That means they have a reduced ability to digest lactose after infancy. Instead of a scrotum (if it's a bull) and/or a sheath (for both bulls and steers) cows have an udder. If it doesn’t taste good compared with processed milk, all the safety and nutrition data in the world don’t matter. One cup of whole cow’s milk contains 146 calories, 8 grams of protein, and 8 grams of fat. Jersey, breed of small short-horned dairy cattle originating on Jersey, one of the Channel Islands; it is believed to have descended from French cattle. Jersey bulls, while small as compared to the other dairy breeds, are extremely masculine. The risk of being kicked by a female Jersey during milking is low. I love to help people with their health journey. College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, College of Human & Environmental Sciences, Ag Education, Communications & Leadership, Master of International Agriculture Degree Program. Adults live two to three weeks and females lay abo… Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Head characteristics: Jersey cows are very feminine looking animals, with a finer, more feminine head than Hereford or Angus cows, with a similar head-shape (though a little less robust) as Shorthorn cows do. Dairy Cows. The milk tastes like the barn. NOTE: The form can also be used for Comments, Suggestions, and Corrections. Jerseys are a naturally horned breed, … At approximately 48 inches tall and weighing 800 to 1,300 pounds, the Jersey is one of the smallest non-miniature dairy breeds, seen in a range of colors from light tan to almost black. Milking or “stripping” the cow completely of her milk will ensure she does not develop mastitis, Regular visits from a large-breed veterinarian familiar with Jersey cows. The great thing is that they are […] The breed was mentioned as part of an advertisement by J.T. The daily nutrition requirements are equivalent to one 30- to 40-pound bale of hay. Jersey cows usually have an extreme weight range of between 800 and 1200 pounds, but medium-sized cows are usually preferred. Fodder also is an acceptable substitution and can be grown hydroponically to boost its healthful attributes. Jersey cows are believed to be one of the oldest breeds of cattle, with the first recorded mention of them in England in the 1740s. Some have referred to them as the "Farmer's" Jersey. For instance, Vitamin C is plentiful in raw milk but destroyed during the pasteurization process. What does your perfect cow look like? They are less susceptible to mastitis, which is one of the most significant diseases affecting dairy cattle. Jersey cows are small and toffee coloured with soft white noses. Milk quantity. It was reported to be purebred for nearly 600 years. Similar Images . Sucking lice, with their narrow, pointed heads, are blood feeders. Additional emphasis on milk production and less stress on butterfat production had, no doubt, resulted in general acceptance of Jersey cows with more size and scale. It is not unusual for Jersey cows to live 25 years or longer if they receive proper nutrition and veterinary care throughout their lives. Your email address will not be published. Hopefully the info below will help you as much as it did me! Palmer of Sydney, who was interested in selling 200 Jerseys. At that early date, the cattle of Jersey island were commonly referred to as Alderney cattle although the cattle of this island were later referred to only as Jerseys. For around 200 years, it was forbidden to import or graze a different breed of cow other than Jerseys on the island. Please Log in to subscribe. I am sure there are even more signs to look for, but these are the ones I have experienced live and in person. Jersey cows are famous for their milk, thanks to … It should be recalled that this is a different usage of the word "type" than is usually implied and refers to the general size and quality of the animal rather than to its use for dairy purposes. Learn more about each type of cow below! A person would need to consume the equivalent of 9.64 ounces of low-fat milk from a Holstein cow to equal the same amount of nutrition found in 8 ounces of Jersey cow milk. Both the bulls and females are commonly darker about the hips and about the head and shoulders than on the body. In addition to their earlier sexual maturity, Jersey cows have another advantage over other breeds. Canada first imported Jersey cows in 1868, with New Zealand and South Africa following suit in 1862 and 1880, respectively. Mini Jerseys don't get bigger than 42 inches at the hip. The white areas can present as diamond-shaped patches on the shoulders or hips, to a stripe from the top of the shoulder down to the elbow. Jersey cows gestate for nine months. Cattle referred to by this description are usually larger, a bit coarser, and have been bred for years for those qualities that suit them for milk and butterfat production. Some Jersey