Should I get a Jersey Cow?
The purpose of this article is not to discuss whether you should get a goat or a cow. It is also not intended to help you decide if you should get a cow in the first place.
By the way, yes, you should get a cow in the first place and a goat will never give you a cream line your heart so desires.
Today, I want to talk specifically about the Jersey breed.
Which is one of my favorite things to talk about in the whole world.
My Jersey cow is my favorite thing.
DH’s favorite thing is hunting.
My 12-year-old’s favorite thing is Fortnite.
My daughter’s favorite thing is books.
My favorite thing in the world (after Jesus, family, and friends) – is my cow.
She is wonderful. She delights me. She is my friend. She gives me everything dairy. She nourishes my family beyond words.
I swear, 80% of my diet comes from this animal.
I have said for years that if you grow all your food you will never need to diet again. I still stand behind those words. When I eat from my garden, our land and the rich, creamy milk that comes from my sweet Jersey I am healthy. My body is energetic and light. And my armpit fat disappears.
I eat dairy products with abandon. Fresh milk, raw cheese, homemade icecream and pounds of hand-churned butter.
A family milk cow will change everything. Your daily routine. Your food. Your life.
And it is such a good, good change.
There are many breeds of cows. There’s dairy cows, beef cows, and some beautiful dual-breeds who are great for dairy or meat.
The Gentle, Productive, Jersey Cow
I have owned Jersey cows since 2011. I have milked 4 different jerseys and an unknown number of goats in the past decade. I do not have a lifetime of experience, but I do have a little and I can easily tell you all the reasons I will probably own a jersey cow until I die.
#1 Reason to Get a Jersey Cow: She is a Loyal Friend
If you want a companion who will also give you milk, Jersey is the sure winner. Jerseys are characteristically friendly and docile. If you are looking for a pet you can milk, the Jersey will fit the bill. You will love her so much you will want to bring her into the house. Which is entirely possible if she is halter trained. It may be a terrible idea, but she would probably happily join you on a walk from her pasture to the house or backyard.
Jerseys are easy to work with. They run to the milk barn, they’ll follow you anywhere. They stay in a pasture, even if there is only one line of barbwire between them and freedom. Easy to lead, easy to keep in, easy to control.
#2 Reason to Get a Jersey Cow: Milk Barn Manners
Because of their gentle temperaments, Jerseys are very enjoyable in the milking parlor. If you are an expert milker, you will thoroughly enjoy your time in the milk barn. If you are a newbie milker, the Jersey will patiently stand tied up in the barn for an hour while you try to figure out how on earth you are supposed to get the milk out of the udder.
Sweet, sweet Jerseys.
#3 Reason to Get a Jersey Cow: Size
Jerseys are small in comparison with other dairy breeds. If you have young children or are just a little apprehensive about working with a 1000+ pound animal – a Jersey is a good solution. My jerseys have ranged from 700-900 pounds. This may seem like a lot, but 700 pounds is actually a very small cow.
The little JJersey will usually produce 3-5 gallons of milk per day. This is a more manageable amount of milk than the 9+ gallons a day a Holstein can produce.
Another perk of the Jersey’s small stature is their appetite. They do not require as much food as a larger cow.
This equates to:
- You can keep a Jersey on a smaller homestead or pasture
- You can keep more cows in the space you have
- When supplementing their diet with hay (or feeding hay during cold months) you will not need as much
#4 Reason to Get a Jersey Cow: Orphan Adoption
I don’t know if it’s because they are so gentle, but our Jerseys are quick to adopt and mother anyone who looks needy. We have not had to tie them up, pen them or “encourage” them to except a new calf. Our Jersey is a natural mommy and it doesn’t seem to matter if the calf came from her loins or the sale barn. She will adore it.
This can also be a problem if your jersey decides that the bull you leased or purchased to be her breeding partner needs to be mothered. I have had a full-grown, 2000-pound, man-cow drink from my jersey’s udders….
AND THE JERSEY LET HIM.
#5 Reason to Get a Jersey Cow: Tasty meat
I am not suggesting you eat your milk cow. One of the benefits of a milk cow is the free calf she will give you each year.
SIDE NOTE: In order to continue to produce mik, your milk cow will have a calf every year.
I suppose half of those calves will be female, and they can be sold. The other half will probably be male and we find the best future for them is the freezer. It is sustainable, it is free food, and will be some of the best beef you’ve ever tasted.
If you enjoy grass-fed meat you will love Jersey meat. If you don’t love grass-fed meat, you may love Jersey meat. The beef is off the charts. It is juicy, tender and well-marbled.
