cows

[Duffster]

I just wondered, and that sounds like good reasons. And while it's been quite a few years, in my experience the Jerseys are also gentler, easier to manage, and even become pets.

That can be any breed. We had Holstein and Brown Swiss and some of the swiss could be real characters.

 

[Bird]

That can be any breed. We had Holstein and Brown Swiss and some of the swiss could be real characters.

Yep, the animals have individual personalities, just as humans do. I've had no personal experience handling Holstein cattle. My granddad had Guernseys and Dad's best friend from the time they were kids worked Guernsey dairies all his life.

I have no idea how many Brown Swiss there are, but the only ones I've seen were at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas. I sure like the looks of them.

My Dad bought a good Jersey milk cow when I was 5 years old. She was named Popeye and was so gentle that I could put a rope on her and lead her around, but she wanted to fight my mother. Dad had to spend one night a week in the Kincaid Hotel in Oklahoma City, so Mother had to milk that cow one night and the next morning. She'd send me to the barn to put some feed in the trough, then I'd stand by the cow's head, pet her, and block her view while Mother would come in, do the milking, and get up and leave. It was plumb weird. Popeye was gentle with Dad, so he asked the guy he bought her from and the only thing they could ever figure out was that the cow had never before seen a woman wearing a skirt, and in those days, my mother (and lots of other women) never wore slacks or trousers. When I was in the first grade in school, Popeye got out of the pasture once along the highway and Mother and her best friend went to get her and she chased the women through the fence, so they waited until I got home and I took a rope, went and got her and took her back in the pasture.

So Dad got her bred to a Jersey bull and got lucky. The calf was a heifer, got named Sweet Pea, and was a family pet for everyone. When she was old enough, had her first calf, and became our primary milk cow, Dad sold Popeye.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Jersey's probably have the highest butterfat content of any cow. If not the highest, then almost. When I was a kid, we milked mostly Jersey's with a couple Guernseys mixed in. We always got the butterfat bonus in the milk check. One thing we did find however, them things could get quite a kick when milking them. it's been a while, but I think the average Jersey might kick more when milking than the average holstein. We used to have a contraption from Agway that would go over their back and just in front of the hind leg that would keep them from kicking. Make sure you show your city friends the star on the tip of the cow's tit.

 

[Duffster]

Jersey's probably have the highest butterfat content of any cow. If not the highest, then almost. When I was a kid, we milked mostly Jersey's with a couple Guernseys mixed in. We always got the butterfat bonus in the milk check. One thing we did find however, them things could get quite a kick when milking them. it's been a while, but I think the average Jersey might kick more when milking than the average holstein. We used to have a contraption from Agway that would go over their back and just in front of the hind leg that would keep them from kicking. Make sure you show your city friends the star on the tip of the cow's tit.

ROFLMAO

 

[Bird]

Jersey's probably have the highest butterfat content of any cow. If not the highest, then almost. When I was a kid, we milked mostly Jersey's with a couple Guernseys mixed in. We always got the butterfat bonus in the milk check. One thing we did find however, them things could get quite a kick when milking them. it's been a while, but I think the average Jersey might kick more when milking than the average holstein. We used to have a contraption from Agway that would go over their back and just in front of the hind leg that would keep them from kicking. Make sure you show your city friends the star on the tip of the cow's tit.

I don't have any scientific proof, but yep, when I was a kid, I always thought it was Jerseys for high butter fat (richest milk), Holsteins for highest volume, and Guernseys for the middle ground.

Of course even the dairies milked by hand when I was a kid, and when we visited Dad's old buddy at the Guernsey dairy, we helped with the milking and they had certain cows on which they put the "kickers" before starting. I guess this is what you're talking about and I've never seen one before. What was used when I was a kid was cow kickers that some, in more recent times, called hobbles, and they were. But my dad refused to use such or allow me to with our cows. He said once you start using them, you have to use them all the time. Instead, he said you break the cow of kicking. And he wasn't too gentle about it either.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

I don't have any scientific proof, but yep, when I was a kid, I always thought it was Jerseys for high butter fat (richest milk), Holsteins for highest volume, and Guernseys for the middle ground.

Of course even the dairies milked by hand when I was a kid, and when we visited Dad's old buddy at the Guernsey dairy, we helped with the milking and they had certain cows on which they put the "kickers" before starting. I guess this is what you're talking about and I've never seen one before. What was used when I was a kid was cow kickers that some, in more recent times, called hobbles, and they were. But my dad refused to use such or allow me to with our cows. He said once you start using them, you have to use them all the time. Instead, he said you break the cow of kicking. And he wasn't too gentle about it either.

Dang Bird, I had my doubts until I clicked on the link. That's what we had. We slipped it in front of the hind leg first then up over the back. They could only lift their hind leg a couple inches then. I can't tell you how many buckets got kicked over until we got the kicker. From what I remember, we would use it for a couple weeks or so and they would stop kicking. I know what you mean about breaking the cow of kicking. But one thing ma always said is that you can't beat the milk out of a cow. One thing I always noticed is that men in a dairy barn were usually quite a bit different than women.

 

[Bird]

I won't say it's right or wrong, but if a cow humped her back in preparation to do you know what, my Dad would quickly stand up and come down on her back with his fist as hard as he could. He'd knock that hump down. And if a cow kicked, he immediately stand up and kick her right under the belly; almost lift her off the ground with those clodhoppers he wore. Not my preferred way of doing things, but it apparently worked.

 

[Duffster]

I won't say it's right or wrong, but if a cow humped her back in preparation to do you know what, my Dad would quickly stand up and come down on her back with his fist as hard as he could. He'd knock that hump down. And if a cow kicked, he immediately stand up and kick her right under the belly; almost lift her off the ground with those clodhoppers he wore. Not my preferred way of doing things, but it apparently worked.

And you wonder why they kicked?

 

[Bird]

And you wonder why they kicked?

Nope, it actually did work, even if it's not something I'd do. I don't think he ever had to "punish" a cow more than twice before they learned; they're not as dumb as they look.

 

[SideHillBill]

Chris -
Congrats on your Jersey enterprise - I'm jealous. I've worked w/all dairy breeds & Jerseys were the most fun.
Unless you have a very well drained sandy pasture, some tracking will occur. No big deal, you can still keep it cut but probably not w/a finish mower. Bush hog is what's called for. If the pasture has low spots, drainage tile will help a lot.
Get two critters about the same age/size or else keep them separated. One will get all the feed otherwise. Be aware that dogs and other predators will be interested, especially when the calves are very young. Electrify your perimeter fences or else use pagewire.
I know this is more info than you asked for but I was a dairyman for most of my 61 years and I sure miss the old days. Good luck.