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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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 Posted - Mar 16 2014 : 5:41:06 PM
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| Okay, this may be a very stupid question; however, it must be asked. What do you do with the Jersey steers? Obviously, they cannot all be allowed to become bulls, nor do I want one at my farm presently. Is the meat from a Jersey good? (We have raised Angus for beef and the meat is wonderful!) Or is it better to breed with more of a beef cow? But, if I am fortunate to have a heifer born, then I'd love it to be all Jersey! Comments? |
Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens |
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maryjane
7074 Posts
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Posted - Mar 20 2014 : 05:54:44 AM
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Once you "steer" a bull, you can use it as a companion animal up until the point it becomes food for your freezer. I haven't done that yet because I only have one bull I've "steered" and he's still growing while serving as a companion animal. Because I'm expanding my herd, I've kept all of my bulls (I have five now) for mating with my likewise growing herd of cows. But we have put three of our older cows in the freezer. Two of them were Angus and raised for that purpose and one was a Jersey who miscarried several times in a row--just not able to birth calves any more and getting old and cranky with the other cows. I'm not exaggerating, all of that cow, every cut, was absolutely exquisite--tender but not overly marbled like some of the cuts from our Angus were. I have four of my kids working here at the farm along with their four children and also hubby, so it makes sense for us to raise our own meat (even though we also end up with a deer or elk in our freezer every year also).
I have several different rotational pastures and sometimes I need to isolate one of my cows for one reason or another and that's where a companion steer comes in mighty handy. If Clover has a bull, and you don't want to have a bull on board, think steer!
And I would definitely breed Clover with a Jersey. No need at all to bring in a "meat" breed. I did try that once and had a lovely heifer that would have made a good milk cow for someone but everyone who came to look at her wanted a Jersey milk cow, not a mix. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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Posted - Mar 22 2014 : 10:00:31 PM
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| Good advice! We definitely want to breed Clover with a Jersey and we will "steer" a bull if that's what we get. We do not have the facilities for a bull nor do we want to keep a bull. And, so good to know that the meat from a Jersey is so tender...sounds like Jerseys are winners all the way around! |
Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens |
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hudsonsinaf
56 Posts
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Posted - Jun 07 2014 : 3:28:57 PM
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| Once a year we buy a cow for the freezer. We bought half and angus one year and then the following we bought a whole jersey. We will not go back to an angus, ever. Charlie, the farmer we buy from each year, explains it like this - jersey cows put their fat in their milk. As such, their meat is less fatty/marbled. But oh my goodness is it tender and exquisite! |
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maryjane
7074 Posts
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Posted - Jun 07 2014 : 6:14:24 PM
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| We've put both Angus and Jersey that we raised in our freezer and we agree, there is an amazing difference in texture and flavor. I think steering any Jersey bulls you get once you're in the milk cow cycle is just the ticket. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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Posted - Jun 08 2014 : 10:47:02 PM
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| Good to know! Thanks for both of your opinions and advice as I appreciate it. |
Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens |
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![[flourish]](/images/flourish-txt_mobius.png)
Jersey Steers
![Heritage Jersey Organization [logo]](/images/HJO-logo.png){kind=logo}
