Jersey cows have gained international fame as a result of their rich, delicious milk saturated with nutrients. they are a major breed in dairy farms, except that some people think of raising a Jersey cow or two cows in the yard of their house to meet the needs of their family for dairy products.
Here comes an important point, which is the nature and temperament of Jersey cows. After all, you can’t only raise a cow depending on its productivity rate. You’ve to take into account its temperament and ease of raising.
So, are they friendly and can be taken as a pet? or are they commercial cows that are only suitable for breeding on farms only? It is very important that if cows are not of good nature, especially dairy cows.
Otherwise, there will be a possibility of harming humans, so it is important to understand their nature and temperament before we bring them into our yard.
In this blog post, we’re exploring the question of Jersey cows temperament and answering it from various aspects including its friendliness, aggressiveness and the ability of taking it as a pet.
Are Jersey Cows Friendly?
Jersey cows are known to be friendly and have a friendly and curious disposition. In addition to her good looks, she is known for her gentle nature which makes them easy to manage and deal with.
Therefore, caring for and milking them do not represent a great hardship, whether for workers or farmers. They will find that Jersey females are generally well-behaved as they are milking cows and are used to dealing with humans and are not afraid of them most of the time.
It is also patient, calm during milking, and does not resist milking. Also, the possibility of being kicked by a Jersey female during milking is pretty low.
Can Jersey Cows Be Aggressive?
No, Jersey cows are not aggressive, but they are really gentle as we mentioned before. But to be fair, the trait of calm and gentleness is not the same in both sexes of the Jersey breed. Despite the kindness and gentleness of Jersey cows, on the other hand, Jersey bulls are notorious for their aggressiveness and unpredictable random behavior.
Jersey bulls begin aggressive behaviors as soon as they reach 18 months of age! they are often more dangerous to handle and to be around than other breeds of cows, even Holstein bulls.
Therefore, they must be handled with extreme caution while taking all necessary protection measures. as while they may appear cute and cuddly outwardly, they can cause serious injuries to those around when agitated.
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Do Jersey Cows Represent A Good Pet?
Yes, Jersey cow is a really perfect cow to have as a pet for its good mood, ease of management, and wonderfully rich milk. If you want to raise a pet and at the same time get benefit from its acquisition, Jersey cows will be your first choice. Let’s explain it from different aspects:
1. Low Bill
Jersey cows are small cows that ways less than 1,000 pounds, so they do not require a large place to live in. You can keep Jersey in your barn with some poultry without any issues. Moreover, it is very economical in terms of the cost of feed, as its consumption of feed is moderate, if not low, compared to what other dairy cows consume.
In addition, you do not need a large storage place to store its food and feed. That’s why you’re probably a 100% winner from the economic aspect, which is one of the most important aspects when thinking about owning a pet in your home, that will deduct part of your home space and part of your budget.
When you think of owning a pet, you should calculate your budget, and it is preferable if there is a return behind it.
Related Article: How Many Jersey Cows Should You Raise Per Acre?
2. Rich Creamy Milk
As for the benefit that we just mentioned at the end of the previous paragraph, let us explain it to you in the following context. If you look and put a cup of fresh Jersey milk in the fridge, the rich cream will naturally rise to the top and you can see the cream line, the line that separates the milk from the cream very clearly, as it is about a third of a cup or more of it is cream.
Yes, Jersey cow’s milk is a wonderful source of the butter and cream fats that are sold for exorbitant amounts in the supermarket. Not only that, but by drinking a cup of Jersey milk, you will have obtained an abundant amount of various nutrients.
Jersey milk contains 20% more butterfat than the milk of other dairy cows, 15% to 20% more protein, 10% to 12% more phosphorus, and 15% to 18% more calcium.
Jersey milk also has higher levels of the vitamin, B12. You can use this rich milk as you like, whether you drink it and enjoy its delicious taste for you and your family members, or make the cream, butter, yogurt, and whatever you want from various milk recipes.
The amount of milk is also an important factor. Jersey usually produces 3-5 gallons of rich milk per day which is actually less than the amount of milk produced by competing dairy breeds such as Holstein cows that produce 9 gallons of milk a day.
But in addition to the high quality of Jersey cows’ milk, which we referred to in the above lines. This quantity is not considered a defect for anyone who wants to keep Jersey as a pet. The moderate amount of Jersey milk is very reasonable and can be controlled more as it can be milked and managed by family members.
3. Easy To Milk
Jersey cows are quiet and unobtrusive cows when milking Because of their gentle temperament. Therefore, if you are skilled in milking or even a beginner, and this is your first time dealing with milking cows. Jersey will be suitable for you, as it will be patient with you until you master milking.
4. Slow Growing
Jersey cows are known for their slow growth rate. Their growth rate is about 4.2%, which is a somewhat low rate when compared to competing dairy cows such as Holstein cows. Holstein’s growth rate is faster, reaching 6.8%.
It may seem at first glance to be an outright defect. But let us make sure that we are talking about Jersey cows in terms of their suitability to be taken as a pet.
This slow rate of growth is an advantage when you want to raise a castrated Jersey calf for meat and want to keep it in your pen for 9 months until it reaches a suitable weight.
The bull will not become huge and pose a danger to you and your children at the same speed as other breeds of bulls which is difficult to keep in the home pen because of their rapid growth and early aggressive behavior.
Related Article: How Often Do Jersey Cows Have Twins? Science Explained.
Anyway, you will love your jersey cow so much as the jersey is so fun and friendly. Also, with its little needs like size, it will be so adorable as a pet that any family member can take care of and handle.
