New Mini Jersey, have questions

[lovinglife]

We just bought a 75% mini Jersey calf, the other 25% is an odd mix of mostly other mini breeds. We intend to raise her up, halter train, all that good stuff now while she is young. My questions are, what tests, vaccines etc will we need to do (if any) as she will be our family milk cow in a year or so, well probably closer to two years. She is 4-5 months old at this time. We are not new to dairy, we currently have dairy goats, I was raised on a cow dairy farm but that was YEARS ago and I have no idea what health tests etc were required. I am so excited for this little heifer, though she may end up more in the mid range. If anyone has mini jersey milk cows I would love to chat.
Thanks!

 

[greybeard]

1st of all, tho she is a bit young yet, you need to have her checked by vet for any breeding/reproductive issues. No breeding, no milk.
(before purchasing, you did confirm from buyer that she was not a twin to a bull calf...right?)

 

[lovinglife]

She is not a twin, like I said not a complete nube . She had to have health papers for transport, what else should I check for? She comes from a good farm with a good reputation if that matters. Will she need any shots? What kind of tests do I need? I'm just too darn excited at the moment.

 

[cjc]

She is not a twin, like I said not a complete nube . She had to have health papers for transport, what else should I check for? She comes from a good farm with a good reputation if that matters. Will she need any shots? What kind of tests do I need? I'm just too darn excited at the moment.

Congrats! Jersey's are the sweetest. We have a couple and just love them.

When I start out any cow I give them an 8 way vaccine and also give them tetanus. I always make sure those shots are up to date but I live in BC, Canada. Best thing to do is call your local vet and ask what they suggest. The 8 way vaccine covers everything for our area but you may need others where you are.

Once she is bred and calved you can test her for TB. We actually don't test ours but we also don't consume the milk it goes into my bottle calves. I did recently sell a jersey cow to a hobby farmer who tried to test for TB and buy the vaccine and the local vet in our area said its not done anymore. I had to get a shot brought in for her. But other than general maintenance on your calf there isn't much to do until the first calf is born and she is producing milk.

Also, myself, I wouldn't test her for any reproduction issues at this point but that is just me. I would just put her in with a bull when she was 16 months or AI her when she starts cycling. We have a small farm tho. I've never had a heifer not get pregnant easily only my old cows. I would just take the risk and raise her up.

 

[lovinglife]

Thank you, that is the plan. I probably wont test for TB either, unless the vet suggests it. Well now to just be patient and wait for 2 years.

 

[cjc]

Thank you, that is the plan. I probably wont test for TB either, unless the vet suggests it. Well now to just be patient and wait for 2 years.

You'll keep busy halter training her and such. The easiest way I found to halter train my jerseys is to just tie them up each morning for grain. I would halter them, feed them grain, then walk them around for a minute or two after. They learned quick when they knew that the halter meant grain. It also made it super easy to load them in a trailer. They just see the halter and they are ready to follow.

 

[lovinglife]

YES! This is why I wanted a calf. I want to get her drop dead tame and happy with me messing with her. I can handle a half crazy goat on the milking stand, but not a cow. She lets me pet her when I grain her so next step is getting the halter on.

 

[cjc]

YES! This is why I wanted a calf. I want to get her drop dead tame and happy with me messing with her. I can handle a half crazy goat on the milking stand, but not a cow. She lets me pet her when I grain her so next step is getting the halter on.

First you'll teach her how to be on the halter then once she calves you'll teach her how not to kick you in the face

 

[Donna R. Raybon]

She is not a twin, like I said not a complete nube . She had to have health papers for transport, what else should I check for? She comes from a good farm with a good reputation if that matters. Will she need any shots? What kind of tests do I need? I'm just too darn excited at the moment.

Where are you located? Coccidia tx is recommended. I start my bottle calves on calf starter/grower which has decks in it. They have access to water and I give fresh feed daily. Usually calf is consuming 2# a day at 45 to 60 days old and are weaned off milk a week or so later. These at full Jersey calves. I vaccinate for pinkeye and blackleg. Calves dewormed at 90 days and again about 7 months old. Fly tx is a synergized mineral oil base pyrethrin that I use on my goats, too.

While calf is still on bottle I will tx with Corid according to label as if calf has clinical case. I do that at about 30 days old as calf may not yet be eating enough feed to be protected.

Tennessee is certified TB and Brucellosis free statewide, so you don't have to test. Heifers can be vaccinated between 4 and 10 months of age for brucellosis (Bangs.) Check with your state vet to see what they recommend. If where she came from is negative for Johnes, then she is ok.

 

[lovinglife]

Thank you! She is eating calf starter, I always treat my goats when kids for cocci but haven't for my cows, better start. I just checked and where she came from is TB and Brucellosis free state, as is my state. Thanks for the advice for worming, I was wondering about that.