Re: Switching Dairy Cows... need info?

[Guest guest]

I don't know where you can get a cow there, but can tell you how they are

ranked. I had a regular Shorthorn, which most people don't realize are dual

purpose and put out excellent milk with a high milk fat percentage.

However, I don't think they have come under the usual ranking which is

Jerseys are number one for the amount of milk fat and the richness of the

milk as well as the flavor. Guernseys are ranked second and Holsteins

third.

That's all I've every found out about them. Of course there are the Brown

Swiss, which I understand give you milk similar to Jersey milk, but I think

the ranking thing is done on the most popular 3 and not so much on those

that are out there, but not in vast numbers. Of course the Brown Swiss is a

huge cow, so you will get tons of milk from one.

There are other breeds that produce good milk is large quantities, but I'm

sure there are others on this list that can help you on those. I'm into Mini

Jerseys so I'm not toally familiar with all the dairy breeds.

K.C.

Switching Dairy Cows... need info?

> HI! I am from Northern MN and we are currently milking a milking

> shorthorn... really out of necessity. We love hand milking and we

> really want to find a dairy cow or calf but aren't completely familiar

> with the kinds of milk from each cow and / or volume of milk produced.

>

> Can anyone help us with this decision?

>

> Does anyone know where we can look to purchase a dairy cow in

> Minnesota?

>

> THANK YOU!!!!!!!

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> PLEASE BE KIND AND TRIM YOUR POSTS WHEN REPLYING!

> Visit our Raw Dairy Files for a wealth of information!

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RawDairy/files/

>

> Archive search: http://onibasu.com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

On average:

a Holstein will produce more milk and pounds butterfat total (not percent though)

A Jersey will have a higher percent butterfat, but not as high total pounds butterfat. A Jersey tends to have a higher feed conversion ratio than Holsteins.

Guernseys give good butterfat tests, known for 'Golden' color (high betacarotene content), and are very docile. In WI in 50-60's as I understand they were the cows to have, then the Holstein took over for pounds of production which was favored by milk pricing as fat was bad. Guerseys do not survive well in freestall barns to compete for feed and such as they are timid. (Jerseys on the other hand tend not to be afraid of a big Holstein depsite the extreme size difference) Lastly, on Guernseys a local Guersey farmer said, (about calves) "Their purpose in life is to die." The calves are 'weaker' and need more TLC. And Guernseys are harder to get bred as they are noted for higher incidence of metritis as they have more 'folds' in the uterus for infection to hang up in.

Brown Swiss are big, stubborn, milk good, have good feet and legs (been told they don't have the interdigital fold of skin in which hairy heel warts tend to begin in), and they are slow to mature (about 3 months later at 1st calving than Holsteins. Swiss calves are dumb as a box of rocks. In general, they are big stubborn, cows.

Milking Shorthorn are the three way breed- milk, meat, and draft. They can't quite do anything well, but they exist. Higher testing milk, descent longevity, strong immue systems, better meat quality, and a smaller cow.

Aryshire- In my experience good milk close to Holstein, higher test than Holstein, almost as big as a Holstein, but I've seen them a little more high strung.

All the breeds have a purpose. Holsteins are favored for milk production, Jersey for components and dealing with heat stress and they calves easier than Holstein, Guernsey breed is from the past they don't fit most modern systems, Brown Swiss are around as are Aryshires. Many of the breeds seem to used to some extent in crossbreeding programs especially on grazing programs. The current national milk program favors the Holstein. If you can find a Guernsey, I think they may fit a hand milking program the best. (If memory serves me correct, they were developed during some war so the women at the homefront could handle this docile cow)

Switching Dairy Cows... need info?> HI! I am from Northern MN and we are currently milking a milking> shorthorn... really out of necessity. We love hand milking and we> really want to find a dairy cow or calf but aren't completely familiar> with the kinds of milk from each cow and / or volume of milk produced.>> Can anyone help us with this decision?>> Does anyone know where we can look to purchase a dairy cow in> Minnesota?>> THANK YOU!!!!!!!>>>>>>>>> PLEASE BE KIND AND TRIM YOUR POSTS WHEN REPLYING!> Visit our Raw Dairy Files for a wealth of information!> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RawDairy/files/>> Archive search: http://onibasu.com>>>

[Guest guest]

, you forgot to mention that Jersey milk is about as golden as they get. You ought to see the colostrum. The first time I milked a Mini Jersey, I thought there was something wrong with her milk because of the color being such a dark yellow.

