The females in our program are all registered with Jersey Canada until such time as the Canadian Miniature Jersey Association can begin to participate in the All Breeds Classification Program. All of our cows in milk participate in the Classification program on an annual basis. Classifying cows during their lactation helps us to identify both the strengths and weaknesses each individual cow has; thereby allowing us to make better choices when breeding.
Our focus is on not only hardy and thrifty *little* cows, but also on type and traits. Proper mammary system (udder depth, teat placement, udder cleft, fore and rear udder attachment, rear udder height and width and teat length) dairy strength and form as well as feet and legs - all necessary traits for a good genomic foundation. Stature or height traits are secondary because first and foremost to have a good cow, she must have a good foundation. We believe, that without a good foundation, there will be no thrift, no hardiness or longevity and fertility as well as production can be adversely affected.
Our cow herd lives their lives out of doors, in a herd setting and much of the time with their calf at side. We do have a few exceptions to that rule - cows that will "milk her back off" (spending too much time and energy on raising her calf), cows that raise orphans or grafted calves and cows that are designated as strictly milking cows will all spend time separated from their calves; mostly as a benefit to the cow's overall health. Our herd calves seasonally, beginning in April and we work to be competed by the end of May. Most all of our cows are hand milked and a few are trained to milk on a portable milker. The focus of our cow's diet is mixed grass - grazing on our creek pastures spring through fall. From deep snow season through green grass again, the cattle are eating dry, mixed grass hay which has been grown on our property. We also feed locally grown and sourced crushed grains to our milking cows while in their stanchions for milking.
We do not bottle raise calves nor will we sell calves for bottle rearing. We believe that while temperament is largely genetic a good portion is also herd dynamics and handling. All calves have or get a momma to raise them and all calves are either members of the cow's herd or they are raised by a "bovine babysitter" in a calf mob. Calves are taught from an early age to tie, lead and accept handling; all as building blocks to becoming a Bovine Good Citizen. There is no greater feeling than to walk out to the calves and be mobbed for attention and scratches than to have those calves mature and seek you out for grooming and attention!
Up to this point, we have been using live cover to breed our cows, but beginning in 2021 we will be using SOME Artificial Insemination with purebred, smaller stature (standard) Jersey bulls with proven genomics to improve on rear udder height and width, cleft and fore udder attachment while preserving teat length and placement. Corrective mating involves trying to correct a cow’s faults by breeding her to a bull that is strong in those areas. Usually breeders use this strategy to correct conformation problems. For example, a cow with a poor suspensory ligament in her udder would be bred to a bull proven to produce cows with excellent udders. While this method usually leads to some genetic improvement, it is important to remember that we cannot change every trait at once. Selecting a few key traits that you want to correct will usually be more successful and make breeding decisions more straightforward than trying to improve 10 traits at once. Selecting a sire is the most important decision you make to improve the genetics in your herd. If you use bulls with poor genetics than your herd will not improve and will fall quickly behind the rest of the breed.
Over the years, we have been breeding down stature by utilizing heavy production Dexter cows, so as you look through the following females you will find that many of them are sired by either Standard Jersey bulls or Mini Jersey bulls which were bred to Dexter cows. Those that are not Dexter have been selected for their smaller stature to be bred to the Mini Jersey bulls. This has resulted in a moderation in stature of the home grown females to being that of Mid Sized height (43-46 inches tall to the top of the hook bone); which in our opinion provides us with an easier to milk cow as well as a cow which is tall enough to keep an engorged udder off the ground and out of harms way.
“breed the best and cull the rest”
Our focus is on not only hardy and thrifty *little* cows, but also on type and traits. Proper mammary system (udder depth, teat placement, udder cleft, fore and rear udder attachment, rear udder height and width and teat length) dairy strength and form as well as feet and legs - all necessary traits for a good genomic foundation. Stature or height traits are secondary because first and foremost to have a good cow, she must have a good foundation. We believe, that without a good foundation, there will be no thrift, no hardiness or longevity and fertility as well as production can be adversely affected.
