fall sale

Every year this time we have to decide which of the lactating dairy cows are going to leave the farm, and which will stay. The decision used to be easier: we culled for faults, the most common being short teats. As our herd has improved it has become more difficult to make culling decisions; often, we'd like to keep them all. Selling an excellent animal means her genetics leave the farm for good. On the other hand, it feels really good to be selling such high quality, and to know that the families that get our cows are starting off with the best.

But we are very committed to staying in our geographic footprint, and we are very committed to avoiding off-farm inputs; so, we have to cull down to the number of animals the farm will feed over the winter. Here are this year's offerings:

The Sow's Ear Farm, Jefferson County, Ohio, Sale list 2021: Cows and heifers, all-grass, intensively managed

Caroline, pure-blooded Jersey, fawn, b. August 21, 2017; m. Sugarplum, Jersey; f. COBA bull J.E.123. Calved 4-8-21, unassisted, heifer calf Primrose (her second calf). Bull-bred June/July 2021, registered Dexter bull Regina Farms Charlie (papers available for inspection). Faults: none. $3000. Calf not for sale.

Gemma, 7/8 Jersey, 1/8 Freisian, brown-and-white, b. July 7, 2018; m. Sylvie, 3/4 Jersey, 1/4 Freisian; f. COBA bull J.E.123. Calved unassisted (first calf) 5-22-21, bull, Pentecost. Bull-bred June/July 2021, registered Dexter bull Regina Farms Charlie (papers available for inspection). Faults: one non-functional teat. $2000. Calf available, $250.

Talahassee, 1/2 Jersey, 1/4 Limousin, 1/4 Dexter, black/brown, b. April 30, 2019; m. Stella (Jersey/Limi); f. Chief (Jersey/Dexter). Bull-bred spring 2021, registered Dexter bull Regina Farms Charlie (papers available for inspection). Faults: none. $2000.

Gwynevere, Jersey/Limi, black, bought from Lindsey Farm June 2018. Calved unassisted 3-10-21, bull calf Patrick. Bull-bred June/July 2021, registered Dexter bull Regina Farms Charlie (papers available for inspection). Faults: none. $2200. Calf not for sale.

Tulsa, 1/2 mini Hereford, 1/4 Jersey, 1/4 Dexter, red white-face, b. April 6, 2019; m. Little Herf, Hereford; f. Chief (Jersey/Dexter). Calved unassisted 5-22-21, bull calf Peter. Bull-bred June/July 2021, registered Dexter bull Regina Farms Charlie (papers available for inspection). Faults: not trained to stanchion. $1600. Calf available, $250.

Gracie, pure-blooded Jersey, fawn, b. April 17, 2018; m. Sylvie, Jersey; bought bred. Calved 5-5-21, unassisted, bull calf Periwinkle. Bull-bred June/July 2021, registered Dexter bull Regina Farms Charlie (papers available for inspection). Faults: none. $3000. Calf not available.