How about a cow or two (or three)?

My childhood dreams didn’t include owning a cow.

So here’s the deal…when I was a kid, I never really dreamed of having cows. I loved animals, but I didn’t see cows as anything special. Sure, if you had put me in a field with a cow, I was definitely going to say hello and try to be its friend, but I wasn’t dreaming about life with cows. In my mind, they were just an animal that gave us milk and left the smell of manure wafting in the air.  Beyond that, I never thought about them.

Fast forward to my 42nd year of life, and I felt the stirring inside of me to start a homestead. Then came the mini donkeys. Then the chickens. And then I started thinking about cows.

Then I couldn’t stop thinking about cows. I started researching breeds, and what kind of milk they produced.

What is A2 Milk?

I learned a lot about A2/A2 milk. If you are unfamiliar with the significance of A2/A2 milk, I’ll try to give a simple explanation (as simple as I can). Beta-casein is a form of milk protein. There are slightly different forms of beta-casein, the most important being known as A1 and A2. Basically, during digestion, enzymes break down a histidine-isoleucine bond in  A1 beta-casein, releasing a peptide called beta-casomorphin-7 (BCM7), which is an opioid that is known to have narcotic properties. In susceptible individuals, BCM7 can cause a wide range of symptoms, including bloating, constipation, and nausea. Some people who have claimed lactose intolerance may find that perhaps they are simply susceptible to BCM7. BCM7 is not released during the digestion of A2 milk, which is why many people who thought they were lactose intolerant, can actually drink A2 milk without issue. BCM7 is also known to lead to inflammation wherever it is attached, which is why it is often related to a number of other issues, including autoimmune diseases. Simply put, if you’ve avoided milk for much of your life because you diagnosed yourself as lactose intolerant, you may want to consider trying A2/A2 milk. You may find your way back into the dairy world without issue! This is the type of milk I was determined to find. Some people disagree on this topic, and I’ve seen some get into heated arguments about whether or not the beta-casein actually makes a difference. For me, after researching and hearing personal testimonies from people I trust, I decided that finding an A2/A2 cow was important for our family.

And what breed was I going to invest in? I never realized how many breeds of cattle there were! Angus, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein-Friesian (most of us drink milk from this breed), Hereford, Highland, Dexter, Zebu, and many more. There are dairy and beef breeds, and some are used for both. In the end, I was looking for the best milk and the prettiest cow (Am I shallow for wanting a pretty cow? Maybe. But I’m not sorry about it.). I landed on the Jersey.*

Why a Jersey cow?

The Jersey is native to the island of Jersey, an island in the English Channel. Her milk has the highest level of milk solids (protein and minerals) and vitamins, as well as butterfat. She also produces a lot of cream, which makes for some of the best cafe con leche you can get. She has a long milking life, and she’s a smaller cow, but quite tough. Jerseys are also known for their curious and playful temperaments. Oh, and did I mention how pretty those Jersey girls are? They tend to have a doe-like face, with a white band around their muzzle, and a black nose. Given all these qualities, I knew that this was the breed I was looking for.

A conversation with a mini jersey breeder

This leads us to our own Jersey cows. Wow…it is not easy to find A2 Jersey cows! And did you know that there are also mini Jersey cows?! True story. And they come at an even greater price. With that said, I wasn’t looking for a mini. I was simply looking for a sweet family cow that would provide our family with milk, butter, and maybe even cheese. And hopefully, we could also offer it a happy life.

I met a woman on my homestead journey that told me about a mini Jersey breeder in Illinois. I gave him a call and my sole purpose in speaking with him was to learn more about Jerseys (since I knew that I couldn’t afford a mini). He gave me 45 minutes of his precious time and gave me so much valuable information. Up until that moment, I thought that cows had udders…as in more than one…I didn’t realize it was one udder and four teats. Perhaps I should have known, but again…I never dreamed that I’d own a cow one day, so my cattle knowledge was minimal to say the least.

Throughout the course of those 45 minutes, he let me know that he had one standard sized Jersey that he would consider selling me. He called her Tall Girl because she was taller than the rest. She also had a baby that was about 10 months old.

I may have to tell you the story of how we ended up with that very Jersey, and her little heifer, but for now, just know that I did a very UN-Nina thing, and I waited patiently (well, I don’t know if you can call it patient…there was a lot of stress in the waiting…but I waited none-the-less). And it was worth the wait.

A baby is born

In April of 2021, we welcomed Sølvi (the mama) and Kjersti (her 10-month-old heifer) to our farm. And to add to the joy of the experience, Sølvi was 7 months pregnant! On June 29, 2021, we welcomed little Freyja, who is a half-mini (half-standard) jersey. And wow…I never knew how much we would love cows, but we love our girls! They have stolen my heart, and I cannot wait to tell you more about them. For now, just know that I now understand why people love their family cows SO much. There is something special about these girls.

*I gathered most of my information about cows and A2 milk from the amazing book, Keeping a Family Cow. If you haven’t read it, you should. Even if you aren’t going to buy a cow, this book is invaluable!