Our cow herd lives their lives out of doors, in a herd setting and much of the time with their calf at side. We do have a few exceptions to that rule - cows that will "milk her back off" (spending too much time and energy on raising her calf), cows that raise orphans or grafted calves and cows that are designated as strictly milking cows will all spend time separated from their calves; mostly as a benefit to the cow's overall health. Our herd calves seasonally, beginning in April and we work to be competed by the end of May. Most all of our cows are hand milked and a few are trained to milk on a portable milker. The focus of our cow's diet is mixed grass - grazing on our creek pastures spring through fall. From deep snow season through green grass again, the cattle are eating dry, mixed grass hay which has been grown on our property. We also feed locally grown and sourced crushed grains to our milking cows while in their stanchions for milking.
We do not bottle raise calves nor will we sell calves for bottle rearing. We believe that while temperament is largely genetic a good portion is also herd dynamics and handling. All calves have or get a momma to raise them and all calves are either members of the cow's herd or they are raised by a "bovine babysitter" in a calf mob. Calves are taught from an early age to tie, lead and accept handling; all as building blocks to becoming a Bovine Good Citizen. There is no greater feeling than to walk out to the calves and be mobbed for attention and scratches than to have those calves mature and seek you out for grooming and attention!
Up to this point, we have been using live cover to breed our cows, but beginning in 2021 we will be using SOME Artificial Insemination with purebred, smaller stature (standard) Jersey bulls with proven genomics to improve on rear udder height and width, cleft and fore udder attachment while preserving teat length and placement. Corrective mating involves trying to correct a cow’s faults by breeding her to a bull that is strong in those areas. Usually breeders use this strategy to correct conformation problems. For example, a cow with a poor suspensory ligament in her udder would be bred to a bull proven to produce cows with excellent udders. While this method usually leads to some genetic improvement, it is important to remember that we cannot change every trait at once. Selecting a few key traits that you want to correct will usually be more successful and make breeding decisions more straightforward than trying to improve 10 traits at once. Selecting a sire is the most important decision you make to improve the genetics in your herd. If you use bulls with poor genetics than your herd will not improve and will fall quickly behind the rest of the breed.
Over the years, we have been breeding down stature by utilizing heavy production Dexter cows, so as you look through the following females you will find that many of them are sired by either Standard Jersey bulls or Mini Jersey bulls which were bred to Dexter cows. Those that are not Dexter have been selected for their smaller stature to be bred to the Mini Jersey bulls. This has resulted in a moderation in stature of the home grown females to being that of Mid Sized height (43-46 inches tall to the top of the hook bone); which in our opinion provides us with an easier to milk cow as well as a cow which is tall enough to keep an engorged udder off the ground and out of harms way.
“breed the best and cull the rest”
OUR CURRENT HERD SIRE
SURE SHOT NORTHERN TORO
DNA tested (Igenity):
Chondro and PHA NEGATIVE
A1/A2 Kappa Casein BB Beta Casein AB Beta Lac. BB
JH1T (non carrier for Early Embryonic Lethals Haplotype)
Hetero Polled
Tuberculosis –NEGATIVE
Leucosis -NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
Johnes -NEGATIVE
Bluetongue -NEGATIVE
Height: October, 2018 at 44.5" tall at the hook; 5 years old
Semen collected and available in for Canadian sales.
$100/single straw.
$90/straw when buying a half cane (5 straws)
$80/straw when buying a cane (10 straws)
***Buyer is responsible for shipping from the Stud and ALL related costs***
Toro is polled and has that classic Baby Doll head. He has a very high and tight scrotum with an excellent back tilt which means that he will pass along to his daughters a propensity towards nice high and tight udders with great medial suspensory ligament. He is an absolute joy to be around; he is a lover of attention but with exquisite manners and he passes this temperament on to his offspring. He leads, loads, ties and rides like a true gentleman! He is VERY masculine; he IS boss bull and challenges any bulls (beef or dairy) who dare to cross his fence line!