Especially if you let your cow raise the calf.
When you leave the calf with the cow it gives you some freedom from milking (more on that in a minute) AND she will raise your beef for free.
Calves raised on “milk and meadow” is the bomb-diggity.
We have taken several, yearling steers to the processor and he is always puzzled about the layer of fat found on our animals. He’s never seen anything like it in his life. We typically butcher our steers around 12 months old. A steer (especially dairy breeds) processed at this age is mostly bones and organs and never has any fat on them.
#6 Reason to Get a Jersey Cow: Slow to grow
This is especially convenient if you are milk-sharing with a calf.
Milk sharing means you are milking your cow, and there is a calf on her as well. So you are “sharing the milk.” Milk sharing with a calf is a wonderful arrangement. I can milk my cow once a day and let the calf have the rest. This allows me to milk when it is convenient for me. When you milk-share with a calf, it also allows you to take weekends off or even go on vacations. The calf will take care of all the milking for you while you are away (or just sleeping in).
In this arrangement, it is possible that you may want to keep your calf around for a long time. Beef cows grow quickly and can be dangerous.
The jersey cow is a notoriously slow-growing cow. This is quite convenient when you like to keep them around for a year.
There is nothing fun about a 1000-pound bull (or steer) and small children on the same homestead. It’s a little scary. Jerseys grow at a slower rate, so the bull won’t get quite as huge quite as quickly.
A Jersey will usually produce 3-5 gallons of milk per day. This is a more manageable amount of milk than the 9+ gallons a day a Holstein can produce.
#7 Reason to Get a Jersey Cow: The CREAM
This could be the main reason to chose the Jersey cow. A jersey cow makes the richest milk there is. “RICHEST” is code for: TONS OF CREAM.
If you haven’t yet heard, the cream is the best part of fresh milk. It naturally rises to the top of the milk and can be skimmed off to make the gold of the dairy aisle.
Everything delicious comes from cream.
A few things we would not have if we didn’t have cream:
- Cream Cheese
- Ice Cream
- Sour Cream
- Brie
- Cream Fraiche
- Heavy Cream
- Whipped Cream
- Half & Half
- AND butter!
No, you can not use milk to make butter. You must have cream. You could churn milk for a week and it will never turn to butter.
Churn a pint of cream for 3 minutes and you’ll not only have the best butter you’ve ever tasted, but you’ll also have old fashioned buttermilk.
Can you believe that? Butter and buttermilk both come from cream with just a little friction.
Delightful.
That Jersy cream will also contain the highest concentration of nutrition, fatty acids, and “good stuff” from the grass.
On the contrary, a Holstein has a very thin cream line on the top of their milk. Holsteins are famous for producing gallons and gallons of milk, not cream. This is why the Holstein milk is considered, “poor.” If you own a Holstein you may get 9 gallons of milk each day, but you will have very little cream. This could be a disappointing experience.
Since most dairy farms have Holsteins, there is naturally going to be an abundance of milk and not a lot of cream. I suppose this is why heavy whipping cream is so dang expensive at the grocery.
If you have a Jersey cow, your cup will overfloweth with cream.
The Problems
I wouldn’t be truthful if I didn’t mention some of the drawbacks of the Jersey breed.
There are 3 common Challenges with Jersey Cows that you may or may not ever face. I’m sure there could be other issues I am failing to mention. There are 3 I have dealt with and wish someone would have mentioned before I got my Jersey.
It wouldn’t have stopped me from going with the Jersey, but it certainly would have prepared me.
Mastitis
I really don’t think mastitis is a “Jersey specific” problem. Any cow can contract mastitis. In fact, the more I have learned about staph and how prevalent it is, the more amazed I am that the majority of our milk cows have been so healthy and avoided it.
There are things you can do to reduce your chances of dealing with mastitis. Go HERE for how to stop mastitis. Go here for more on mastitis. Mastitis is usually very treatable and the good news is that you may never deal with it.
Ketosis
A Jersey cow can go into a state of ketosis if she does not get enough carbs in her diet. It is dangerous and can bring your cow down (literally). To read more about this you can go here.
Ketosis can easily be prevented by proper care and feeding.
Milk Fever
Jerseys, especially over the age of 5, have a reputation for coming down with milk fever after calving. This particular ailment is also very treatable if it is caught and dealt with.
Even now, knowing about mastitis, ketosis, and milk fever, I’d still get a Jersey. I believe the benefits of the Jersey breed outway the drawbacks.
XO,
Candi
