I'm getting a Jersey Cow!!!! She's soo sweet!

[woodsie]

oh you guys are such enablers - I love it! Haha I'm sure the rest of the world would think I am crazy. We are going to go check her out on Wednesday and see if she checks out...I don't want to be wrestling a cow, or have her with a nasty kicking habit...but I think if she's as no-nonsense as the lady says she is, we'll go for it. Around here it is not hard to sell a milking cow so if it really is not working we can always resell her but I am really itching to give it a try.

She hasn't been rebred yet so if I did it within a month she would be dry around the time the baby would be due...sounds like it just might work out! Boredom certainly doesn't stand a chance around here!

Did I mention my dog's in heat too so we'll have Pyr puppies in a couple months too...I think we might have the cutest overload around here!

 

[woodsie]

Just talked with the lady selling her and she sounds perfect. She has accepted the bull calf beautifully and is totally in love with the calf, bawling when they are seperated...too cute. That was what I was most skeptical about, I wasn't sure how easily she'd just accept another calf, since her real calf was already weaned.

She has also been hand milking her once a day for the past 4 days and no kick, dancing, just stands there looks at you and chews her cud. Perfect!

She has also been leading her around on the halter and she is getting good at following you. A couple tugs is all it takes and she's getting better.

It sounds perfect and I am super excited....I think I can do this!

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

Sounds like a wonderful family cow! Can't wait to see pics and hear about all of the great things you make with the fresh milk!

 

[woodsie]

Well I went to check her out yesterday and she is a lovely cow. She is not show material but she is as peaceful a cow as you will ever find. I walked up to her, pet her and then bent down and started milking, right out of the blue...she took it all in stride, no twitch, kick, nothing. The milk was right there, easy let down and PERFECT handmilking teats! Perfect little milk handles! Bag's a little low, but she is 5 years old so she's not going to look like a first freshner (its okay, after breastfeeding 3 kids I can cut the girl some slack! lol!). We will not be pushing her like a dairy and plan to have a calf on her all the time so the major weight stretching factor should be under control.

She is VERY protective of her adopted calf, and I am a little nervous introducing her to our dogs. Any suggestions would be helpful...I was thinking of letting the dogs sniff and check out the calf first before unloading the cow so the dogs get their major sniffing done without the cow freaking out! Good idea or is there a better way?

I put a deposit on her and the lady said she would deliver for the price of gas + $100 which seems reasonable for 2 hr transportation and I think this will be the least stressful on everyone.

Oh this exciting! I can't wait to skip the entire dairy isle at the grocery store!!!

 

[Southern by choice]

Will she be going into the area where the dogs are or a seperate pasture?

IMO I would have the dogs on the opposite side of any fence she is in. Allow them to see you with her and understand she is now coming into the herd/flock. Bringing the dogs up to her too quickly will bring great stress to the cow and calf esp after transport... I'd wait and after a few days of seeing each other through the fence I would do a controlled ( dog on lead) one at a time intro.

Congrats!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Sounds like an incredible deal! Glad you got to see her in her home environment. She might take a little time to settle in at your place, but at least you know that her basic personality is wonderful!

Congrats!

 

[woodsie]

Will she be going into the area where the dogs are or a seperate pasture?

IMO I would have the dogs on the opposite side of any fence she is in. Allow them to see you with her and understand she is now coming into the herd/flock. Bringing the dogs up to her too quickly will bring great stress to the cow and calf esp after transport... I'd wait and after a few days of seeing each other through the fence I would do a controlled ( dog on lead) one at a time intro.

Congrats!

I was hoping you chime in with your advice.... I can easily close the gate to give them their own pasture, well they have to share with the ducks but I don't think that will be a problem. That way the dogs and cow can get a good look at each other and get used to the idea of eachother....that should work out perfectly! Thanks again for the valuable advice.

I am a little bit nervous but very excited....I sure hope this works out.

 

[Southern by choice]

Having cows one day is my dream!

I need more land... with pasture though... so that one stays on the prayer list.

Pics? anytime is good! LOL

 

[brentr]

She is VERY protective of her adopted calf, and I am a little nervous introducing her to our dogs. Any suggestions would be helpful...I was thinking of letting the dogs sniff and check out the calf first before unloading the cow so the dogs get their major sniffing done without the cow freaking out! Good idea or is there a better way?

If she's as attached to the calf as you say, you may have a cow freaking out in the trailer because she can't get to her calf - especially if she can see the calf/dogs.

 

[chicken pickin]

So how is everything going? Did you get the cow and her calf yet? I one day would love a cow but that is far in the future for us. For our dairy needs we decided goats fit on our property much better. But one day. I hope all is well with your cows your dog and yourself. Your gonna have tons of baby pics to share not too far off.