Mini cow prices are insane. There are breeding problems with them. Don't go that route.
Read all the posts by
@MurraysMutts ... on his sale barn finds and how he turned a very sad looking jersey into a fantastic nurse cow... If you were to have a normal sized jersey, there is no law that says you have to feed for MAXIMUM production... You can feed less and she will produce somewhat less.
Do a "share deal" with a couple of calves. Milk her once a day and let the calves have the rest. Lock her away from the calves ( or pen them up) say in the morning... 8-10 hours later, milk her; then let the calves stay with her for 10-12 hours or so. You might get 1-3 gallons from the milking... the calves get the rest. She will get used to the routine and will give you enough milk for what you want and the calves will get plenty. I do this frequently with my nurse cows. If you have to be gone, the calves just stay with her and get it all... All according to how much she is making, as to how many calves she can feed... 2-3 is a good average. The more grain the more milk... to a point.
There are many different ways to utilize the milk. I have several 1/2 jersey 1/2 angus cows that I have used for milk cows... produce a little less.... can feed 2 calves and still enough milk for 1-2 gallons a day....
Yep, pigs will utilize a good amount of milk... feeding a couple of bottle calves will use 1-1/2 gallons PER CALF per day... 2-3 bottle calves and you will not have alot of extra milk.
Breed her back to a beef bull, get a calf that can become your freezer beef if a bull, or the start of a beef herd if a heifer... use AI, cheaper and safer than keeping a bull for only a couple of cows...
I can/ will answer any questions if you prefer to PM me... and I certainly do not have all the answers... been doing it a few years though...
