Decided you want a cow, but you don’t know where to start? Here is my checklist I used to narrow down the right cow for me. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it sure helps to have some key points in your mind when you are cow shopping:

I preferred a Jersey cow because I grew up around that breed. They are known for their excellent cream quality, less difficulty with calving, good temperaments, and ease of handling. There are miniature Jersey cows available, but I decided on the full size for ease of milking. Jerseys have a good feed to milk/energy conversion. They are a dependable animal and can give several gallons of milk a day.

When considering age, I knew I wanted a younger cow that would support our farm for a long time. She will support more than just our family: extra milk can raise us a cross bred Angus calf for meat. The whey from her milk can feed hogs or chickens. I also wanted a young cow that has had minimal health issues and no history of mastitis. Body conditioning matters, especially when considering the coming of a calf and milking. Here is a good source I found on dairy cow health and body conditioning:

Body Condition Scoring With Dairy Cattle – FSA4008

Our cow Bonnie is a heifer. This will be her first lactation. When she was due was very important. A cow that is due in September means you won’t be milking in August and part of July. Dairy cows have a dry off period of around 60 days. Bonnie is due in March. Next year, during her next gestation, we won’t be milking in the cold winter months. That is, if we have her bred back, which we are planning to do that. Always be sure to have a vet verify that the cow is bred before you buy. Bonnie is close to her due date. It is obvious that she is bred.

Consider if you want to train the cow to milk, or if that is too much for you. It would be nice to have a cow that knows the milking routine. I am glad we get to start fresh and don’t have any habits to break. I was hesitant to milk train a heifer, but I’m sure I can do it! Jerseys are bred to be milked. Bonnie is not a kicker, but she is capable. I haven’t seen much kicking from her. She does let me touch her udder and loves to be brushed. She is halter broke and I can lead her around. She is a bit bossy and likes to have her own way. I have lots of memories of my family’s Jerseys, from them holding up their milk to just being plain stubborn. I recall a Jersey once lying down in the driveway because she didn’t want to move to a different pasture. They can be opinionated.

Be sure to meet your cow before you buy her. If you can, spend some time with her. Is she around other cows? Is she the head of the herd or submissive to an older cow? Is her environment noisy or quiet? Has she been around kids? Can you touch her udder? The answers to these questions will help you know a lot more about the cow you are buying.

Genetics are important to consider. Bonnie was genetically tested, so I had those results before purchasing. I chose an A2/A2 milk cow. What is all the hype about A2 milk? It is the protein. A2/A2 milk has ONLY the A2 beta casein protein in it. It is a completely different product than commercial milk. Commercial milk is considered A1 milk, though it does undoubtedly have strains of the A2 protein. A1 milk can lead to digestive issues for some individuals. Bonnie’s genetics also show the best Kappa Casein quality, so the milk clots 10% faster when making cheese. She has an intermediate butterfat yield, known as the Beta Lactoglobulin whey protein. Intermediate is still very good.

Polled vs. Non-Polled. Genetically polled cows will not have horns. Bonnie is not genetically polled, but she has had her horns removed. I did not want a family cow with horns. Even though they have a sweet temperament, they can still be dangerous. I was glad her horns were removed. If she passes on that gene to her calves, we will have to decide if we want to de-horn them.

Bonnie has a nice udder with good teat length for hand milking. I grew up doing the hand milking. I don’t plan on purchasing a milking machine. To me, that seems to take the joy out of the process, but to each their own. If purchasing a cow, be sure to check the udder carefully. Consider teat length and how low the bag sits. You do not want a cow with a bag that is hanging below the hocks.

Upon going to see Bonnie for the first time. We did see that one of her back quarter was filling up and a big engorged. She was not supposed to calve for at least 6 weeks. This was concerning, but not abnormal. Heifers often get edema, or a buildup of fluid in the udder. The owner did talk to their vet about it – we requested that they see if it needed treated. They were very helpful by sharing the information they got and passing it along to us! We are keeping an eye on that quarter. It is not red or hot, and not overly engorged. I am planning to treat it with an udder cream when we get closer to Bonnie’s calving date.

Obviously, there are many different things to consider. Every cow is different. Don’t be overwhelmed but certainly consider these things when you first start looking. It will help you narrow down to just the right cow for you! Jerseys are a wonderful milk cow and great addition to any family farm. I just love my Bonnie. It is a joy to see her every morning as she happily eats her breakfast.