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    Newbie with a question :-)

    Well teapot, you said the magic words: seven kids. Yes you can do this.Treat them JUST like your babies and you will do fine. I recall my mother telling me to treat my newborn like I treated my baby calves-- and she was right! The first 6 months will be most expensive because you need to feed...
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    breeding jersey heifer

    I once sold an 18 month old beautiful Jersey cos I couldn't get her bred. Assuming she is normal size I don't think I would chance more than butcher price for her, if I were buying her. I would offer butcher price and find a pasture with a bull in it for her, since natural interaction often...
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    I know nothing about cows!....Should that stop me from getting one? :(

    Each breed of cow has a distinct general personality. You know how different dog breeds have basic personality traits? Cows are the same way. Most heifers can be tamed down with love and firmness. My daughters regularly would tame down yearlings for show, but it's not easy! They need lots of...
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    Newbie with a question :-)

    I have also heard that Jersey/beef crosses are some of the tastiest beef available. We just never had the spare Jersey cow to breed angus for eating! Definitely watch newborn jersey calves as if they were human infants. Make sure they had colostrum and feed 1 quart milk 3-4 times a day spaced...
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    Newbie with a question :-)

    If a dairy is giving away free bulls, are they Jerseys? ( Jerseys are the pretty brown ones that look like baby deer.) IF they are Jerseys, there are a few things you should know. Newborn Jerseys are the easiest breed to die if things go wrong. There isn't much reserve in their cute little...
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    What breed Am I ?

    Holstein Jersey cross.
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    question on how to tame and feed a baby bison calf

    Is there any way you can put a bucket of milk in the pen that she won't butt it over? You may have more luck with her drinking it like she would water while you are not around. She doesn't NEED to have a bottle if you can get the milk nutrition into her. I would also have calf starter available...
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    question on how to tame and feed a baby bison calf

    Lots of company from you, touch her as much as possible like mama would groom her with her tongue. Keep her in a confined place ( small pen) til she is used to you. Don't expect her to eat the first feeding, but try. Get milk replacer that is as close to real milk as possible: high quality- no...
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    twin calves

    Twins may take a little longer to get bouncy because they often are a week or so early. Mama should adjust milk flow to accommodate twins, especially an older cow.
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    We are getting a milk cow!!!

    Be careful what you ask for. You will have so much cream you won't know what to do with it! My kids preferred Holstein milk so I had to skim our Jersey milk. I swear she was running 10-15 % test! My theory is that the less quantity milk she makes in proportion to her genetic capacity, the higher...
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    Need information on mini jerseys or jerseys

    If I were in the market for a jersey family cow and in contact with 4H people, I'd put the word out for a cow who has lost a quarter or similar defect. You'd get a tame gal who has good breeding and people may give you a decent price to get her a good home. We had to sell a couple of nice show...
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    Need information on mini jerseys or jerseys

    IMO, mini's are overpriced if you have the area for a normal size Jersey. There can be some smaller jersey's available for purchase, not necessarily minis. If you know MS, you can deal with jerseys. Just know that they are *different*. They have attitude. Some good , some bad. Choose your...
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    Is this a good price?

    I would suggest allowing the technician to choose the semen within a given price range. S/He can evaluate your heifer's poor points and match them with a bull's strong points. There is an art and a science to that and most good technicians are good at it. They see a lot of cows and a lot of...
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    Is this a good price?

    Last time I heard it ranged from $8 to $100+ depending upon the sire used.
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    Is this a good price?

    Well, if we had one breed at 9 months... there's your answer! I'd start serious observations at 9 months or so and hope to get a cycle of 18-21 days so you can be sure of observations to breed at standing heat at 12 months. If you miss at 12 months, you still have plenty of time to catch her...
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    Is this a good price?

    Jhm, If she were Holstein or other breed, I'd totally agree. In my experience raising jersey heifers, if they aren't bred BEFORE 15 months you have one heck of a time getting them to settle. I would chart cycles starting from the first heat and breed at 12 months to a jersey bull. If the heifer...
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    Is this a good price?

    In this area, even a crossbred heifer is bringing $$. Dairy farmers who would not have been caught dead with a crossbred before, have a few now for various reasons. I could see a farmer breeding small first calf heifers to jersey and then not want to keep the calves. You never know. However, i...
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    PLEASE HELP!!!! yearling bloatted, diarrhea, runny nose

    Sorry you lost her. Bloat is the cause of losing a lot of animals. Again, I don't' think bloat was the main case here. Was there any yew or wilted cherry leaves in those clippings?
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    PLEASE HELP!!!! yearling bloatted, diarrhea, runny nose

    I do hope that lawn wasn't treated with any chemicals. Bloat is very serious. If both of them are affected, I would call the vet. You can lose an animal easily over bloat. Also, If she is passing feces, she shouldn't be bloated. Passing something means the intestines and stomachs are working...
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    New calves...

    The difference in feeding beef calves and jerseys is like night and day. I've never been able to overfeed a beef calf. They just inhale. Jerseys you need to feed JUST until the sides look slightly full. On small ones, that can be only a quart the first few feedings. Yours are very young. They...
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