He was assessed by Holstein Canada's Classifier on August 22, 2020 and although he could not receive an official Classification, he was determined to be "Very Good"
Toro's breeder offered this with regard to Toro's dam and maternal grand dam: "Charlotte was 45 inches. Her mother 6101 was also 45 inches. Charlotte was dehorned. She had the best disposition. She was very patient and loved every calf. Beautiful udder. I will have to see what I can find for udder pics. Teats were about 2 1/2 incheslong. Correct placement." which I have copied verbatim from the message I received from Sara Haas at Sure Shot Cattle Company.
RETIRED FALL 2020
DNA tested (Igenity):
Chondro and PHA NEGATIVE
A1/A2 Kappa Casein BB Beta Casein AB Beta Lac. BB
JH1T (non carrier for Early Embryonic Lethals Haplotype)
Hetero Polled
Tuberculosis –NEGATIVE
Leucosis -NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
Johnes -NEGATIVE
Bluetongue -NEGATIVE
Height: October, 2018 at 44.5" tall at the hook; 5 years old
Semen collected and available in for Canadian sales.
$100/single straw.
$90/straw when buying a half cane (5 straws)
$80/straw when buying a cane (10 straws)
***Buyer is responsible for shipping from the Stud and ALL related costs***
Toro is polled and has that classic Baby Doll head. He has a very high and tight scrotum with an excellent back tilt which means that he will pass along to his daughters a propensity towards nice high and tight udders with great medial suspensory ligament. He is an absolute joy to be around; he is a lover of attention but with exquisite manners and he passes this temperament on to his offspring. He leads, loads, ties and rides like a true gentleman! He is VERY masculine; he IS boss bull and challenges any bulls (beef or dairy) who dare to cross his fence line!
He was assessed by Holstein Canada's Classifier on August 22, 2020 and although he could not receive an official Classification, he was determined to be "Very Good"
Toro's breeder offered this with regard to Toro's dam and maternal grand dam: "Charlotte was 45 inches. Her mother 6101 was also 45 inches. Charlotte was dehorned. She had the best disposition. She was very patient and loved every calf. Beautiful udder. I will have to see what I can find for udder pics. Teats were about 2 1/2 incheslong. Correct placement." which I have copied verbatim from the message I received from Sara Haas at Sure Shot Cattle Company.
RETIRED FALL 2020
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THE COWS IN OUR PROGRAM - 2020/21
MOOSHINE IMPRESSION DX DORIE
BREED –Jersey X Dexter
D O B –May 12, 2016
HEIGHT –41.5” at the hook; 4 years old
A2 & PROTEINS -A1/A2 BE AB AB
CHONDRO –Carrier
PHA –Non Carrier
HORNED/POLLED –Polled
Johnes - NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
BLV NEGATIVE
EMBRYONIC LETHALS –JH1 Non Carrier
Dorie is the daughter of Zoey and by far my most favorite little milk cow. She's so much like her mother; easy to milk, large orfices, excellent let down and high production. Dorie is bred to Toro for spring 2021 again.
BREED –Jersey X Dexter
D O B –May 12, 2016
HEIGHT –41.5” at the hook; 4 years old
A2 & PROTEINS -A1/A2 BE AB AB
CHONDRO –Carrier
PHA –Non Carrier
HORNED/POLLED –Polled
Johnes - NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
BLV NEGATIVE
EMBRYONIC LETHALS –JH1 Non Carrier
Dorie is the daughter of Zoey and by far my most favorite little milk cow. She's so much like her mother; easy to milk, large orfices, excellent let down and high production. Dorie is bred to Toro for spring 2021 again.
