Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New media
New media comments
New profile posts
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Forums
Cattle Boards
Breeds Board
Which Dairy Heifers should I keep?
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Help Support CattleToday:
Message
<blockquote data-quote="francismilker" data-source="post: 688662" data-attributes="member: 7028"><p>I'd personally stay away from the heavy holstein influence it it were me. (Unless you own interest in a feed mill) </p><p>If it were up to me I'd look into the MS cows. They tend to hold their body condition well when on grass. I know it all depends on the cow but traditionally they've done well for me. I realize you didn't mention the Ayrshire breed in the mix. If you can find one of these, that'll be the true ticket. I've got a dairyman friend in Southern Kansas who has went totally grassed based and is average good milk output on no grain at all. MS cows have a lot of the ayrshire traits and characteristics. </p><p></p><p>I'm also a jersey fan, but I have to feed mine pretty heavy if they're getting milked pretty heavy. Sometimes it don't pencil out in the black pound for pound. They do however make great nurse cows and produce some pretty rich milk to get calves going good.</p><p></p><p>By the way, if you put a black bull on the MS cows, you'll usually get a black baldy. Sell them before they get too big and start showing too many dairy characteristics and you can get premium price for them. Same goes for the swiss/angus crosses. </p><p></p><p>I would've chosen the Brown Swiss for you. But, as others have said the calves are just plain stupid with no will to live. Most of the replacement heifers I've bought as day olds have been a real pain to keep alive. Sometimes I've had to tube feed them 2X per day for several days because they wouldn't suck a bottle. It's only until they start to get a little older (2-4 weeks old) that they start to gain any aggresiveness towards feeding time. </p><p>I do like grown Brown Swiss cows but think they eat too much for the amount of milk they produce. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Either MS or Jersey would be my choice!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="francismilker, post: 688662, member: 7028"] I'd personally stay away from the heavy holstein influence it it were me. (Unless you own interest in a feed mill) If it were up to me I'd look into the MS cows. They tend to hold their body condition well when on grass. I know it all depends on the cow but traditionally they've done well for me. I realize you didn't mention the Ayrshire breed in the mix. If you can find one of these, that'll be the true ticket. I've got a dairyman friend in Southern Kansas who has went totally grassed based and is average good milk output on no grain at all. MS cows have a lot of the ayrshire traits and characteristics. I'm also a jersey fan, but I have to feed mine pretty heavy if they're getting milked pretty heavy. Sometimes it don't pencil out in the black pound for pound. They do however make great nurse cows and produce some pretty rich milk to get calves going good. By the way, if you put a black bull on the MS cows, you'll usually get a black baldy. Sell them before they get too big and start showing too many dairy characteristics and you can get premium price for them. Same goes for the swiss/angus crosses. I would've chosen the Brown Swiss for you. But, as others have said the calves are just plain stupid with no will to live. Most of the replacement heifers I've bought as day olds have been a real pain to keep alive. Sometimes I've had to tube feed them 2X per day for several days because they wouldn't suck a bottle. It's only until they start to get a little older (2-4 weeks old) that they start to gain any aggresiveness towards feeding time. I do like grown Brown Swiss cows but think they eat too much for the amount of milk they produce. Either MS or Jersey would be my choice! [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Cattle Boards
Breeds Board
Which Dairy Heifers should I keep?
Top