Thinking of buying a calf, any advice.

[shortcake1806]

I'm considering buying a heifer calf that's 7 months old. She's a jersey x gurnsey cross. Is this a good cross? I'm wanting to milk and possibly use her as a foster mom.

They're asking $450 for her is that reasonable?

I appreciate any advice you all may have.

 

[Imissmygirls]

I don't know where you are or how she looks but the price sounds decent for an unregistered crossbred animal of that age. I'd like to see a pic. How much do you know about her?

 

[Imissmygirls]

CAn you see her mother?

 

[shortcake1806]

Very little at this point. I posted an want add on craigslist and the owner responded. I'm waiting on pics now.

He says the mother is on premises and pours the milk.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I would want to see the mother at milking time, that will give you an idea on how much she gives, how easily/hard she milks. Sometimes a hard milker is heriditary. Look them both over good. You want an animal that hips are slightly higher than pins, ideally. Being off a little isn't bad but a big difference will cause problems. In a cow the ribs should be open. Take your fingers and put them between the last two ribs and you should be able to get 2-3 fingers in there. Make sure the legs are nice and straight. There is a thread here with pics showing this info, I will see if I can find it again.

The breed cross is okay, they are both dairy breeds so that's not going to be an issue.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

The thread is here.

 

[shortcake1806]

Thanks so much for the advice and links. I did email him and ask if the calf was a twin. The mother is there so I'll get to look at her when I go see the calf.

 

[shortcake1806]

Ok one more question. I had another guy email me about two 5 month old holstein heifers. He's asking 325 each. So all things being equal other than age and price which would you guys buy?

 

[Imissmygirls]

I can't imagine he would keep a twin heifer of a heifer/bull for 7 months. A heifer/heifer twin wouldn't make any difference. By the time the animal is grown you can't tell a difference in size from singles if they are grown properly.
Oldest DD bought a twin Jersey calf a week old. 4 years later it took her to the Louisville International Expo with 4H. Wonderfully large cow with great spring of rib and a gem to work with. I remember it took her over an hour of studying which calf out of 4 she wanted to buy.

 

[Imissmygirls]

SHortcake, it depends on what you want. Both prices are reasonable, so you have to decide what breed you want and how each one looks.
You have some serious thinking to do!