You’ve decided that a family milk cow is for you, and now you’re ready to go out to buy your first cow. What to ask a seller when buying a family milk cow is important. Use this list of questions to help you leave feeling confident with your purchase and on the right foot with your new family milk cow.
If you haven’t already checked out my post on what you should know when contemplating or considering a family milk cow, then you should do that here! I go over in great detail all of the things you need to know about owning a family milk cow, plus share the raw honest truth about life with a cow and the cost of it all. You’ll want to know this before starting out with a cow of your own!
Once you’ve made your final decision and you’re ready to buy, there are some things you should ask the seller. Not everyone is honest and some people are just out to make a quick sale on someone else’s naivety. Be sure you are prepared and ready when you meet the seller and before you bring that cow home.
Questions to ask the seller directly
When you first meet with the seller, there are a few things you’ll want to ask him/her to really get a good understanding of your cow and her history. Knowing what to ask a seller when buying a family cow shows that you’ve done your research and are ready. Using the answers to these questions can help you determine if you want to move forward with the sale.
Why are you selling?
Sellers might be selling for a number of reasons, so we can’t just assume that she’s being sold because she’s a bum cow. Some farmers sell cows because they’re not producing enough to hold their own on a dairy farm, but would be producing plenty for a small homestead. Other times, farmers might be selling because they’ve had trouble with mastitis in the past or because they’re not able to get the cow bred back. If this is the case, stay away. You don’t want to deal with these issues either, especially if it’s your first cow.
How old is she?
Dairy cows can live for a long time, but the older they are, the higher the risk during pregnancy and delivery. Cows also have teeth problems as they get older, which can make it difficult for them to eat. Most cows are generally most productive between the ages of 4 and 9, so this is the prime age to look for.
What is she eating?
Drastic changes in a cow’s diet aren’t good, so getting an understanding of what she’s currently eating so that you can feed her the same is a smart option. If you’re looking to only do grass-fed milk, and she’s currently on grain, know that you can’t just stop feeding her grain. Her body is used to that food, and she needs it to continue to produce milk and be healthy. Now, that doesn’t mean that you can’t change her diet eventually, but it should be a gradual process with her health and body condition in your focus at all times.
Is she fence trained?
If she’s coming from a dairy farm, she may not have ever been out on pasture. This might mean that she isn’t going to be able to walk directly out of the trailer and head out into your fence. She might run right through the fence, tearing it down. If she’s not fence trained, that’s not a deal breaker. You just will have to have a plan on how you want to introduce her to the fence to teach her to respect it.
Has she been vaccinated?
Knowing what has been put into your cow’s body is important. If you want to vaccinate, you should know which vaccinations she’s up to date on and which she will need boosters on. If you don’t want to vaccinate, you’ll want to know her history and then determine if you’d like to proceed with the sale based on what you learn.
Has she had any past issues with mastitis or milk fever?
Sometimes mastitis can be a chronic issue. If you have a cow that is always dealing with mastitis, you’re going to be in over your head. The amount of work, time, and treatment you will be dealing with is not worth it when you can get a healthy cow somewhere else. When you’re spending this much money on an animal, you want to make sure she’s healthy.
Jersey cows especially can be apt to getting milk fever after calving. Milk fever is a condition in which the cow’s calcium is depleted. A typical sign is that the cow won’t get up after she calves and will be weak. Knowing if she’s had milk fever before can help you to know to be prepared for it when she calves again, and can give you time to research the treatment options you want to have ready just in case.
Has she been tested for Johnes disease?
Johnes Disease is a fatal disease in cattle that usually doesn’t show up until after 2 years of the initial infection. You can find out more about Johnes at this website.
Is she halter broke?
If you’re wanting a cow that’s halter broke, this is a good question to ask. Having a halter broke cow can be really helpful, and it’s definitely a plus when you’re looking at purchasing a cow.
Is she bred?
You’ll want a cow that’s already bred. Trust me on this one. The AI process (artificial insemination) can get tricky, and getting the cow bred is not something you’ll want to deal with right away. By getting a cow that’s already bred, you’ll be able to get a calf out of the deal. Plus, you won’t have to deal with breeding her right away.
Things to notice and observe about the cow:
In addition to asking the seller direct questions, you’ll also want to make some observations of the cow as well. Here are some things you should look for.
What is her foot health and body condition?
In the image above, August is on the right. You can see her ribs and her hip bones are sticking out. This was right before we weaned the calves, and honestly, we should’ve done it sooner. She wasn’t healthy here; all of her calories were going into making milk and nothing else.
Dairy cows in general are skinny. A healthy cow shouldn’t show any of her short ribs and should have a small triangle under their hip bone. It shouldn’t be too sunken in, but also not completely filled out so you can’t see it (this would be an obese animal).
Check her foot health as well. If her hooves are long, you might consider passing. Finding someone to cut your cow’s hooves on a small homestead is really difficult, and if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, you’ll want to pass. Cow’s foot health is important, as cows who have poor foot health don’t produce as much milk and are less profitable.
What are her teat lengths?
If you’re going to be hand milking, check her teat lengths. You’ll want long teats, which is not what commercial dairy farmers usually want. If you’re planning on machine milking, then this isn’t quite as big of a deal. But, if you are hand milking, then look for long teats! Especially in the back. It’s a real pain to milk out short, little teats.
How does she react to you touching her?
What is her temperament like when you approach her? Does she let you touch her udder? See how she responds to you. If she’s kicky and jumpy in a place where she’s already comfortable, it’s not going to be better when you bring her home to a new environment.
Is she content and chewing her cud?
A happy cow can often be seen chewing their cud. A cow who is chewing her cud is a good indicator that she is happy, healthy, and comfortable with where she is at.
Are you ready?
Hopefully this post has left you knowing exactly what to ask a seller when buying a family cow. You can go into the sale feeling confident and ready. If you are planning on purchasing one, share in the comments what led you to that decision. We’d love to hear your story!
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