[LecturerGem]

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!

[SallyintNorth]

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.    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! 

[LecturerGem]

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