How to Raise Jersey Cows
Jersey cows are one of the most common breed of cattle. Prized for their milk production and docile temperaments, Jersey cows are one of the oldest purebred cattle species. Originally recognized in England as early as the 18th century, Jersey cattle are easy to care for and thrive in a variety of conditions. Raising Jersey cows is not a particularly difficult endeavor and can be accomplished with a minimal amount of supplies.
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Instructions
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Prepare a pasture for your cattle. Jersey cows are relatively low maintenance, requiring woven or barbed wire fencing that is at least 48 inches tall. Two cows per acre is adequate if there is plenty of grass to graze. If there is a minimal amount of grass for grazing, one cow per acre is recommended. Make sure to keep a full water trough and feed pans available at all times, as well as access to a sturdy shelter such as a barn in case of inclement weather.
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Purchase your Jersey cows from an established breeder. Female calves are called heifers while male calves are called bulls. One bull calf is adequate to cover as many as 20 to 40 heifers once they reach breeding age, so most of your herd will be heifers.
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Introduce your Jersey cows to their new pasture, observing them to make sure there are no holes or gaps in your fencing that could allow them to escape. Add a couple bales of clean hay to the pasture and allow your calves to relax and eat at their own pace as they get comfortable in their new home.
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Add grain to the feeding pans and encourage your calves to eat it. Cattle feed grain is a combination of corn and other grains mixed with oil and molasses to add fat and act as binders. Your calves will each eat approximately one cup of grain at weaning and will increase their consumption as they grow, consuming three to four cups at maturity.
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Keep your calves together to promote strong herd behavior as they grow up. Jersey cows are extremely social and your calves will become familiar with the other members of the herd. Heifers normally get along very well and with only one bull in your herd, there should be very little disruption between animals.
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Observe your herd for mating behavior as they reach sexual maturity at one year of age. The bull will begin to sniff and nudge the heifers as they come into season. Your bull will mate with the heifers during late summer with calves born after approximately nine months of gestation.
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Monitor your heifers during calving season. Jerseys are a small breed and normally do not have any trouble delivering on their own, but keep an eye on the herd just in case there are issues. The calves will begin to nurse within 30 minutes of birth and will begin to graze and nibble on hay within 3 to 4 weeks. Allow the calves to stay with the herd until weaning at 5 to 6 weeks of age.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure the hay you feed your cattle is free of weeds and mold. Cows have strong digestive systems but poor feed can cause serious illness.
References
- Photo Credit lazy jersey calves image by nuudles from Fotolia.com
