Whisper family milk cows incorporate the special traits that are necessary to make them a valuable part of any farm family. Historically Shorthorns have made the best family milk cows for a variety of reasons and our cows embody all those qualities plus more. When purchasing a cow to provide milk for a family, the health of the cow can not be overemphasized especially if it is raw milk that is being consumed. It is paramount that the cow be free of all common diseases such as tuberculosis, Brucellosis, Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV), and especially Johne’s Disease. Our closed herd is tested free of all these diseases, compared to many other cows for sale which may carry any one of the aforementioned diseases because they do not come from a herd that is free of these diseases nor have been tested for the different diseases.

Most of our cows are either A1/A2 or A2/A2. They are all polled. We have a totally grass fed herd that are never fed grain. As a result of their breeding, they are easy keepers and thrive in a natural setting. An individual Whisper cow has the ability to produce milk for a family while raising a steer for the family table.

Cow temperament is particularly important in a family setting. We select cows for gentle, friendly demeanors because they are easier to work with, but more importantly they are safer to work with. Cows are large animals and need to relate positively to people given that they will be milked once or twice a day and may be around children.

Longevity is also a very important characteristic because modern milk cows are rarely productive beyond 4-6 years of age while our cows often live into their teens and are still producing quality milk at that age. Currently our oldest cow is 18 and is still productive.

Lastly all our cows are Heritage Shorthorns registered with the Heritage Shorthorn Society. Their offspring have excellent value because they are not like Modern Milking Shorthorns which are crossed with Red and White Holsteins and may carry specific genetic defects that exist in Holsteins. All Whisper Heritage Dairy Shorthorns are free of those genetic defects because they have been tested free and only trace to the Coates Shorthorn Herd Book of 1822.

Cheaper cows can be purchased for milking; however Whisper family cows are unmatched in value because of their exceptional health, longevity, quality, and temperament.