Pasture Raised Jersey Cow Facts

Raising Jersey cows out on pasture produces cattle which provide better meat and higher milk output at a lower cost. Farmers who wish to only raise a few cows for personal consumption can put pasture-raising practices to work and eliminate the high cost of purchasing meat and milk from the store.

  1. Jersey Cows

    • Jersey cows are fawn colored or cream, mouse gray, brown or black, with or without white markings. The tail, muzzle and tongue are usually black. They are small cattle; cows typically weigh 900 to 1,000 lbs., and bulls weigh 1,500 lbs. Jerseys calve easily, mature quickly and are noted for their fertility. Jerseys produce more milk per pound of body weight than any other breed, and their milk is the richest in butterfat.

    Pasture Management

    • Pasture should contain several types of nutritious grasses. Cattle will not do well in a weed patch. In the early spring, pen up your cattle and feed them hay for a while to let the pasture grow. Otherwise, your cattle will eat the new green grass as soon as it starts to grow, and it will not become tall enough to provide sufficient feed for the summer. Some pasture plants become coarse as they mature, and your calf will not eat them. You can improve the pasture by mowing or clipping weeds so that they do not go to seed and spread. If the pasture has bare spots, seeding by hand scattering a pasture mix when the ground is wet will aid in filling in those gaps. If you live in a rainy area, your pasture will grow just fine without much help. However, in dry climates, pasture must be watered with a ditch or sprinklers so it will not dry out by late summer.

    Higher Nutrient Content

    • According to Diane Shivera of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, "Products from pasture-raised animals are healthier for you to eat than those from grain-fed animals for many reasons." The fresh plants and grains which the animal consumes contain a higher percentage of beneficial nutrients, such as beta carotene, vitamin E, omega 3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Additionally, Jersey cows raised on pasture are lower in fat than those raised on grain.

    Healthier Herds

    • Jersey cows which are free to roam on pasture are less likely to develop acidosis--a buildup of acids in the blood, resulting in a lower pH than normal. Acidosis is caused by the inability to digest grains. As a result, the cows suffer liver problems and laminitis--a metabolic and vascular disease that involves the inner sensitive structures of the feet.

    Antibiotic Use

    • Antibiotics are used less often in Jersey cows who are pasture raised because the herds are healthier. This decreases the number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria which develop in the herd.