Miniature Jerseys: It Was Love At First Sight
I fell in love and never got over it … no matter how hard I tried to move on, I could not forget that moment in time when I looked into those deep, expressive brown eyes and lost my heart. Years passed, and I moved on, and although the dream lay dormant, it did not completely die. Though time had passed, I began to search again for the one I had fallen for so many years ago, but to no avail. Finally, my luck began to change when I began to get some information leading me to believe I might once again find my lost love. Still another year passed and it seemed as if the dream would never become a reality.
You are probably wondering why I would remain so passionate after so many years, and I am sure you would question why my wonderful husband of less than a year would tolerate my endless search for an old flame. The answer lies in the fact that I was not searching for a man, but rather, I was searching for a small, gentle cow like the one that had made an impression on me when I was but a child. It began the day my mom and I went to pick up some fresh milk for our family. I was introduced to a small, gentle, Jersey cow with big, brown eyes. Standing in the middle of that field, losing all track of time, I lost my heart. Right then, I knew I wanted a Jersey cow, and it was a dream that never left me.
Life led me down various paths, and I never had the opportunity to really pursue my dream of owning one of those sweet little cows until I married a farmer. When I mentioned to my husband that I wanted to buy a dairy cow, I don’t think he took me seriously at first. When he found out just how serious I was, he began building me a new little barn and I began looking for my cow. I searched the ads daily to find a Jersey cow and when one was advertised, I would call and make arrangements to go and see it. After I had made contact with several Jersey owners and the cows they had did not meet my specifications, my brother called and mentioned seeing an ad for Miniature Jerseys. This is when I began to get really excited. You see, about a year ago, I was searching the Internet for Jersey cows and came across a website about Miniature Jerseys. They sounded like the little cow I remembered from my childhood and the picture reminded me of her as well. As I looked further, I realized the cows were somewhat rare and that there was a waiting list for heifer calves. I tried to contact the individual who had posted the web page but was not successful in my attempts and just kind of put the whole thing on the “back burner ” When my brother mentioned the Miniature Jerseys, I immediately became excited at the prospect that these cows might be exactly what I was looking for.
My husband and I traveled about 900 miles, round trip, so that we could see the cows for ourselves before we purchased them. To say that I am passionate about the Miniature Jersey is an understatement. Although I have much to learn about these marvelous animals, I know enough to be sold on the breed. The Miniature Jersey is not a bred-down version of the Jersey, but rather, the Jersey in its purest form. The Miniature Jersey is simply smaller than the Jerseys of today, in part because milking stock of today has been bred to be bigger and produce more milk in the commercial parlors. These wonderful little animals were imported from the Channel Island off the coast of Britain to the United States. They are also known as the “Barnyard” Jersey, “Island” Jersey, “Rabbit-eyed” Jersey, “Guinea” Jersey, and my personal favorite, the “Old World” Jersey.
The cow is measured from the hip and must be 42 inches or less to be classified as a Miniature Jersey. In general, the cows weigh between 600 and 650 pounds and the bulls weigh around 850 pounds. A baby calf will weigh between 15 and 30 pounds and is 18 to 30 inches from the hip.
Having spent some time in a milking parlor with Holsteins, I have to say I am thoroughly impressed with the laid back temperament of the Miniature Jersey. These cows love to be around people, making them easy to handle and even making them a great pet.
Miniature Jerseys are easier to keep than larger breeds of cattle . They require less feed, are able to be maintained on smaller acreage and in smaller facilities. Fencing does not have to be elaborate either. We have a single strand of electric wire around most of our pasture, and are able to keep our Miniature Jerseys in without any problem.
The Miniature Jersey makes an ideal milk cow. She gives two to four gallons of milk a day compared to the 10 or more gallons a day that a commercial dairy cow might produce. In this manner the homesteader is not left with more milk than she knows what to do with! The milk is also high in fat content, providing the homesteader with the ability to make butter, cheese, ice cream and whipping cream. In addition to having an adequate milk supply for the family, the excess milk can be used to hand raise and bottle-feed additional calves, sheep or goats. It can also be used to supplement the diet of hogs and chickens.
As farms decrease in size and as land increases in value, I believe the Miniature Jersey and other miniature breeds of cattle will gain more and more popularity. Every generation seems to have a remnant of people who seek to “go back to their roots” and try the ways of their parents, grandparents or great-grandparents. As the population increases and the amount of available land decreases, it is going to get harder and harder to homestead. These little cows provide a means for the person with less land and smaller or minimal facilities to also experience the unique and rewarding way of life that the farmer and homesteader have been enjoying for generations.
It is my understanding that there may be as few as 300 registered Miniature Jerseys in the United States. It is exciting to be a part of a small group of people dedicated to keeping the Miniature Jersey breed from ever becoming extinct. My relationship with this awesome breed of cattle will last throughout my lifetime and help to preserve the breed for generations to come!
Tammy Renee’ Cupp
I wrote this article and submitted it to Countryside magazine. It was published in the November 2007 issue. Although it won’t win any prizes for literature, I think you can at least see my excitement for this wonderful breed. TRC
