Jersey-Holstein Cross

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  • July 11, 2010 at 5:02 am #41820
    Oxbow Farm
    Participant

    I am kind of partial to crossbred cattle. My cow is a Jersey-Highlander cross and she has been a fantastic cow for us, wouldn’t work in a Dairy but she is doing a great job for us on medium quality pasture and minimal inputs or infrastructure, never been sick a day so far.

    I’ve got a line on some Jersey/Holstein bull calves from an organic dairy, I am wondering what this cross is like for oxen? How big do they get? How fast do they grow? I know the same cross is well liked in pasture dairies. I was hoping the hybrid vigor would work in the steers too.

    I trained my cow in the single yoke but it seems like I need a team. Now that she is either milking or pregnant or both most of the time, It seems hard to ask her to haul firewood. And team yokes and equipment is easier to hitch up. Maybe I’m dreaming. It seems like this is a common enough cross that someone must have trained a team of them before. What are they like?

    July 11, 2010 at 10:24 am #61265
    mother katherine
    Participant

    I have a pair of Jersey crosses:Jersey sire on Ayrshire and on Holstein. They’re only 18 months or so, so I don’t know how large they’ll get, but their mothers weren’t huge. I haven’t pushed them with grain, so they’re probably only 900 lbs(?) by now. I keep them on the thin side. Haven’t had any issues with health or feet. They were out with the sheep all winter except for a couple of the windiest chill factor days.
    They are bright, willing and think I’m one of the herd. As long as they recognise me as the dominant part I’m happy. They are also energetic.
    If you know the guy, see what the cows’ temperaments are and get calves out of the more tractable ones.
    I’m pleased with my boys, in short.
    oxnun

    July 17, 2010 at 8:48 pm #61264
    bivol
    Participant

    well, first i’d like to say that i’ve never had this cross so i’ll try to judge from what i know, even if it isn’t hands-on.

    i mean, why not?
    size end temper seem to be good.

    colour – but i’d be worried if you get solid black calves, because they heat too much in the sun, and that’s not very practical if they have to work in the sun. and the weather IS getting warmer.

    second are hooves, if they’re dark you’re ok to go if not, they’ll wear out faster.

    yes, hybrid vigor will really help a lot, cross-breeds will be healthier, longer-lived, and tougher than either of the high-performance breeds they come from. at least you won’t need to worry about your animals be sensitive. more they’ll be tough!

    third is the temper – now some say holsteins are placid and some holsteins are a bit nervous. and male animals have different dispositions than female ones. so i’d castrate while they’re small. just me though.

    so, they can make good, tough, working animals of medium size that are not sluggish, but also not as high-strung as pure jersey. just remember that they carry jersey blood in them, and be on top always.

    of yeah, another thing, very important, being a cross they will not put flesh on as much and as quick as say a beef cross, which is less trouble as they get older, and if you don’t work em for a while.

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