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MOOSHINE EDELWEISS GIGI
BREED –Mini Jersey X Dexter
D O B – April 25, 2019
HEIGHT – 23” at birth; 40" at 15 months
A2 & PROTEINS- A1/A2 - AB/AA/BB
CHONDRO – Negative - Non Carrier
PHA – Non Carrier
HORNED/POLLED – Homo Polled
Johnes - NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
BLV NEGATIVE
EMBRYONIC LETHALS –JH1 Non Carrier
Gigi is one of 3 Eddie daughters born in 2019 and is Zoey’s daughter. She will be bred to Toro this summer for her first calf.
BREED –Mini Jersey X Dexter
D O B – April 25, 2019
HEIGHT – 23” at birth; 40" at 15 months
A2 & PROTEINS- A1/A2 - AB/AA/BB
CHONDRO – Negative - Non Carrier
PHA – Non Carrier
HORNED/POLLED – Homo Polled
Johnes - NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
BLV NEGATIVE
EMBRYONIC LETHALS –JH1 Non Carrier
Gigi is one of 3 Eddie daughters born in 2019 and is Zoey’s daughter. She will be bred to Toro this summer for her first calf.
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MOOSHINE IMPRESSION FIONA
BREED –Jersey X Jersey-Dexter
D O B – April 10, 2018
HEIGHT – 18” at birth; 40" at 24 months
A2 & PROTEINS- A2/A2 - BE/AA/AB
CHONDRO – Carrier
PHA – Non Carrier
HORNED/POLLED – Horned
Johnes - NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
BLV NEGATIVE
EMBRYONIC LETHALS –JH1 Non Carrier
Fiona is Dorie's daughter and the result of line breeding. She is bred back to Toro for 2021.
BREED –Jersey X Jersey-Dexter
D O B – April 10, 2018
HEIGHT – 18” at birth; 40" at 24 months
A2 & PROTEINS- A2/A2 - BE/AA/AB
CHONDRO – Carrier
PHA – Non Carrier
HORNED/POLLED – Horned
Johnes - NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
BLV NEGATIVE
EMBRYONIC LETHALS –JH1 Non Carrier
Fiona is Dorie's daughter and the result of line breeding. She is bred back to Toro for 2021.
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MOOSHINE EDELWEISS GIDGET
BREED –Mini Jersey X Jersey-Dexter
D O B – May 5, 2019
HEIGHT – 24” at birth; 38" at 15 months
A2 & PROTEINS - A2/A2 - BB/AA/BB
CHONDRO – Negative - Non Carrier
PHA – Non Carrier
HORNED/POLLED – Hetero Polled
Johnes - NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
BLV NEGATIVE
EMBRYONIC LETHALS –JH1 Non Carrier
Gidget is one of three Eddie daughters and is out of Dorie; as well, she is a maternal half sister to Fiona. She is bred to Toro for her first calf spring 2021.
BREED –Mini Jersey X Jersey-Dexter
D O B – May 5, 2019
HEIGHT – 24” at birth; 38" at 15 months
A2 & PROTEINS - A2/A2 - BB/AA/BB
CHONDRO – Negative - Non Carrier
PHA – Non Carrier
HORNED/POLLED – Hetero Polled
Johnes - NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
BLV NEGATIVE
EMBRYONIC LETHALS –JH1 Non Carrier
Gidget is one of three Eddie daughters and is out of Dorie; as well, she is a maternal half sister to Fiona. She is bred to Toro for her first calf spring 2021.
