Dairy Cow Question

[Localboy]

Why don't they?

You hear about it a lot more because of the fact that dairy heifers are not worth much unless they breed. Because of that, most heifers are checked before they are sold, because people won't pay top money or even bid on them if they don't breed. Alot of times they are not checked by vets and they are damaged, during the test. Farmers, Dealers, and Amish think they can check them by "tubing" and they mess them up from time to time. Most sales have now banned buyers from attempting to check them at the sale. Most big Dairy sales have a vet on site now, and they check them before the sale. When the heifers enter the ring they tell you if they will breed or not. Also a lot of times they are bred AI, and are damaged. Dairy heifers won't breed if they are a twin. You see alot of twin dairy calves. I'm sure there are alot of meat cows that don't breed also, but you don't hear about it because they are not checked. A meat heifer brings the same amount if they breed or not.

 

[Cowgirl]

Dairy heifers won't breed if they are a twin. You see alot of twin dairy calves. I'm sure there are alot of meat cows that don't breed also, but you don't hear about it because they are not checked. A meat heifer brings the same amount if they breed or not.

If both twins are female, then they'll be fine. And there's still a very small chance a female twin will breed. I've known several dairy farmers who will keep a female twin of a very nice cow just in case she is one of the few that will breed.


I'd say the majority of dairy heifers have no problem settling. Out of all the heifers I've raised or worked with, only one or two didn't settle.

I'm not sure why you're saying heifers won't bring much money if they're not already bred. Most dairy heifers (even calves) go for good money, especially in parts of the state where dairy farms are more common.

And it sounds like the OP doesn't care what his heifer is worth, he just wanted to know if it would harm her if he didn't breed her.

 

[Localboy]

No, what I said is they won't bring much if they can't breed. I never said they had to be bred. If they can't breed they are only meat cows, and they will only bring meat money.

 

[CountryLady]

I know this is off topic....BUT

:shrug:

Does anybody have an extra cow they don't want. Or on I can borrow.



I have a horse that is petrified of cows and would like to do some training with him.

 

[petlover12]

You'll want to keep her in that cycle show that she produces, unless she's just for looking at