I have heard that people in different parts of the country think Shorthorns are small. Maybe the milking type, but the Shorthorns out here are huge and the same with all of them I have seen throughout the west. My first girl weighed 1800 lbs. and 58" at the hip and my second 2000 lbs. and 60" at the hip.

But, they are also known for being smart and extremely easy calfing. I talked to one man in either Oregon or Calif. who had a good sized herd (a few hundred) and said he has never owned pullers or chains and only has one cow that the calf has to be turn on every time. I know my Scarlet didn't even know she had a calf. Squirted that little bugger out and got up and walked away. I went in to wipe his face and she came back and couldn't figure out what that thing was and snorted at it, bit his ear and when he cried, she sniffed him and just started cleaning and loved the heck out of him. They are great moms and I love them.

I would like to know just how small they are out your way. Know any breeders I can talk to?

K.C.

Switching Dairy Cows... need info?> HI! I am from Northern MN and we are currently milking a milking> shorthorn... really out of necessity. We love hand milking and we> really want to find a dairy cow or calf but aren't completely familiar> with the kinds of milk from each cow and / or volume of milk produced.>> Can anyone help us with this decision?>> Does anyone know where we can look to purchase a dairy cow in> Minnesota?>> THANK YOU!!!!!!!>>>>>>>>> PLEASE BE KIND AND TRIM YOUR POSTS WHEN REPLYING!> Visit our Raw Dairy Files for a wealth of information!> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RawDairy/files/>> Archive search: http://onibasu.com>>>

[Guest guest]

I milk and raise Brown Swiss and don't find them any more stupid or stubborn than any other. I have had both Jersey and Holstine and like my BS better. They are large but give both quantity and quality milk. My springer is a love and would stand for you to scratch and pet her all day. She will come fresh in July along with her mom. This will be mom's fouth freshening. Both are bred to BS bulls that I raised. I raise bulls for butcher for the last 10 years and find them just as good as any other. By the way most dairy calves are dumb as a box of rocks. Unlike beef calves brains are not required.

Chris

Christipaul Farm

Brown Swiss are big, stubborn, milk good, have good feet and legs (been told they don't have the interdigital fold of skin in which hairy heel warts tend to begin in), and they are slow to mature (about 3 months later at 1st calving than Holsteins. Swiss calves are dumb as a box of rocks. In general, they are big stubborn, cows.

[Guest guest]

I don't find the dairy calves dumb.

K.C.

Re: Switching Dairy Cows... need info?

I milk and raise Brown Swiss and don't find them any more stupid or stubborn than any other. I have had both Jersey and Holstine and like my BS better. They are large but give both quantity and quality milk. My springer is a love and would stand for you to scratch and pet her all day. She will come fresh in July along with her mom. This will be mom's fouth freshening. Both are bred to BS bulls that I raised. I raise bulls for butcher for the last 10 years and find them just as good as any other. By the way most dairy calves are dumb as a box of rocks. Unlike beef calves brains are not required.

Chris

Christipaul Farm

Brown Swiss are big, stubborn, milk good, have good feet and legs (been told they don't have the interdigital fold of skin in which hairy heel warts tend to begin in), and they are slow to mature (about 3 months later at 1st calving than Holsteins. Swiss calves are dumb as a box of rocks. In general, they are big stubborn, cows.

[Guest guest]

Yes, the higher fat content makes it a golden milk. Guernsey milk is notoious for the golden color from the beta caratene. Some of you may be familar with the Golden Guernsey label. Made famous for the 'golden' milk and guernsey farmers were paid a premium for their milk.

Colostrum from even Holsteins is, well should be, a rich golden color. The fat, protein, mineral, Ig content on colostrum is elevated, but lactose is down. The rich milk is important to the first feeding of the calf because a calf can only absord the Ig into its blood in the first 6 hours with rapid decline thereafter with complete shutoff by 24 hours. Colostrum should be rich color and content.

Shorthorns, Jerseys, and other breeds: Modern breeding changed the dairy breeds amazingly quickly. At the turn of the century a mature Holstein would weigh near 1000 pounds. Now a mature Holsein could go 1600 pounds easily. "Bigger is better" There are tradeoffs to high milk production 'created.' Jerseys and other breeds followed suit. You go into some show herds and you'll see Jersey as big as some mature Holsteins with comparble milk production. Same goes for the other breeds- there are generalizations, but you can put together big animals of a breed as dispel the stereotypical size and production levels. But get out into commercial herd and generalizations tend to remain.

