Cow and heifers missing for morning milking

[TexasJerseyMilker]

I brought out the milking equipment to the barn at the usual time, 8 am. Honeydew and the 3 heifers were not waiting at the water trough as usual. I walked over the overlook to pasture 2, none were in sight. So I went to the slope below pasture 1. It's high ungrazed grass on a steep hillside. (yes I was still wearing my fuzzy pink bathrobe) no sign of my Jersey herd. So I walked back over to 2 to see if they were on the other side of the trees. They weren't. I was thinking of calling the sheriff about cattle theft.

Went back to the slope below 1 to see if they were in the woods ruminating down in the shade by the river. Nope. Turned around and there they were bunched up on the slope of the horizen. Fortunately I had my long 'whip away' buggy whip with me. I say Whip Away! This is their cue to move it. I can flick and pop a rump 15' away with it in case of stragglers.

I brought HD up and milked her out. Came in and told my husband about me thinking of calling the sheriff about missing cattle. He said more likely you would find EXTRA calves someone had put in there, (such as useless Jersey bull calves.)

There is a dairy here that put bull calves in a pen out by the road with a sign that said free calves. In the morning they found extra calves contributed by other dairies.

 

[Travlr]

Jersey calves here don't bring much at the auction, but they aren't free. People here in town raise them to fill their freezer all the time.

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

I have one born here this year. He was supposed to be AI sex selected for a heifer calf. That's $100 right there.

 

[farmerjan]

Average is 88-90% accurate for sexed semen.... not surprised. Part of it....You were very very lucky to get the heifer you wanted out of your old cow......

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

That's for sure and she's a beauty.

I had a 10% change of getting a bull calf and when born on the ground I pulled up his wet tail and saw he had a package. It's gone now.