10 Things You Should Know About Jersey Cattles
The world today owes its milk production to Jersey cows but how much do we really know about this particular breed of cattle? Did you know that Jersey cows originally came from the island of Jersey located on the English Channel? Also, these are one of the most purebred cattles in the world and thrive off easily across major temperate conditions. In this post, we will discuss in depth the 10 basic things that you ought to know about jersey cattles:
1. Longevity:
Jersey breeds are known for their longevity which means a decrease in the need for replacement costs. This in turn increases the lactation periods during the lifetime of these bovines.
2. Disease Resistant:
ersey bovines have great resistance to diseases and are susceptible to cases of dystocia and mastitis unlike other breeds such as the Holstein Friesians. This is why investing in this particular breed of cattles is considered a good investment in the long run. Cattle farms in developing and developed countries looking to keep their herd healthy often choose jerseys over other breeds. Looking for the best farm animal products in the market? Now head to vetproductsdirect.com.au and get a whole range of discounts on different items.
3. Born smaller:
Jersey calves are born smaller in comparison to other breeds, which is an important factor that reduces calving problems and dystocia amongst the animals. The calves also need a warmer environment to thrive initially, possibly a heated environment during birth. Dehydration is also a common thing among the newly born calves and therefore need more fluid in their diet. Looking for vitamins, supplements and health products for your bovines? iHerb has a whole range of discounts on all their products.
4. Need more fat in their diet:
Jersey cows need more fats in their diet, and raising them gets easier if they are raised via weaning. Therefore the first few years of these bovines are critical and need to gain weight at a much faster pace if they are to build their immune systems. Change in temperature is a sign for producers to be more vary about their feeds. You ought to modify the feeds accordingly as per the change in seasons and temperature.
5. Hot and cold:
Jersey cows are usually very docile and therefore have a good temperament. A definite addition that can be considered for someone looking to get calm animals for their small farm.One of the more reasons these docile animals are adaptable to all almost every kind of a situation without any hassles. Jersey bulls, on the other hand, can get quite aggressive and therefore need more caution around them.
6. Considered a luxury almost:
In many parts of the world, bovine milk is concerned to be luxurious as it comes with a high butterfat content of more than 4.84%. This is more than the average milk, and also the protein level reaches close to 4%, again more than other breeds product. Jersey breed still provides 25% more calcium, an average yet better than the standard.
7. Require more calcium while calving:
While jerseys are susceptible to most of the diseases out there but hypocalcemia is somewhat of a common denominator here. This is generally caused due to shortage of blood calcium after calving. There are, however, many different ways to cure this, including the addition of certain ingredients in their diet, including minerals like anionic salts in the diet. This can also be a sensitive period when it comes to monitoring as one needs to be on a constant lookout for their pH levels.
8. Can be bred faster than other breeds:
Jerseys have a tendency of the maturing way earlier than the standard breeds like Holsteins. Hitting puberty early on provides a value allowing one to manage their breeding actively. A calving age of 22 months is considerable in this case, and heifers calving earlier can provide a significant return on the investment. Every single month the first calving is delayed, beyond the 22 months costs, one can get up to $100 per heifer in milk production. Breeding is not a difficult endeavor amongst jerseys and herders report pregnancy reports of more than 28% in standard cases.
9. Adaptable:
As mentioned earlier, Jerseys are more than flexible to extreme temperatures. This means the breed can thrive in the hottest parts of South America but yet thicken its coats during the harsh winters. The breed can survive in most temperate regions on the planet.
10. Distinct Coats:
The coat of Jersey cows can range from tan, black to a pale color. With dainty frames, these make for an attractive breed. The darker shades are usually called Mulberry Switches and come with black mouths and white hair alongside patches.
So, there we have an essential list of 10 things that one should know about Jersey cattle.