Milking Shorthorns are not that common here. I know of one herd that uses Shorthorn as dairy and beef cows. He doesn't manage much for genetic progress. His culling strategy, I kid you not, is often- "Gonna sell some cows today" so back the trailer to the barn door and the first cows on the trailer are the cows to go. I seen it firsthand.

I don't know how "mini's" compare beside being smaller. My concern for them is that if they are pure bred of conventional breed that the 'runts' of the bunch were selected to be small. Is this how they came about? I understand Dexters are all small by nature.

----- Original Message -----

From: Tinybabe

, you forgot to mention that Jersey milk is about as golden as they get. You ought to see the colostrum. The first time I milked a Mini Jersey, I thought there was something wrong with her milk because of the color being such a dark yellow.

I have heard that people in different parts of the country think Shorthorns are small. Maybe the milking type, but the Shorthorns out here are huge and the same with all of them I have seen throughout the west. My first girl weighed 1800 lbs. and 58" at the hip and my second 2000 lbs. and 60" at the hip.

But, they are also known for being smart and extremely easy calfing. I talked to one man in either Oregon or Calif. who had a good sized herd (a few hundred) and said he has never owned pullers or chains and only has one cow that the calf has to be turn on every time. I know my Scarlet didn't even know she had a calf. Squirted that little bugger out and got up and walked away. I went in to wipe his face and she came back and couldn't figure out what that thing was and snorted at it, bit his ear and when he cried, she sniffed him and just started cleaning and loved the heck out of him. They are great moms and I love them.

I would like to know just how small they are out your way. Know any breeders I can talk to?

K.C.

[Guest guest]

That comment was a little TIC. When you put a Brown Swiss into a herd of Holsteins, they tend to be the last ones in the trip to the barn. They tend to be stubborn. (It becomes obvious when you work with other breeds of cows) One BS farmer will tube colostrum into the calves at birth and then not worry if they refuse to drink for the first week. Ask a majority of farmers and they will agree BS are not the brighest. Not saying that isn't bad.

Re: Switching Dairy Cows... need info?

I milk and raise Brown Swiss and don't find them any more stupid or stubborn than any other. I have had both Jersey and Holstine and like my BS better. They are large but give both quantity and quality milk. My springer is a love and would stand for you to scratch and pet her all day. She will come fresh in July along with her mom. This will be mom's fouth freshening. Both are bred to BS bulls that I raised. I raise bulls for butcher for the last 10 years and find them just as good as any other. By the way most dairy calves are dumb as a box of rocks. Unlike beef calves brains are not required.

Chris

Christipaul Farm

Brown Swiss are big, stubborn, milk good, have good feet and legs (been told they don't have the interdigital fold of skin in which hairy heel warts tend to begin in), and they are slow to mature (about 3 months later at 1st calving than Holsteins. Swiss calves are dumb as a box of rocks. In general, they are big stubborn, cows.

[Guest guest]

Jerseys were small from the beginning. It was the dairyman that discovered how wonderful their milk was and took the bigger ones to breed to and continue breeding to. That's why you will see smaller ones born to large Jerseys. It's that wonderful small gene that makes it way through regularly. They are not RUNTS.

When they brought that little Jersey to my school when I was in the 4th grade, she was very small....probably what we would call a mini now. That's how they all were until MAN stepped into the picture.

I've never seen a Jersey as big as a Holstein. My friend has some 50-60 Jerseys and a Holstein she had when she was in 4H years ago. That Holstein is a giant among the Jerseys. When I asked my ABS guy which was still considered the smallest dairy breed, he said, without hesitation, the Jersey. I'm sure there are some that are pretty big, but not near what the Holstein is today.

K.C.

Re: Switching Dairy Cows... need info?

Yes, the higher fat content makes it a golden milk. Guernsey milk is notoious for the golden color from the beta caratene. Some of you may be familar with the Golden Guernsey label. Made famous for the 'golden' milk and guernsey farmers were paid a premium for their milk.

Colostrum from even Holsteins is, well should be, a rich golden color. The fat, protein, mineral, Ig content on colostrum is elevated, but lactose is down. The rich milk is important to the first feeding of the calf because a calf can only absord the Ig into its blood in the first 6 hours with rapid decline thereafter with complete shutoff by 24 hours. Colostrum should be rich color and content.

