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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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 Posted - Jan 27 2016 : 09:46:02 AM
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So about a month ago, my son (Ethan/TonyMan) and I began tossing around the idea of getting a second cow. This Jersey would be Ethan's. We asked MaryJane for some ideas and began our search on Craigslist. We found two ads that looked promising. We contacted both and began asking questions.
One ad the people said that they didn't know if the cow was pregnant but surely had lots of milk as she was allowing two calves to nurse on her. She hadn't been milked for over a year. This was a warning to us ... we aren't experienced and needed a cow that had lots of people handling, daily milking, and to not know if a cow was bred or a due date was a bit unsettling to us. She also had horns we discovered. So that particular farm was just a bit more relaxed than what we felt comfortable with.
The second ad that we inquired about was Flossie. Her people were milking her daily, she was dehorned, but she hadn't had any vet records completed. However, she was by herself with just one other cow and they had raised her from birth. So we continued to pursue this one and ended up with a beautiful girl! Flossie has been great and Ethan loves her to pieces.
Questions we asked:
1. Is the cow dehorned or polled? (We will not have any horned animals on our farm due to safety issues as we have children and lots of guests here.)
2. Do they have vet records for the cow? Who is the vet? May we see the records? What tests/blood work has been completed? Could we have the contact information for the vet?
3. Any issues with mastitis? Is the cow currently open or bred? If bred, has the bull that was used to bred been tested annually for trich?
4. How many calves has the cow had? Age of the cow? Number of pregnancies... bull or heifer calves ... any twins?
5. If the cow is currently in milk, how is she milked? Is a calf nursing on her? Has she ever kicked while being milked? Machine or hand-milked?
6. Is the cow registered anywhere? Approximate weight and height?
7. Then, I called the vet myself and talked with him a bit. I needed to have him be my eyes as the cow was too far away for us to go visit before purchase. This phone call was important as I needed to have the vet be my advocate. I made sure he knew I was paying for all the tests and would pay via credit card over the phone so they knew they were going to be paid. I looked up the vet on-line and read reviews and liked what I read. He turned out to be a great vet.
8. These were the tests we had run before we even saw Flossie: TB, Brucellosis, Q fever, Johnes, BLV, and BVD. We also had to have travel papers in line and needed a health certificate to take Flossie over state lines.
9. The vet called me as he examined Flossie. He gave her the once over and examined her udder to confirm no signs of mastitis or lumps in the udder and he checked to be sure all four quarters were working. Then, he called me after he returned to his office so we could talk freely. Again, I really depended on his opinion.
10. All the tests and travel certificate cost just over $200 which seems high; however, it ruled out LOTS of potential problems. I also was able to use the paperwork to register immediately with our state raw milk inspector which was helpful.
Hopefully, I didn't leave anything out. Ethan, chime in when you get a chance to read on the chatroom!
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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 - Jan 27 2016 : 10:42:12 AM
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| Perfect!!! Perhaps Ethan can give us a run-down about bringing her home; how long the trip was, what he did en route, etc. And what it's been like since she's been in her new home. |
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 - Jan 27 2016 : 11:39:21 AM
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Oh, I almost forgot ... we were told that Flossie was pregnant. Always be sure to get that confirmed by a vet! Flossie was NOT bred and while that wasn't a problem since we have Ethan's bull here, that could be a problem for others.
I will ask Ethan tonight if he can expand here about his Flossie. I can say she has been incredibly laid-back and into a routine within just a few days. She even is responding to her new name! |
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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Sydney2015
1156 Posts
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Posted - Jan 27 2016 : 11:42:49 AM
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| Great for you and Ethan, Charlene! That sounds a lot like what I did to get AppleButter, except one phone call and she was coming home! |
A good laugh overcomes more difficulties and dissipates more dark clouds than any other one thing - Laura Ingalls Wilder
I live on a small farm of seventy acres called Green Forest Farm, with 10 horses, a donkey, 5 beef cows, 2 beef heifers, 3 Hereford heifers, around 60 chickens, 8 dogs, my amazing cow, AppleButter, and her little Jersey calf HoneyButter! |
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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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Posted - Jan 27 2016 : 6:39:08 PM
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| Yes, Flossie was located about 4-5 hours away so we had several phone calls and emails back and forth as we got more information about Flossie. Her previous owners were very helpful. |
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 - Jan 27 2016 : 7:15:08 PM
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| How awesome that she's already responding to her Palouse name, Charlene. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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Sydney2015
1156 Posts
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Posted - Jan 27 2016 : 8:16:33 PM
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| It's great to know so many things about Flossie, I don't even know AppleButter's parent's names( I got them from the dairy twice, however they were different each time) |
A good laugh overcomes more difficulties and dissipates more dark clouds than any other one thing - Laura Ingalls Wilder
I live on a small farm of seventy acres called Green Forest Farm, with 10 horses, a donkey, 5 beef cows, 2 beef heifers, 3 Hereford heifers, around 60 chickens, 8 dogs, my amazing cow, AppleButter, and her little Jersey calf HoneyButter! |
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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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Posted - Jan 27 2016 : 9:22:10 PM
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To be honest, we really don't know anything about Flossie's parentage; only, that her previous owner had her since a calf.
