How much milk do you want and what do you want it for? I believe the Guernsey will provide more milk volume than the Jersey, but the Jersey's will be higher butter fat.

 

[Cricket]

The Guernsey's we have where I work tend to be a little aloof and on the skittish side, but they weren't raised on the farm. I really think it would be worth the time to take the day and look her over first, but guess if it didn't work out you could turn around and sell her.

Moneywise, seems as tho' the bred heifer would be a better deal. With the Jersey, you'd have to wait 2 years for her to freshen and at that price you may as well get a week old heifer and wait another couple of months. Plus, didn't you say you wanted another cow NOW? If you're using the milk to raise calves, you might be better off with a cow that doesn't have such a high butterfat. Wish you were closer--the farm I work at is going out of business in April or May and we aren't keeping any calves at all and we get next to nothing for putting them on the beef truck. I think they're only thinking last summer's heifers will probably only sell for maybe a couple hundred dollars next year. It's pretty depressing.

 

[neener92]

They said she like to be pet and such. I can't drive up there anytime soon, we are busy and my dad would have to go with me and he doesn't have any time for that.

 

[kstaven]

Personally I would go with the guernsey.