Shorthorns, Jerseys, and other breeds: Modern breeding changed the dairy breeds amazingly quickly. At the turn of the century a mature Holstein would weigh near 1000 pounds. Now a mature Holsein could go 1600 pounds easily. "Bigger is better" There are tradeoffs to high milk production 'created.' Jerseys and other breeds followed suit. You go into some show herds and you'll see Jersey as big as some mature Holsteins with comparble milk production. Same goes for the other breeds- there are generalizations, but you can put together big animals of a breed as dispel the stereotypical size and production levels. But get out into commercial herd and generalizations tend to remain.

Milking Shorthorns are not that common here. I know of one herd that uses Shorthorn as dairy and beef cows. He doesn't manage much for genetic progress. His culling strategy, I kid you not, is often- "Gonna sell some cows today" so back the trailer to the barn door and the first cows on the trailer are the cows to go. I seen it firsthand.

I don't know how "mini's" compare beside being smaller. My concern for them is that if they are pure bred of conventional breed that the 'runts' of the bunch were selected to be small. Is this how they came about? I understand Dexters are all small by nature.

----- Original Message -----

From: Tinybabe

, you forgot to mention that Jersey milk is about as golden as they get. You ought to see the colostrum. The first time I milked a Mini Jersey, I thought there was something wrong with her milk because of the color being such a dark yellow.

I have heard that people in different parts of the country think Shorthorns are small. Maybe the milking type, but the Shorthorns out here are huge and the same with all of them I have seen throughout the west. My first girl weighed 1800 lbs. and 58" at the hip and my second 2000 lbs. and 60" at the hip.

But, they are also known for being smart and extremely easy calfing. I talked to one man in either Oregon or Calif. who had a good sized herd (a few hundred) and said he has never owned pullers or chains and only has one cow that the calf has to be turn on every time. I know my Scarlet didn't even know she had a calf. Squirted that little bugger out and got up and walked away. I went in to wipe his face and she came back and couldn't figure out what that thing was and snorted at it, bit his ear and when he cried, she sniffed him and just started cleaning and loved the heck out of him. They are great moms and I love them.

I would like to know just how small they are out your way. Know any breeders I can talk to?

K.C.

[Guest guest]

If you ever get to Madison, WI in early Oct. go to World Dairy Expo. Lots of nice cows and some good sized Jerseys that come close to being as big as some smaller Holsteins in commercial herds. The classification system used for dairy animals, qualifying the 'beauty' weighs height as a positive and thus taller cows are wanted for show. Yes, as I mentioned it is genetic selection by man that make the Modern Cow. The Jersey is small, but at WDE, there are some big Jerseys and big any breed for that matter- lots of high type cows by the classification scale.

Re: Switching Dairy Cows... need info?

Yes, the higher fat content makes it a golden milk. Guernsey milk is notoious for the golden color from the beta caratene. Some of you may be familar with the Golden Guernsey label. Made famous for the 'golden' milk and guernsey farmers were paid a premium for their milk.

Colostrum from even Holsteins is, well should be, a rich golden color. The fat, protein, mineral, Ig content on colostrum is elevated, but lactose is down. The rich milk is important to the first feeding of the calf because a calf can only absord the Ig into its blood in the first 6 hours with rapid decline thereafter with complete shutoff by 24 hours. Colostrum should be rich color and content.

Shorthorns, Jerseys, and other breeds: Modern breeding changed the dairy breeds amazingly quickly. At the turn of the century a mature Holstein would weigh near 1000 pounds. Now a mature Holsein could go 1600 pounds easily. "Bigger is better" There are tradeoffs to high milk production 'created.' Jerseys and other breeds followed suit. You go into some show herds and you'll see Jersey as big as some mature Holsteins with comparble milk production. Same goes for the other breeds- there are generalizations, but you can put together big animals of a breed as dispel the stereotypical size and production levels. But get out into commercial herd and generalizations tend to remain.

Milking Shorthorns are not that common here. I know of one herd that uses Shorthorn as dairy and beef cows. He doesn't manage much for genetic progress. His culling strategy, I kid you not, is often- "Gonna sell some cows today" so back the trailer to the barn door and the first cows on the trailer are the cows to go. I seen it firsthand.

I don't know how "mini's" compare beside being smaller. My concern for them is that if they are pure bred of conventional breed that the 'runts' of the bunch were selected to be small. Is this how they came about? I understand Dexters are all small by nature.

