The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Cattle => Topic started by: LecturerGem on April 19, 2013, 07:54:56 pm
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Hi all, I am on the lookout for a pet cow to be a companion for our Jersey. I teach at a college and our Jersey is so used to being centre of attention that when she is alone it becomes a genuine welfare issue. We have her with a young continental cross at present, but this youngster is becoming a bit of a danger to students due to being a bit unpredictable and quite rough to handle. I am ideally wanting something like a Dexter or another Jersey that will be relatively calm to handle and won't mind being mothered by an over-sensitive, loveable Jersey :) we are based at Dinnington (S25) near Rotherham but only able to travel up to 50km. If anybody knows of anything please get in touch. Thanks!
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I would ask your local dairy farmers - many of them will have a Jersey or two in the herd, and they're worth practically nothing 'in the fat' when they are no longer able to perform in the herd. ;) Our local Jersey farmers (now retired) used to let the old gals expire on the farm. :love: :cow: And some sell off the old dears to be used to rear orphan calves in suckler herds - so a local suckler herd may have an old Jersey now too old for even that job that they'd let you have.
Alternatively, you could pick up a Jersey bull calf for next to nothing, and let your girl mother it... then in about 18 months, pop it in the freezer and get another. ;)
Good luck!
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Thanks for that :) we're looking at having a few Jersey calves on site to fatten up for a local farmer so that the students get more hands on work with cattle, so I will ask and see if he has anything that we could keep as a pet