Mini jersey cow

Which is better to own — a dairy goat, mini cow, mid-sized or standard Jersey cow?

Why did we choose miniature Jersey cows for our Small Family Farm? I believe it was providential. I had originally looked into a dual purpose Highland breed, but when one shaggy cow pointed her horns and stomped her hoof at me, my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. It led me to reconsider, and I began to look deeper into Miniature Jerseys. Since bringing home our first mini Jersey over a year ago, I have not regretted the decision for a minute. Not only did we find some amazing animals, we built lifelong friendships with Mini Jersey breeders and owners in the process.

Mini jersey cow

Mini Jersey cattle are a great investment. Homesteaders interested in buying a dairy milk cow should consider this breed. Jersey cattle are a convenient source of raw milk. You can drink their milk or turn it into other delicious milk products like cheese, ice cream, and yogurt. There are two sizing options available: standard and miniature. Standard and mini-Jersey cattle have advantages and disadvantages. Mini Jersey cattle are exactly what their name implies: smaller versions of the standard size cow. The miniature classification is purely about their size. Mini-Jersey cattle do not have tiny heads and legs mounted to large torsos. If you see a Jersey fitting that description, it technically is a dwarf, not a mini. Dwarfism in Jersey cattle is a genetic defect of the D2 gene. People may confuse mini-Jerseys as a watered-down version of the original, which is patently untrue. The commercialization of milk made the larger size necessary.

A good rule of thumb for feeding any sized dairy cattle is 2 to 2. What is a miniature Jersey cow?

Mini-Jersey cattle may be small, but they pack a big punch. Homesteaders and small dairy farmers with limited space can find mini-Jerseys a great investment. They produce the same top-quality raw milk as their larger counterparts but require less feed and space to roam. Most people have a lot of questions about minis before they consider buying one. Here are some of the most common requests for information about this cute — and tiny — breed of Jerseys. A mini-Jersey cow is a true Jersey breed. Long before milk became commercialized, families did not need large dairy cows to meet their daily milk needs.

Miniature Jerseys are classified by height. They should be 44 inches or less at the hook bone at 3 years of age. Mid Size Jerseys are greater than 42 inches but less than 48 inches at 3 years of age. Additionally, miniature jerseys should be proportionally smaller than a standard jersey. They should not have stubby legs or large heads as may be seen in animals carrying dwarf genes. The original jerseys from the Isle of Jersey were small cows similar to miniature jerseys being breed in relatively recent years. As times changed and people moved away from family milk cows, large scale dairies selectively breed for larger cows that could produce larger milk quantity. The small jerseys of the past became very rare with the exception of a few herds maintained by families. These small family owned herds became the foundation for reviving the small jerseys of the past, which had made such wonderful little family milk cows.

Mini jersey cow

The miniature jerseys originated on the Channel Islands off the British coast. Early imports were also received from Britain and the Guernsey islands. The first registered Jerseys were imported into the U. Many other imports came over the following years, eventually establishing a large population across the country. On December 31st the American Jersey Cattle Club had registered 2,, head of jersey cattle.

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I am a wife, a mother and homesteader. Until I owned a cow, I had no idea how much manure one animal could produce. The more dairy a cow looks, the more food it will take to maintain body weight since so much of its energy is used in milk production. I am sharing my perspective based on my animals and what I have read. The taller the cow, the more space required to house the cow. I love to help people with their health journey. Simply put, you can find out how much purebred Jersey blow is in your cow before you buy it. A small standard will not create as many problems as a larger standard. We love our cream. Comments 11 Hey Kelsey! I currently own full miniatures, mid-size miniatures, and a few standard Jerseys.

Mini Jersey cattle are a great investment. Homesteaders interested in buying a dairy milk cow should consider this breed.

Hi Anne, 1 acre should be ok for a few Jersey cows. Jersey specific as well. Mini cows produce mini piles while small standards produce mid-sized piles. Mini-Jersey cattle stand between 36 and 42 inches tall. Also, you can look in the local ads to see if anyone is selling them. While the goats ate it, they were not very good at acting as lawn mowers. Standard cows weigh to pounds. I am a wife, a mother and homesteader. Size Goats are a terrific little size as compared to Mini dairy cows and particularly, standard dairy cows. They pass breed-based representation BBR purity tests. The younger and smaller they are, the easier it will be to train them.