----- Original Message -----

From: Tinybabe

, you forgot to mention that Jersey milk is about as golden as they get. You ought to see the colostrum. The first time I milked a Mini Jersey, I thought there was something wrong with her milk because of the color being such a dark yellow.

I have heard that people in different parts of the country think Shorthorns are small. Maybe the milking type, but the Shorthorns out here are huge and the same with all of them I have seen throughout the west. My first girl weighed 1800 lbs. and 58" at the hip and my second 2000 lbs. and 60" at the hip.

But, they are also known for being smart and extremely easy calfing. I talked to one man in either Oregon or Calif. who had a good sized herd (a few hundred) and said he has never owned pullers or chains and only has one cow that the calf has to be turn on every time. I know my Scarlet didn't even know she had a calf. Squirted that little bugger out and got up and walked away. I went in to wipe his face and she came back and couldn't figure out what that thing was and snorted at it, bit his ear and when he cried, she sniffed him and just started cleaning and loved the heck out of him. They are great moms and I love them.

I would like to know just how small they are out your way. Know any breeders I can talk to?

K.C.

[Guest guest]

I find the dairy calves just don't have street smarts a beef calf has. We are bottling an angus steer right now and boy do I miss not having enough milk around here. He is hungry all the time on this fake milk powder stuff. Two weeks at most we should have the real thing again. Can't wait.

Debbie ChikouskyManitoba, Canadagdchik@...http://www.winnipegbeach.com/chikouskyfarms/

Re: Switching Dairy Cows... need info?

I don't find the dairy calves dumb.

K.C.

[Guest guest]

When I was a girl in Belleview, NE I can remember the milkman came to our door and the Dairy was called Golden Guernsey because all the cows were Guernsey. Boy do I miss that cream line milk of those days.

Ann StagnerTornado Alley Nubians & Boersville, AR

STOP NAIS NOW http://NoNAIS.org Arkansas_Against_NAIS

Should I Write My Congressman?Each Congressman has 2 ends, a thinking end and a sitting end. Since his Whole Success depends on his Seat, WHY BOTHER. (Chad Trio Early 70s)

Re: Switching Dairy Cows... need info?

Yes, the higher fat content makes it a golden milk. Guernsey milk is notoious for the golden color from the beta caratene. Some of you may be familar with the Golden Guernsey label. Made famous for the 'golden' milk and guernsey farmers were paid a premium for their milk.

Colostrum from even Holsteins is, well should be, a rich golden color. The fat, protein, mineral, Ig content on colostrum is elevated, but lactose is down. The rich milk is important to the first feeding of the calf because a calf can only absord the Ig into its blood in the first 6 hours with rapid decline thereafter with complete shutoff by 24 hours. Colostrum should be rich color and content.

Shorthorns, Jerseys, and other breeds: Modern breeding changed the dairy breeds amazingly quickly. At the turn of the century a mature Holstein would weigh near 1000 pounds. Now a mature Holsein could go 1600 pounds easily. "Bigger is better" There are tradeoffs to high milk production 'created.' Jerseys and other breeds followed suit. You go into some show herds and you'll see Jersey as big as some mature Holsteins with comparble milk production. Same goes for the other breeds- there are generalizations, but you can put together big animals of a breed as dispel the stereotypical size and production levels. But get out into commercial herd and generalizations tend to remain.

Milking Shorthorns are not that common here. I know of one herd that uses Shorthorn as dairy and beef cows. He doesn't manage much for genetic progress. His culling strategy, I kid you not, is often- "Gonna sell some cows today" so back the trailer to the barn door and the first cows on the trailer are the cows to go. I seen it firsthand.

I don't know how "mini's" compare beside being smaller. My concern for them is that if they are pure bred of conventional breed that the 'runts' of the bunch were selected to be small. Is this how they came about? I understand Dexters are all small by nature.

----- Original Message -----

From: Tinybabe

, you forgot to mention that Jersey milk is about as golden as they get. You ought to see the colostrum. The first time I milked a Mini Jersey, I thought there was something wrong with her milk because of the color being such a dark yellow.

I have heard that people in different parts of the country think Shorthorns are small. Maybe the milking type, but the Shorthorns out here are huge and the same with all of them I have seen throughout the west. My first girl weighed 1800 lbs. and 58" at the hip and my second 2000 lbs. and 60" at the hip.

