Miniature Jerseys worth importing?

So, just out of curiosity....
As far as I know there are not any mini jersey breeders in Canada. Why? I have yet to find out. Do you know why? (besides the hassle of importing)

If my husband and I took the risk in bringing a few up from the states do you think there would be a market for them here in Canada? It is very expensive and sure won't happen this year, maybe not even next year. I'll most likely research the breed to death first, which is a good thing of course. I'll have to have our barn, pasture ready, and maybe even some interest shown.

In two years time the importing regulations could tighten up even more or who knows, maybe they will be more relaxed.

The breeder in the states seems very excited to help us! We don't know anything about cattle but with a willing heart and lots of help I think we just might give this a try. The worst that will happen is we will have to sell our stock, and forget about it. Of course we would keep our mini milker

Any thoughts?

I think the market would be pretty small, although Jerseys get snapped up right quick when they are put up for sale.

The problem with bringing up a few mini's is that anyone who buys stock from you, will need to bring in their own mini jerseys too to keep breeding. It's the problem with bringing in just a few of anything to Canada. There is no breeding pool to go back to when it's time to breed for anyone else.

Unless you are prepared to bring in more than a few of unrelated animals so the breeding program can actual be accomplished, I think it just stays a really expensive proposition for everyone.

Does that make sense?

Don't want to burst a bubble but I really wonder if people would be interested as jerseys are notoriously thin so not great for meat. I think the market would be on the thinner side as there are alternatives out there for mini breeds that produce milk and more meat on their structure. The highlands being one, not that they are mini, but they are smaller but have more of a beefy build from what I understand. The other thing with a mini jersey is whoever has them would probably want a milking machine as their back would get sore bent over to milk one if they produce milk like the regular size jerseys. Just my thought, and I could be totally out to lunch also!!! Good luck on your research znd hope others join in with their opinions

That totally makes sense. The lady I talked to has unrelated cows so the breeding program (if we purchased more than a few would work for a while). Of course it would be very small.
We are aware of the costs. She has a bred cow ($5500) and another bull calf($2500) right now. It would take a long time to fully recover our investment but that's a business venture.
There are other mini cows in Canada so it wouldn't be a complete dead end for the hobby farmers. It would just a long time for us to be able to provide people with their own breeding stock.

Smoky River, no bubble bursted I know they are little but I think Americans are about the same size as us They have it figured out. Perhaps the skinny cow could be crossed with a meaty cow to have a butcher cow?
I just wonder why they sell so fast in the states.

I'm just thinking right now, that is all.

You never know there is always the novelty market that will buy them because they are rare. I would try putting a couple ads on different places to see the response you might get. That may help also

I think right now there is a huge interest in sustainable living, and smaller cows for acreages are going to be in demand. As more and more people join the movement towards becoming more self-sufficient, they will be needing the livestock to make this happen.
I agree its important to do some research since it involves a big investment. But I do see lots of opportunity in the future with more and more people wanting to take control of providing safe and nutritious food for themselves and their families.

I think that people who want to have a milk cow but do not want a full sized cow would be interested. »I know a few people who would like a milk cow but are intimidaed by the big ones, or worry about having too much milk, or who donot have anough land to handle a big cow, but they could graze a little one.

I would be interested but more in a share sort of thing. I would have room for a couple, but «I would rather have them here as part of someone elses breeding program. They would over winter the cow also. We would take it spring to summer, calve it, milk it for the season etc. <

Excellent information I am one of those intimidated by monstrous cows! I think that might be why I love my goats. I feel that I can handle them. I guess I'll get tougher as time goes on.
I am looking at the homesteader more than the big farmers. They are already tough The homesteaders are the ones that want self sufficiency but don't necessarily have the land or want massive amounts of milk.
I'm excited to look into this. Not sure what will happen of course but it gives me something to look into

I would totally be interested in min Jerseys...if it was affordable. I cant pay $5000 for one cow. It just cant be done for most of us homesteaders. But I would pay $2000. Keep us posted!

I agree $5000 is an insane price! The calves (bull and heifer) sell for $2500 in the states. A bred heifer sells for $5500+/-

I'm not even sure how to figure prices out for up here.

Perhaps we could "share" an order Save on shipping/importing papers etc. If there was a way to find somoene selling a few heifers and bull that could be shared...I dont really know - Im so far from the border that it isnt possible for me to try and do it especially with 3 kids...but if someone were to import them I want dibs on a heifer(or two) hehehe

Jaclyn

I would imagine that there would be the option of AI to broaden the gene pool up here once you got a few good females.
Remember breeding stock is often more expensive than what you will be selling the offspring for. That good quality cow will produce offspring for you that will pay for her over the years though. Do your research, like people are saying, they will be a novelty. Getting in first seems to be a way to make money with that sort of thing and I think it has to be something you really like yourself so you can have a bit of a passion about it.
Good luck with your venture.

My hubby and I have already decided we would go down to pick them up. At least I have family in Colorado

I know all about the prices of breeding animals. I have dogs and holy smokes they were expensive compared to pet prices. It is definitely an investment that will pay for itself. I'm not worried about that.

I thought about AI and I heard it is very hard to find vets to do that. It would be an excellent idea.

It usually isn't hard to find vets to do it but hard to find a vet set up to store semen. I do know the vet in Sexsmith does ai in cattle

Dr. Case? I sure like her. I know Dr. Breker does. What is different about storing it?

Apparently there is no mini jersey semen that is graded "export" worthy so you cant bring it across the border unless you conceal it...and I really dont know how you would conceal a dry ice container without them noticing haha...but perhaps have them AId while still in the US?

Interesting. Maybe that is why the breeder in the states said she didn't know how to get it up here.

Well, they could get it graded for export if they wanted too. I suppose if the market is good enough up here it would be worth it.

Yes, I forgot about the semen tank. We have a few of them, but it is our deal so just part of the program I forgot about.

I suppose it all depends how much you want to get into them. You could always just get a couple, see if you like them. Breed the ones you have and see if there is interest and go from their. You may enjoy just having them for yourselfs and not want to get into the hassle of marketing them.

not sure about mini jerseys -i think alot of the concerns expressed are valid. we wanted to get some smaller cattle and get rid of our commercial cows. our daughter is terrified of the big ones so getting help is difficult. We chose lowline and have no regrets at all, they are small cows with docile temperments. The calves are from 30-50 lb at birth. They are definitely beef animals though not milk cows
if you want to check some out our website is [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Cathy and Lee

Not sure what the vets name just that a vet from Sexsmith ai a lady's jerseys I was looking at. I was looking for somewhere to store some semen from a stallion that was going to be castrated and the closest place to store the semen for equines that I could find was edmonton. I also found by the time I paid for the semen, collection, and storage I may as well buy the stallion. Something else to consider if you are not planning to invest in a storage tank is the cost to store the semen if you can get it imported

For cattle semen you can rent storage from Alta Genetics in Balzac. they are super to deal with and will help you with the import details as well, what you need to do etc.
They are an international company.
usually for purebred animals that are not common it is around 125.00 or so for a straw , that is what we have found anyways for the Lowlines

I now this is late but I have belted galloways and so far I haven't found anyone I can import semen from, it is cost prohibitive for most breeders in the States to do it. Just what I have found out and I did do extensive research and phone calling a couple of years back. For now I am just cross breeding.