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Our Ideal Family Cow?
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<blockquote data-quote="Anonymous" data-source="post: 15179"><p>Here's what we did. One year when one of my heavier milking Murray Grey cows had her second calf, a 68# bull, I milked her out for some colostrum to freeze. I just kept milking her once each day, but left her calf with her 24 hours a day. I was working full time and went out and "stole" whatever milk I could around 6 each evening. I was getting a gallon a day, with about 2 1/2 to 3 inches of cream on top. I continued to milk her for a little over 2 months, then got too busy & quit.</p><p></p><p>At 205 days, she weaned a 615# bull calf. I used to laugh, because the calf finally figured out what I was doing and he would stick his head around from the other side and give me the dirtiest looks! LOL</p><p></p><p>A couple of years later, that cow weaned a heifer at over 700#, with a birthweight within our target of 60-80#. I couldn't believe the size of that calf when she was weaned. You could almost stand out in the pasture in the afternoon and watch her grow.</p><p></p><p>Murray Greys, if you are not familiar with the breed, tend to be very docile cattle with small birthweights and nice, sloping shoulders that calve easily.</p><p></p><p>A rancher friend had a little Jersey milk cow and he was very happy with the calf when he bred her to a Murray Grey bull.</p><p></p><p>> OK, my intention is not to start a</p><p>> breed war. I would just like</p><p>> folks' opinions as food for</p><p>> thought.</p><p></p><p>> The GOAL: a docile milker that</p><p>> will produce plenty of milk for</p><p>> her calf and about 1 gallon or so</p><p>> per day extra for the family. 5</p><p>> gallons or more per day would NOT</p><p>> be desirable for our purposes.</p><p>> Good fat and protein content</p><p>> desired. She should be able to</p><p>> produce a really nice, beefy calf</p><p>> for the freezer -- big enough that</p><p>> splitting the beef with another</p><p>> family would still give a lot of</p><p>> meat.</p><p></p><p>> Seems like a beef/Jersey cross</p><p>> would fill the bill? (FINDING a</p><p>> Jersey/beefer has thus far proven</p><p>> elusive, however). Or, is there a</p><p>> beef breed that could do the trick</p><p>> with a little feed supplement?</p><p></p><p>> Thanks for any thoughts you would</p><p>> like to share!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Anonymous, post: 15179"] Here's what we did. One year when one of my heavier milking Murray Grey cows had her second calf, a 68# bull, I milked her out for some colostrum to freeze. I just kept milking her once each day, but left her calf with her 24 hours a day. I was working full time and went out and "stole" whatever milk I could around 6 each evening. I was getting a gallon a day, with about 2 1/2 to 3 inches of cream on top. I continued to milk her for a little over 2 months, then got too busy & quit. At 205 days, she weaned a 615# bull calf. I used to laugh, because the calf finally figured out what I was doing and he would stick his head around from the other side and give me the dirtiest looks! LOL A couple of years later, that cow weaned a heifer at over 700#, with a birthweight within our target of 60-80#. I couldn't believe the size of that calf when she was weaned. You could almost stand out in the pasture in the afternoon and watch her grow. Murray Greys, if you are not familiar with the breed, tend to be very docile cattle with small birthweights and nice, sloping shoulders that calve easily. A rancher friend had a little Jersey milk cow and he was very happy with the calf when he bred her to a Murray Grey bull. > OK, my intention is not to start a > breed war. I would just like > folks' opinions as food for > thought. > The GOAL: a docile milker that > will produce plenty of milk for > her calf and about 1 gallon or so > per day extra for the family. 5 > gallons or more per day would NOT > be desirable for our purposes. > Good fat and protein content > desired. She should be able to > produce a really nice, beefy calf > for the freezer -- big enough that > splitting the beef with another > family would still give a lot of > meat. > Seems like a beef/Jersey cross > would fill the bill? (FINDING a > Jersey/beefer has thus far proven > elusive, however). Or, is there a > beef breed that could do the trick > with a little feed supplement? > Thanks for any thoughts you would > like to share! [/QUOTE]
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