I am down in the south. I do remember the Jersey's. they were sweet and easy to hand milk. The ones at the dairy were aggravating at times. Thank you, M.L.

Yes I do know about the butter. There is no one left in my family that could answer that question. They really have forgotten how to make butter, buttermilk, and cheese. I am the one that is picking up where they left off. I go through far too much milk to not have one of my own. My little farm needs one. I think it was the Guernsey's that they milked. I need to pull out the old photos. Thank you very much. M.L.

well, things keep falling apart, layer by layer by layer -- obviously, that is intentional too. domestic enemies. vote!

The rubber band thing works well on sheep. Did it for my brother's show lamb way back when.

Glad you added the caveat. Otherwise......

I'd really go with a Jersey. They're readily available, and tend to be nicer to people than the Holsteins. You'll have to figure out how you'll breed (AI or a local bull) and what you'll do with the calves.

The breeds that are the best producers were bred for production, not docility.

If you can read conformation, which is likely, and deal with buying at auction, you can pick up a heifer at a livestock auction. If not, you'd be better off getting a good animal from a successful Jersey dairyman. From the auction you do have to worry more about disease.

You'll get plenty of butter. But you knew that already.

You have worded this well. Tells me you have had your hand on a pitch fork. A ranch hand, now get down here and help me choose a milk cow. Which breed is best. I grew up with a jersey as our milk giver. They were not however the ones used at the dairy. That is a question I need an answer to. No one left in my family that knows.
Sorry to jump into your conversation like this but I really do need the answer. I do not trust every thing I read, so many prefer this or that breed. Does it make any difference. What I remember is the jersey was used because of the milk fat ratio. Thank you Robbie, M.L.

huh. learned something new today. I kinda thought about the aggression thing, but didn't know for sure.

Right. It's rather easy, once you know how. Not as easy as lambs & kids, though. Horses are substantially more difficult, and I leave them to the vet.

Why is it done? Anyone who has owned intact male livestock knows the answer. 600 pounds of testosterone is dangerous. Selective breeding reserves a small number of the male meat animals for breeding. The rest can be found in the meat section of your supermarket.

"Killing animals is disgusting," say some 'city' folk, "we get OUR meat at the grocery store."

Report from someone else's farm, where they actually name their livestock:
Guest: "This beef is delicious!"
Farm child: "No. That's Tasty. We ate Delicious last month."

If you're gonna name them, use appropriate names!

Farm kids, even ones from the city (like me and my wife) seem to have a slightly firmer grasp of reality.

why is it done? Isn't the goal more pigs?

We strung it up by its hind legs, cut it open (one on each side), pulled 'em, cut 'em, dusted 'em and turned it loose. Took less than 5 min.