Don't believe that jerseys will get pushed around. There are several dairies that run them with holsteins and in 99% of the cases the jerseys are the bosses. My jersey crosses are just as aggressive as any of the beef cows. The will get ragged around the edges on just a hay diet if they are milking pretty good. I wouldn't worry about them making too much milk if not getting fed grain but their condition will suffer. They will put everything into the calf through the milk. I have 4 running with the beef herd now, jer/angus cross and the raise nice calves. But sometimes the calf will look dairy so it is important to watch what you use on them. I have never had any trouble calving after their first calf, bred to the plus weight angus bulls. We use easy calving sires on all the first calf heifers and then they go to bulls according to their build. I do prefer to not have them calve in the fall as it does wear them down. Spring calving, good grass, will get them doing pretty good. Have had one or two that were char x and no complaints. Are they cheap/reasonable? The way prices are right now they ought to be VERY REASONABLE....They are normally very fertile, but if really roughing it in cold conditions might not breed right back... Mine do fine....11 mo calving interval most every year.
bmore where are you located as to what "winter drylotting" conditions would be? Jerseys have a higher metabolism and will need a little better feed if they are in very cold conditions. That said, they were the preferred dairy animal for alot of smaller farms in the cold climates since their total feed consumption was less than the bigger animal. Straight jerseys avg 4-5.5% butterfat so the calf will be getting rich milk; but most beef cows will avg in the 5% or more of butterfat normally, too.