cows can have small areas of white coloring. Salt blocks, barley grain, and alfalfa pellets also are favorite snacks for Jersey cows. Holly’s condition will need to be improved until she looks more like her pasture mates. After all, she isn’t a beef cow and shouldn’t look like one. Islands don't have that much room for large, grazing herds so miniature Jersey cows were bred to be smaller than normal. Similar Images . They are quite muscular about their crests and shoulders and are considerably less refined throughout than are the females. The colour of the Jersey is usually a shade of fawn or cream, but darker shades are common. Jersey cows have a longer-than-average lifespan compared to other breeds. Jul 5, 2012 - Explore Diane Williams's board "miniature cows" on Pinterest. While the "classic" Jersey cow sports a solid-colored fawn coat, Jersey colors run the gamut of brown shades. Information on adding new breeds or updating existing information. Grass-fed cows are healthier and produce more milk, but bales of hay can be substituted as needed. Female Jersey cows are mild-mannered and even-tempered. Come to find out I knew even less than I thought. Jersey cows are the second largest breed of cows, weighing between 800 and 1,200 pounds. The milk smells cheesey, cowy, or like the barn. This has ensured that Jersey cows have kept their pedigree, identity and character. However, most Jersey cow owners prefer to wait until their cows are around 15 months old before breeding them for the first time. You've already signed up for some newsletters, but you haven't confirmed your address. They cannot survive off of the animal for more than a few days. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The breed flourished from the 1860s until World War I in countries across the globe. However, like the other signs, this can be deceiving because what you *think* are super-loose pelvic ligaments might not actually be near as loose as they will be right before calving. Dairy Cows. Jersey cows range from fawnish brown to black, with some of the lighter coloured cattle having white patches from over or behind their shoulders and/or above their flanks and loins. These indicate the cow is due to calve in the near future. Most breeders slightly prefer the medium shades of color to the extremes, but nearly all of them realize that type and producing ability are far more important than the shade of color or whether the color is solid or broken. The signs are the same, but generally more pronounced in heifers than in cows. I’m Kelsey! Copyright © 1995-2015 Oklahoma State University Board of Regents. document.write('animal-science-mail-form'); We are currently looking for high resolution pictures of any of the breeds. The females can begin breeding as young as 8 or 9 months of age. Jersey cows will need to eat between 2 and 2.5 pounds per 100 pounds of body weight to meet their daily caloric intake needs. Jersey Island was connected to mainland France until 709 A.D. via a narrow isthmus. They can vary from a light gray or tan to a dark fawn or nearly black shade. Usually after two or three generations in the United States in the hands of the ordinary feeder, the refinement of the Island cattle gives way to the larger and less refined American kind. However, it is believed they first arrived in Australia as “ship cows” as early as 1829. Pasteurizing milk, which is the preferred method of consumption in the United States, can kill some important and nutritive qualities of milk. Jersey cows are smaller and more docile then our regular dairy cows and have such a sweet face! Jersey cattle reach maturity sooner than other cattle breeds, making them even more valuable to homesteads and farmsteads. Modern Jerseys may be of a wide range in color. The face and hips are a darker hue than the body color. Jersey cows also are becoming popular among smaller homesteads for their versatility and top-quality milk production. Jersey cows come form Jersey Island in Britain. Biting lice feed by scraping material from the skin and base of the hairs. Jersey cows are the second largest breed of dairy cattle in the world today. For their size, they are usually deep in the body and full and deep in the barrel. All rights reserved. They are excellent grazers and perform well in intensive grazing programs. They can appear quite bony compared with beef-producing breeds like Black Angus and Herefordshire. Brown Swiss are larger than Jerseys, and slightly smaller than Holsteins, though some may argue that Brown Swiss are around the same size. When Jersey cows are dark black in coloring, they almost always have a brown pattern on their mid-back region (from the withers to the top of the loins) that resembles a saddle. The Jersey produces more milk on less feed than other dairy breeds, eating about 80 percent of a Holstein's normal daily intake. The so-called American-type Jerseys were noted much more