Yes, it is indeed wonderful and quite sweet that she is already responding to her new name! Love that! |
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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TonyMan
12 Posts
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Posted - Jan 27 2016 : 10:00:26 PM
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So dad and I got into Florence MT at around 10:00 am. When we got to the place, Flossie was already tied up, milked out and ready to load up. She loaded just fine, like she had done it a million times. We signed and traded paperwork and called the Brand Inspector to get a location on where to meet. Then we left the farm. We then went to a gas station, named the "Town Pump'. We met up with the Brand Inspector, an older fellow in his 70's. He took our vehicles license plate number and then he hooped right up on the edge of the trailer and looked at Flossie from one side. Then he went around and looked at Flossie on the other side. He concluded rather quickly that it was a Jersey Milk Cow :) Surprise!!!! He was looking for a brand on Flossie, but because He couldn't see one nor was there one on Flossie, he noted on the Cattle Inspection Certificate "No Brand". I then paid him $2 for his time, and we left Florence Mt at around 10:30'ish. We began the trek back to Idaho and returned back to the farm 3:30'ish. That is how I received Flossie and she has been great. She has got nice round teats that make for easy hand milking. But she is a slob when in the Stantion. She lets the precious grain fall out off her mouth and the Chaffhaye bits and pieces are flung all over the place. Clover on the other hand lets no grain fall carelessly out of her mouth, and eats every bit of the Chaffhaye. Also Flossie pushes her rubber bin over to the side and tips it up when empty; then looks back at me saying "Hello Im out off Food. Are you going to get me more?".
But all in all Flossie has been an excellent cow. Her temper is extremely docile and a little skittish, and importantly her milk production is fabulous.
I really adore both Flossie and Tony; well, all the cows we have at our farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm. |
Edited by - TonyMan on Jan 27 2016 10:02:17 PM |
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NellieBelle
11217 Posts
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Posted - Jan 28 2016 : 03:48:56 AM
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| A thorough list Charlene and a nice write-up on Fanci TonyMan. Appreciate the time it took to do this so we may all learn from your experience. Thank you so much. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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maryjane
7074 Posts
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Posted - Jan 28 2016 : 05:19:44 AM
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| When it comes to buying cows, it's in the details as they say. Thanks Ethan for sharing yours. In particular, I enjoy knowing each and every cow's particulars if you know what I mean. I'll bet Flossie settles down about her food once she realizes she's going to be able to continue to dine on the healthy fare you provide at Meadowlark Heritage Farm. I'm sure she's in heaven eating/experiencing new and different foods. |
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 - Jan 28 2016 : 10:19:01 AM
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| It makes me happy to see Ethan so happy with his cows. And those cows definitely love him! |
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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Sydney2015
1156 Posts
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Posted - Jan 28 2016 : 1:57:23 PM
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| Thanks for telling us all about getting Flossie! My story is not so long. |
A good laugh overcomes more difficulties and dissipates more dark clouds than any other one thing - Laura Ingalls Wilder
I live on a small farm of seventy acres called Green Forest Farm, with 10 horses, a donkey, 5 beef cows, 2 beef heifers, 3 Hereford heifers, around 60 chickens, 8 dogs, my amazing cow, AppleButter, and her little Jersey calf HoneyButter! |
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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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Posted - Jan 28 2016 : 5:34:49 PM
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| Everyone's story is so different and that makes it interesting and fun for all, Sydney! And each time you get a new cow, the story is also different! |
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)
Finding Flossie
![Heritage Jersey Organization [logo]](/images/HJO-logo.png){kind=logo}