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MOOHINE EDELWEISS GALATEA
BREED –Mini Jersey X Dexter
D O B –April 22,2019
HEIGHT –23” at birth; 35" at 15 months
A2 & PROTEINS - A2/A2 - AA/AA/BB
CHONDRO –Negative - Non Carrier
PHA –Non Carrier
HORNED/POLLED – Homo Polled
Johnes - NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
BLV NEGATIVE
EMBRYONIC LETHALS –JH1 Non Carrier
“Tia” is Connie's heifer and a daughter of Eddie's. "Tia" is bred to Toro for her first calf, Spring 2021
BREED –Mini Jersey X Dexter
D O B –April 22,2019
HEIGHT –23” at birth; 35" at 15 months
A2 & PROTEINS - A2/A2 - AA/AA/BB
CHONDRO –Negative - Non Carrier
PHA –Non Carrier
HORNED/POLLED – Homo Polled
Johnes - NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
BLV NEGATIVE
EMBRYONIC LETHALS –JH1 Non Carrier
“Tia” is Connie's heifer and a daughter of Eddie's. "Tia" is bred to Toro for her first calf, Spring 2021
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A-ARK JEWEL GEM
BREED – Purebred Mini Jersey (mid sized)
BBR TESTING 100% JERSEY
D O B – September 21, 2014
HEIGHT – 37” at the hook; 3 months old & 47” at the hook; 4 years old
A2 & PROTEINS - A2/A2 AB AA AB
CHONDRO - Non Carrier
PHA - Non Carrier
HORNED/POLLED - Horned
Johnes - NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
BLV NEGATIVE
EMBRYONIC LETHALS – JH1 Carrier
“Gem” was our first registered Mini Jersey cow. She had never been milked but had been used as a nurse cow prior to purchasing her, so she finished out her 2018 lactation with us as a nurse cow to Rosie. She is a bottom of the pecking order, shy and nervous cow who just loves to please; she easily learned to be a milk cow in 2019 but was given an extra calf as milking her makes her very anxious. Gem is bred back to Toro for spring 2021 and has started a refresher course in hand and machine milking as we work towards fall weaning of her calf and her graft calf.
BREED – Purebred Mini Jersey (mid sized)
BBR TESTING 100% JERSEY
D O B – September 21, 2014
HEIGHT – 37” at the hook; 3 months old & 47” at the hook; 4 years old
A2 & PROTEINS - A2/A2 AB AA AB
CHONDRO - Non Carrier
PHA - Non Carrier
HORNED/POLLED - Horned
Johnes - NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
BLV NEGATIVE
EMBRYONIC LETHALS – JH1 Carrier
“Gem” was our first registered Mini Jersey cow. She had never been milked but had been used as a nurse cow prior to purchasing her, so she finished out her 2018 lactation with us as a nurse cow to Rosie. She is a bottom of the pecking order, shy and nervous cow who just loves to please; she easily learned to be a milk cow in 2019 but was given an extra calf as milking her makes her very anxious. Gem is bred back to Toro for spring 2021 and has started a refresher course in hand and machine milking as we work towards fall weaning of her calf and her graft calf.
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C-MOOSHINE ALTAMARIO GLITZY
BREED –Jersey (68%) Holstein (26%) Guernsey (7%)
D O B –March 17, 2019
HEIGHT –45" at 18 months
A2 & PROTEINS -A1/A1 BB/BB/AA
HORNED/POLLED –Polled
Johnes - NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
BLV NEGATIVE
EMBRYONIC LETHALS –JH1 Non Carrier
Glitzy is one of 3 dairy heifers we bought in the spring of 2019. She escaped the calf mob pen in September 2019 and was bred by Toro! She delivered a tiny heifer calf at the end of June and is now on the milking string as well as she is raising her heifer we have named Happy. She is now bred back to Toro for a Spring 2021 calf.
BREED –Jersey (68%) Holstein (26%) Guernsey (7%)
D O B –March 17, 2019
HEIGHT –45" at 18 months
A2 & PROTEINS -A1/A1 BB/BB/AA
HORNED/POLLED –Polled
Johnes - NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
BLV NEGATIVE
EMBRYONIC LETHALS –JH1 Non Carrier
Glitzy is one of 3 dairy heifers we bought in the spring of 2019. She escaped the calf mob pen in September 2019 and was bred by Toro! She delivered a tiny heifer calf at the end of June and is now on the milking string as well as she is raising her heifer we have named Happy. She is now bred back to Toro for a Spring 2021 calf.
