Everyone and Their Brother Wants a Guernsey Cow
Rant coming up! Today’s rant is about how difficult it is to find a Guernsey cow in Florida.
It seems that Guernsey cows are a “watched” breed meaning they are not endangered but there are not tons of them around anymore. I have been told only 10,000 in the US but can’t verify that yet.
Whatever amount there are, they are not in Florida! Yes we do have a Guernsey and now a cute little Guernsey heifer who will be 3 months old on the 21st, but we have been searching for another Guernsey for well over a year now. No dice!
I look at all the ad sites every day and I search up to 1000 miles from Florida just to see what is available although I doubt I would be able to get one here from that far away, at least not without spending a small fortune. But I like to check out what is available and let me tell you, it’s not much! Very very few.
Of course that doesn’t mean there aren’t more for sale that simply are not being listed, but honestly, it just boggles the mind how hard it is to find these critters.
We will keep looking though. I have one “contact” who I am hoping to be able to buy a Guernsey from very soon but that is not 100% certain. I have another contact that I’m holding onto in case contact number one doesn’t pan out, we should know in a week or so.
I wish we were looking for a Jersey because they are much more readily available. Holsteins as well of course, when they are not busy doing Chick Fil A commercials.
So the point of this is I’ve run into so many people also looking for Guernsey cows, and there just aren’t many around. Hardly any. I know of a few but they are not for sale. So I will continue to search and hopefully will soon be adding another Guernsey to my little herd. If not, who knows, we may break down and try a Jersey. I have had really good Jersey milk and I have had really horrible Jersey milk. I’ve just found it to be inconsistent which has never been the case with our Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, or Guernsey milk.
Anyway, here is our calf, isn’t she cute? (She was just a day old in the photo.)
There were a few Florida dairies that kept Guernseys in the mid to late 90′s. I moved out of Florida in 1999 so I’m sure things have changed but LeeMin Premium Dairy in Riverview, Fl. is one. They had heifer calves for sale at times. Also, I think one of the Larson Dairies down in Okeechobee had Guernseys from the old Turnpike Dairy herd. You are correct, they are scarce but they’re out there. Good luck!
Thanks, there are always people asking me where to find Guernseys in Florida, so maybe this info will help them. It’s worth a call to find out, you never know. Thanks again.