New Jersey Milk heifer and calf!

[Cricket]

Are you sure the calf is part beef cow? Black Jersey's can throw calves that look a lot like that color-wise. They have that light shade on the outside, but if you ruffle their fur it is black underneath. He's got a short face like a beef, but some Jerseys have that, too. It will be fun to see what happens.

I can deal with the kicking because of flies or sore tits or a bag that's about to burst, but there's some miserable witches that will glance behind them and aim for your head and I HATE them! Glad you don't seem to have one of those!

Best of luck!

 

[neener92]

Haha! Mick, tell me how that goes for ya!

Cricket, we are think he is, but obviously we don't know what his daddy is for sure. It will be interesting to see what he grows to be! I sure do hope the poor thing gets a little smarter though! I've heard dairy calves are kinda.....duh.. compared to beef calves is this true?

I'm thinking that's what she was kicking about. I hope anyway! If it wasn't the flies and she just wanted me to stop what should I do to correct her? She seems very sweet though!

 

[Bossroo]

Nah...we'd get a bull beef cow

So, one creates a GMO animal having both bull and cow parts ( penis, testicles, uterus and udder ) ???

 

[neener92]

Yep, just what I suspected, she's starting to be kinda bratty. She's fine til her feed is gone, by that time I only have about a mason jar of milk...if that. I've tried tying her to a post (she isn't halter broke) but that just makes her more annoyed. I'm hoping we can get a milker soon, hopefully that will be a little faster for her. Anyone have advice?

 

[mickey328]

Nah...we'd get a bull beef cow

So, one creates a GMO animal having both bull and cow parts ( penis, testicles, uterus and udder ) ???

Bwahahaha...Frankenbullcow...you only need one!

 

[neener92]

Cherry and I are getting along much better now! My dad made a vacuum pump to milk her with which she loves more then hand milking. He made the pump so I can sit there and pump it to make it pulsate.

I'm trying to figure out if I should band the calf or leave him a bull (I've heard Jersey bulls are one of the most aggressive). But, I have some time to think, I don't want to band him til before or after weaning to let him grow better.

Also, would it be a bad idea to breed Cherry to a Brown Swiss bull? We have a Brown Swiss breeder near us (he doesn't raise them for milk, just for meat) and also someone with a Jersey bull. I'd rather breed her to a Brown Swiss (I love the breed) but if that bull would be too big for her I could settle with the Jersey.

 

[Cricket]

You SO don't want to breed a Jersey heifer to a Brown Swiss! Their calves are way too big. To be honest, the Jersey/BS combo is my least favorite, and I usually like crossbreeds best. If you get a heifer with a Jersey mind set (or kick) on a BS body, it can be just plain scary. But some of them are beautiful. (Where I work one of the owners likes BS and we run Jersey bulls).

I don't know how much better bulls grow if they are banded later in life, but when you castrate them as soon as their testicles are down, it doesn't seem to phase them for more than half a day.

 

[neener92]

I was thinking their calves would be to large for her but I wasn't sure. Well, darn!

I've noticed our beef calves grow a whole lot better as bulls as opposed to the ones banded. I also don't like the thought of banding and not giving a decent looking bull calf a chance to be used as breeding stock. Now if he looks like crap and would be cut later on I'd rather save him some pain and suffering and band him knowing I'm not doing it nonchalantly.

 

[Cricket]

You're probably right on the banding--I'm a wimp! I think what you need to do is try raising a Brown Swiss bull calf, just so you KNOW if you like them for sure.. I saw some BS oxen at the fair this year--they're a really impressive size and seemed to have a kind eye.

 

[neener92]

I'd love to raise one, but I've noticed bottle raised bulls and rams are HATEFUL, and that's the only way I think I could do it. I don't know anything about their temperament or anything...I just know they are GORGEOUS!!!! We had some go through out towns parade a few falls ago.