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C-MOOSHINE HILLSIDE MODERN GLORI
BREED –Jersey BBR100
D O B –April 7, 2019
HEIGHT – 46.5" at 18 months
A2 & PROTEINS -A2/A2 BB/AA/BB
HORNED/POLLED –Horned
Johnes - NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
BLV NEGATIVE
EMBRYONIC LETHALS –JH1 Non Carrier
Glori is one of 3 dairy heifers we bought in the spring of 2019. She has been bred to Toro for Spring 2021
BREED –Jersey BBR100
D O B –April 7, 2019
HEIGHT – 46.5" at 18 months
A2 & PROTEINS -A2/A2 BB/AA/BB
HORNED/POLLED –Horned
Johnes - NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
BLV NEGATIVE
EMBRYONIC LETHALS –JH1 Non Carrier
Glori is one of 3 dairy heifers we bought in the spring of 2019. She has been bred to Toro for Spring 2021
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C-MOOSHINE HILLSIDE SLY GLEE
BREED –Jersey BBR100
D O B –April 9, 2019
HEIGHT – 46.5" at 18 months
A2 & PROTEINS -A2/A2 BB/AA/AB
CHONDRO –N/A
PHA –N/A
HORNED/POLLED –Horned
Johnes - NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
BLV - NEGATIVE
EMBRYONIC LETHALS –JH1 Non Carrier
Glee is one of three dairy heifers we bought in the spring of 2019. She has been bred to Toro for Spring 2021
BREED –Jersey BBR100
D O B –April 9, 2019
HEIGHT – 46.5" at 18 months
A2 & PROTEINS -A2/A2 BB/AA/AB
CHONDRO –N/A
PHA –N/A
HORNED/POLLED –Horned
Johnes - NEGATIVE
BVD -NEGATIVE
BLV - NEGATIVE
EMBRYONIC LETHALS –JH1 Non Carrier
Glee is one of three dairy heifers we bought in the spring of 2019. She has been bred to Toro for Spring 2021
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PREVIOUSLY USED BULL
CREEKSIDE SENATOR EDELWEISS - aka EDDIE
DNA tested (Igenity):
Chondro and PHA NEGATIVE
A1/A2 Kappa Casein AB Beta Casein AA Beta Lactamase BB
JH1 T (non carrier)
Hetero Polled
I had some VERY high hopes with regard to what he was to be bringing to my breeding program; however, Eddie has not met with my expectations. From the beginning, he was flighty and showed signs of being quite territorial and quite a bit of aggression. The aggression became more evident as he matured and the choice was made to cull him in the fall of 2019.
CREEKSIDE SENATOR EDELWEISS measured 24.5" at the hip at birth. "Eddie" had a pedigree heavily loaded with the infamous Dexter Corner (DC) blood lines of Tim O'Donnell and also the infamous Sure Shot Captain Morgan. Eddie's dam has a very high rear udder attachment with good length of teats for hand milking; however, she has yet to be milked (that I know of) so we are not sure what her production is at. His sire, paternal grand and great grand sire are colored and come from very strong milking lines.
DNA tested (Igenity):
Chondro and PHA NEGATIVE
A1/A2 Kappa Casein AB Beta Casein AA Beta Lactamase BB
JH1 T (non carrier)
Hetero Polled
I had some VERY high hopes with regard to what he was to be bringing to my breeding program; however, Eddie has not met with my expectations. From the beginning, he was flighty and showed signs of being quite territorial and quite a bit of aggression. The aggression became more evident as he matured and the choice was made to cull him in the fall of 2019.
CREEKSIDE SENATOR EDELWEISS measured 24.5" at the hip at birth. "Eddie" had a pedigree heavily loaded with the infamous Dexter Corner (DC) blood lines of Tim O'Donnell and also the infamous Sure Shot Captain Morgan. Eddie's dam has a very high rear udder attachment with good length of teats for hand milking; however, she has yet to be milked (that I know of) so we are not sure what her production is at. His sire, paternal grand and great grand sire are colored and come from very strong milking lines.
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