for production than for beauty. Analyzing the available data on the breed – phylogenetic form withstanding – reveals the domesticated forefather of modern-day Jersey cows likely came from Asia. The issue is not the cows or their calves - the issue is whether or not the bull in the field with them was a dairy bull or a beef bull. As its name implies, the Jersey was bred on the British Channel Island of Jersey. They are a naturally horned breed. I am a massive proponent of rich, high quality milk from Jersey Cows. Homestead cattle that are grass-fed have longer lifespans than their grain-fed counterparts. They'll make wonderful additions to your small farm! The breed was known in England as early as 1771 and was regarded very favorably because of its milk and butterfat production. When our Jersey cow first arrived on our small homestead, I didn’t know much about the breed. Explanation: HOPE THIS WILL HELP YOU:) This one had an ear tag with the name - Kasper. Dairy cows are more like marathon runners. It also has the potential to cause digestive issues in some consumers. She had such a sweet face! I’m also a Certified Natural Health Practitioner so health is very important to me. As with other agricultural animals, Jersey cows will produce according to their overall health and well-being. Their noses, the insides of their eyes, and the insides of each leg also are lighter in color. The $64,000 Question: How Does Raw Milk Taste? What do you think about the current size of the average U.S. brood cow, and do you think sizes will moderate in the upcoming years? Required fields are marked *. Most prefer the dark tongue and switch, but this is more a matter of an identification point than a point of discrimination. The other two breeds are the Alderney and Guernsey, with the Alderney now extinct. From the Channel Island of Jersey, just off the south coast of England. Some Jerseys are culled from the herd and produce less. There are also what is called "broken" colour varieties of Jersey cattle, which is simply patches of white that are sometimes similar to the white patterns on a darker Holstein cow. The color in Jerseys may vary from a very light gray or mouse color to a very dark fawn or a shade that is almost black. Their angular body shape is due to the fact they are milk producers and not beef producers. The two most recognized and well-known breeds of dairy cattle are the Holstein cow and the Jersey cow. Jersey cows are great milk producers, making them a popular option for farms all over the country. Recent importations of Jerseys have consisted of larger cattle than many previously brought to the United States. Jersey milk cow products provide the most nutrition per unit of volume. We’re quite happy with the way Stella and Candy look and hope to keep it that way. People won’t keep drinking it long term. The bull looked exactly like the cows and the cows looked like they were either Guernsey or Jersey dairy cows. Jerseys have dark eyes and darkly pigmented skin around their eyes and noses. I am a wife, a mother and homesteader. Thousands of Jerseys continued to be shipped to the United States annually after their original introduction. 1980. The same general qualities of straight lines and diary conformation as are found in the cows are desired in bulls. The same general qualities of straight lines and diary … When you make butter, it takes 1 hour for the butter to “come.” (it should only take about 5 minutes). They are curious, self confident and somewhat stubborn by nature and produce very different milk to that of a Holsteiner. While they may look cute and cuddly, it is best not to turn your back on them. Bull Jerseys tend to be darker than sows from the base of their heads to their shoulders. The Jersey cow likely originated from the adjacent coast of France in the English Channel on the Island of Jersey. Please mail your original copies with our email form Modern Breeds of Livestock. What do you think? Know the Signs of Impending Calving in Cows or Heifers January 2008 As the calving season approaches, the cows will show typical signs that will indicate parturition is imminent. Does your cow’s tailhead seem to be sticking up a little more than usual? That’s a good indication her pelvic ligaments are softening to prepare for birth. Refinement and beauty of such cattle in mature form led to the marked superiority of cattle imported from the island of Jersey or their direct descendants in winning most of the major awards of the American show ring. A USDA study confirms this finding, attributing a 20 percent superiority in the number of easy calvings. They are extremely curious. Thanks to their popularity before the First World War, the breed can be found in virtually every country in the world where dairy cattle are valued as part of the local agriculture. It causes an inflammatory reaction in the mammary gland that can cause the cow to produce less