Thinking of buying a calf, any advice.

[Farmer Kitty]

You also have to decide how much milk you want. Holsteins are generally bigger milkers than jerseys. I'm not sure on the Guernesy.

Twin heifers are not that big of deal as long as you watch the body build(see link above for some info). It's twin heifer/bull that are more worrisome. As Imissmygirls said, I doubt he would have kept a heifer/bull twin this long if he didn't want it. There is a way to tell free martins. I'll see if I can find that thread so I don't have to try to discribe it.

Where are you at?

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Here is the quote on how to tell them.

Whichever object that is chosen, you would insert it into the suspect heifer/cow's female orifice. In a freemartin, it will only go about 3-6 inches, and then you would hit a "dead end". In a normal animal, you should be able to go at least twice that distance. A freemartin has no uterus or ovaries, thus, the reproductive tract ends at the urethra. I have found many of these cattle in my business of AI.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Make sure the pics are from side and back. If you look at the link showing different traits to look for you can see how different angles show different things.

 

[shortcake1806]

Thanks both of you, I'm in VA. I thought the probing had to be done before they're 1 month old. Here's a pic of the 7 month old.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

She doesn't look to bad, maybe a little downhill to the front but, that could be angle too. Make sure to double check her front end strength.

I see over at BYChickens your wanting price ideas. Here's what the holsteins brought last week here. They didn't have any jersey's or crossbreds listed.
Open Holstein Heifers
Dehorned and Vaccinated Heifers 550-750# 600-850 per head
Dehorned and Vaccinated Heifers 750-950# 650-1000 per head
Dehorned and Vaccinated Heifers 350-550# 350-700 per head

 

[shortcake1806]

Yeah I posted there first then I thought heck they have a whole forum dedicated to cows, I'll go post there. lol

I'm terrible with weights how much would you say this cow weighs?

 

[jhm47]

650 lbs. And---you can do the pencil test or test tube test at any time. You just have to figure that the bigger the cow, the farther the pencil/test tube will go in. The heifer in question is large enough to be palpated rectally to see if she has normal development. Another sign of a freemartin is a very small vulva compared to a normal heifer.

 

[jhm47]

I forgot. Get those horns off before she hurts someone. DO IT!

 

[Imissmygirls]

SHe looks older than 7 months to me, but I am used to pure Jersey. I don't know how much the Guernsey would affect her structure. She looks from that pic to pass for pure Jersey. Tailhead is a bit high, but hey, i'm being fussy She looks fine for an average heifer.
Do the Holstein's have registration papers? The Jersey doesn't of course. That adds $$ to the price so I am assuming they do not.
This heifer will be smaller than a Holstein, if that matters to you. Also it will mature around 1000 lbs, not 13-1400.
You don't see too many Holsteins as family cows. People want the higher butterfat from the Jerseys.
I didn't even notice her horns! Yes they need to come off. You should have a vet do that at this age unless you are VERY comfortable doing it.

Just found this.. Heifer Growth chart.
http://www.das.psu.edu/dairy/nutrition/pdf/ud006.pdf

 

[Farmer Kitty]

We also have one here.