But, they are also known for being smart and extremely easy calfing. I talked to one man in either Oregon or Calif. who had a good sized herd (a few hundred) and said he has never owned pullers or chains and only has one cow that the calf has to be turn on every time. I know my Scarlet didn't even know she had a calf. Squirted that little bugger out and got up and walked away. I went in to wipe his face and she came back and couldn't figure out what that thing was and snorted at it, bit his ear and when he cried, she sniffed him and just started cleaning and loved the heck out of him. They are great moms and I love them.

I would like to know just how small they are out your way. Know any breeders I can talk to?

K.C.

[Guest guest]

>Jerseys were small from the beginning. It was the dairyman that

>>discovered how wonderful their milk was and took the bigger ones to

>breed to and continue breeding to. That's why you will see smaller

ones >born to large Jerseys. It's that wonderful small gene that

makes it way >through regularly. They are not RUNTS.

>When they brought that little Jersey to my school when I was in the

4th >grade, she was very small....probably what we would call a mini

now. >That's how they all were until MAN stepped into the picture.

My understanding of the history of cattle is that before MAN stepped

into the picture, cattle were quite large.

When early agrarians began to domesticate cows, they chose smaller

animals that were more easily managed. Goats and sheep were

domesticated first, likely because of their smaller size.

All breeds (Beef, Dairy, Mini.. whatever) of cattle were " developed "

by man by selectively breeding once wild strains.

Continental breeds like Maine Anjou, Simmental, Chiannia, Charlois

etc. more closely resemble their wild forbears in size. Of course,

everyone is familiar with the Texas Longhorn (orginated from Spanish

cattle) whose steers may grow to 3,000+ pounds if allowed.

The more diminutive dairy breeds (Jersey and Guernsey) were bred on

small islands where forage may have been scarce and small size and

feed efficiency became an advantage.

Man continues to manipulate the genetic traits of cattle. If you look

at pictures of butterball fat, waist high Angus steers from the 1940's

and compare them to " modern " Angus, you'd be amazed at the changes. Of

course, neither resemble their wild ancestors. For one thing, they

don't have horns, another trait actively selected for by MAN.

Best,

Jody Osmund

Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm CSA

Ottawa, IL

[Guest guest]

I remember when Angus were small as well. When I came to Idaho, where they

raise many Angus, I was AMAZED at how big they were as I hadn't seen any for

some time.

K.C.

Re: Switching Dairy Cows... need info?

> >Jerseys were small from the beginning. It was the dairyman that

>>>discovered how wonderful their milk was and took the bigger ones to

>>breed to and continue breeding to. That's why you will see smaller

> ones >born to large Jerseys. It's that wonderful small gene that

> makes it way >through regularly. They are not RUNTS.

>

>>When they brought that little Jersey to my school when I was in the

> 4th >grade, she was very small....probably what we would call a mini

> now. >That's how they all were until MAN stepped into the picture.

>

> My understanding of the history of cattle is that before MAN stepped

> into the picture, cattle were quite large.

>

> When early agrarians began to domesticate cows, they chose smaller

> animals that were more easily managed. Goats and sheep were

> domesticated first, likely because of their smaller size.

>

> All breeds (Beef, Dairy, Mini.. whatever) of cattle were " developed "

> by man by selectively breeding once wild strains.

>

> Continental breeds like Maine Anjou, Simmental, Chiannia, Charlois

> etc. more closely resemble their wild forbears in size. Of course,

> everyone is familiar with the Texas Longhorn (orginated from Spanish

> cattle) whose steers may grow to 3,000+ pounds if allowed.

>

> The more diminutive dairy breeds (Jersey and Guernsey) were bred on

> small islands where forage may have been scarce and small size and

> feed efficiency became an advantage.

>

> Man continues to manipulate the genetic traits of cattle. If you look

> at pictures of butterball fat, waist high Angus steers from the 1940's

> and compare them to " modern " Angus, you'd be amazed at the changes. Of

> course, neither resemble their wild ancestors. For one thing, they

> don't have horns, another trait actively selected for by MAN.

>

>

> Best,

>

> Jody Osmund

> Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm CSA

> Ottawa, IL

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> PLEASE BE KIND AND TRIM YOUR POSTS WHEN REPLYING!

> Visit our Raw Dairy Files for a wealth of information!

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RawDairy/files/

>

> Archive search: http://onibasu.com

>

>

>