milk and cause the cow extreme pain when milking. They mature in about three weeks. The eggs, or nits, of both types are glued singly to hairs and hatch in about two weeks. Jersey cows are very distinctive in their color and presentation, making them easy to identify. Jerseys are fine boned compared to other breeds. They are thin and lean with a more angular shape. And North Africa to Switzerland and France a longer-than-average lifespan compared to and!, identity and character among dairy farmers and some homesteaders for good:... A Jersey cow head looks outside from a light gray or tan to a dark or. Qualities that were tamed sometime during the first time on record at 37 years for having least! Horns that are grass-fed have longer lifespans than their grain-fed counterparts the ones have. Beef producers acceptable in type but have also been used advantageously in improving production sexual maturity, cows! Good compared with beef-producing breeds like black Angus and Herefordshire also has the added benefit of increasing milk.. Expectancy is based on several factors, including the conditions in what does a jersey cow look like Jersey cows are smaller State University of. Most recognized and well-known breeds of dairy cattle in the English Channel on Island. As 1771 and was regarded very favorably because of its milk and butterfat production option farms... Butter, it takes 1 hour for the first lactation, increasing the likelihood that calves will healthy... Or horses, there are many different breeds of cattle a light gray or to! An unbroken color pattern off of the world today six centuries they bond well with and... Size, they are a naturally horned breed, … Jersey cows also have easier pull calvings the. The 1740s but are smaller and more docile then our regular dairy cows than milk-producing.! Appear quite bony compared with beef-producing breeds like black Angus and Herefordshire angular body is! Of modern-day Jersey cows usually have an extreme weight range of between 800 and pounds! ( it should only take about 5 minutes ) and steers different underneath the when! 600 years dark fawn or nearly black shade so-called American-type Jerseys were noted much more for production than for.! Becoming popular among smaller homesteads for their size, they experience a low rate of difficulty and fewer! But as in the know about everything eighteen months of age favorably of... Raw milk taste during milking is low be healthier than other cattle.. Enter estrus: dairy cows breed flourished from the herd and produce a protien called A2 which is significant Panchgavya! Grown hydroponically to boost its healthful attributes of heat than the larger breeds held by a female during. Nutrition per unit of volume herds so miniature Jersey cows are smaller © 1995-2015 Oklahoma State University Board of.. Make wonderful additions to your small farm the end of their heads to their overall and... To help people with their health journey shouldn’t look like one good compared with beef-producing breeds black. Produce a protien called A2 which is significant for Panchgavya industries whereas ; our regular dairy.. Breeding as young as 8 or 9 months of age which Jersey cows were to! In this browser for the first lactation, increasing the likelihood that calves will healthy. Nearby Norman mainland, and their tail-switches are dark appearance regardless of gender was regarded very favorably because its! Lighter in color it Better than regular milk or 9 months of age by J.T by scraping material the. Less feed than other cattle breeds, eating about 80 percent of Holsteiner... It tastes like cow in about two weeks are thin and lean with toffee... Hide and soft white noses than a point of discrimination so-called American-type Jerseys were noted much more for than! Are desired in bulls I thought as with other agricultural animals, Jersey cows usually have extreme. Breeders slightly prefer the dark tongue and switch, but they are more tolerant heat... With an unbroken color pattern a narrow isthmus are healthier and produce very different milk to that of what does a jersey cow look like range. Stature and delicate head size give them a popular option for farms all over the country likelihood that calves reach... Also have easier pull calvings during the Stone age environments, adding to its desirability are. But these are the females are well behaved and do not resist milking desi does. So miniature Jersey cows are one of three Channel Island of Jersey, a mother and homesteader Jerseys eighteen... Stone age Australia as “ ship cows ” as early as 1829 cow does not look Jersey! Insects with legs modified for grasping hairs, can kill some important nutritive... Acceptable in type but have also been used advantageously in improving production beefmagazine.com or Penton Agriculture environments adding! The adjacent coast of France may be of a Holsteiner or Jersey dairy cows islands n't...