In November of 2024 we welcomed two calves, back to back. Lilibet Luv calved, unassisted, five days before her due date with a beautiful little heifer. We named her Tin Stone Demi Luv to carry on the “Luv” legacy of her dam and grandsire. Demi was 21″ at birth and up and running almost immediately – Lilibet did such a good job!
Not to be outdone, Mabel calved the next day, even though she was not due for another 10 days… and not only was the early calving a surprise, but despite being bred with sexed semen, she had a bull calf! It’s impossible to be bothered too much because he turned out absolutely perfect – he honestly could not be cuter!
Mr. Darcy was 20.5″ at birth and both are staying so small – we have been very happy with the Cedar Ridge Otis babies. Both Demi and Mr. Darcy have found their new farms and while we will miss them, we love sending our beloved animals out to make the mini Jersey breed a little sweeter.
Milkers and Upcoming Milkers
Future Milkers
We milk our girls once a day and use their delicious milk to make butter, cheese, yogurt, chocolate milk and, of course, ice cream. Our girls average about 2-4 gallons on once a day milking… pretty perfect for a homestead cow!
Current Herdsire
Reference Sires
Follow us in Instagram to really get to know our little herd… we post regularly and are pretty sure our miniature Jerseys are some of the cutest out there!
We moved Etta up to the front pasture 🏡 She and Pumpkin will get turned out on these few acres every morning and sleep in the calf shed at night… it should work well for her as she gets close to calving and will allow us to be more hands on when the calf arrives 🙏🏻 Mabel and Lilibet will now stay out with the heifers and sleep in the hay shed (or mini barn if they prefer) as there’s only room for two girls in the calf shed… it’s Etta and Pumpkin’s turn to get a little extra pampering 🥰 #ettatheminijersey #ettajanebutters #minijersey #calfwatch
So happy with this little hay shed my son built 🙏🏻 Only issue is making sure the big girls let the younger girls have enough time to eat 🌱 Still making adjustments as how we do things and watching condition on each of them super closely… stewarding dairy cows well is a 365 day a year job 😅 #crickettheminijersey #minijersey
So grateful for our Old Spot barrow that we were able to grow out so nicely – it is always so sad to take them to the processor 😭 Thankfully he just had one bad day… they were able to butcher him within a few hours of us dropping him off 🙏🏻 The hard makes us just that much more thankful for every bit of this meat that will feed our entire family for the next year 💙 #gloucestershireoldspot #gospigs #pasturedpork
Etta’s due date is less than a week away ✨ She is getting dairy ration twice a day now along with ACV and XZelit, a supplement to help prevent milk fever… thankfully she’s a superstar and gobbles it up without complaining 🤩 Admittedly I am nervous as her calving date approaches – we’d be so grateful if you’d keep her and her calf in your prayers 💛 #ettatheminijersey #ettajanebutters #minijersey #calfwatch
My friend Tim, who has been keeping Rango the last few months, sent me these pictures of him the other day… definitely looks like he’s enjoying himself up there 🥰 Hoping to go get him soon! #gettingchubby #rangotheminijersey #minijersey
Little Cricket looking more grown up all the time 🥹 She is 18 months old now and is due with her first calf right around her second birthday 🥰 I love all my girls but Cricket and Lottie have an extra special place in my heart ❤️ #crickettheminijersey #minijersey
Day two post snowstorm and today the sun is peeking out ☀️ Cows are doing great and while not necessarily enthralled with the white stuff, they don’t seem to mind it one bit ❄️ #mabeltheminijersey #minijersey
We were a few minutes late to milk this morning and Lilibet was already outside, waiting for us and wet 🥹 The temp was just above freezing and she was wet enough that when we were done milking, we put her and Mabel back in the calf pen so they’d have extra time to eat, get warm and relax in their little barn… pretty sure they were happy with the deal 🥰 #lilitheminijersey #minijersey
Woke up to a big blanket of snow ❄️ I brought some extra hay out for them and Etta and Pumpkin were happy to dine alfresco 🍴 Etta is showing small signs of her approaching due date – hoping the weather is a bit more moderate when it’s go time 🙏🏻 #ettatheminijersey #ettajanebutters #pumpkintheminijersey
Mini Jersey or teddy bear? Goodness, Miss Lottie is looking especially floofy 🧸 #lottietheminijersey #minijersey
The hay shed is finished, just in time for the nine inches of snow headed our way ❄️ The boss cows, Etta and Pumpkin, have chosen the attached stall as their preferred sleeping area which leaves the mini barn open for the younger girls… plenty of room for everyone to stay warm and dry 🙏🏻 Pretty sure even Jasper the cat gave his stamp of approval! #minijersey
Look at Lilibet, all grown up and giving us two gallons a day in her first lactation 🥰 She is so unfazed by the busyness of the milk parlor, the milk jars clanking or the cat walking in between her feet… as long as she has her feed in front of her, she’s happy 😘 #lilitheminijersey #minijersey #familymilkcow
Resolution for 2025: spend more time loving on baby cows ❤️ Mr. Darcy left for his new farm on Sunday and we are missing him so… but thankful for the time we had with him 🥹 #mrdarcytheminijersey #minijersey #resolutions
One more load of rough cut lumber to get this hay shed finished 🪵 We made lots of progress this week and hope to have it finished shortly, just in time for all this winter weather 🌨️ #crickettheminijersey #minijersey
Etta Jane is our next cow due to calve, her due date in January 20th and she is looking fantastic for an almost-thirteen year old! We are hoping for a heifer but we all think it’s a bull… but any healthy calf will be a blessing ❤️ #ettajanebutters #ettatheminijersey #minijersey