According to the American Minature Jersey Registry & Association Miniature Jerseys are not a new breed, nor a bred down replica of the Jersey cattle we see today.  They are descendants of the original Jerseys imported from the Jersey islands and Britain many years ago with the same size and conformation of the original Jersey breed.

American Miniature Jerseys have also been known as the Rabbit-eyed Jersey, Guinea Jersey, Barnyard Jersey, and Island Jersey; names used in various geographical areas of the country.  Early Jersey herds were all of this type.  Now to give them an identity of their own and to differentiate them from the large modern-day Jerseys, they have been renamed the American Miniature Jersey.

Turning Ranch is a member of The American Miniature Jersey Association & Registry which is where the stud book for these sweet creatures is maintained.  They are few in number, with less than 100 foundations pure known at this time, all descendants of the original imports. It has only been in the last few years that these few small herds have been rediscovered.

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Turning Ranch Sir Arthur

He was born on April 29, 2009. His sire is Oakwood Keeping Colorado and his Dam is TCF Aimee (#190). On April 8. 2010 he is almost a year old and 39 inches tall. He is shy and well mannered. Eats well and ready to breed.

Turning Ranch currently has breeding Dam (TCF Aimee is her registered name but we call her Buttercup). Our naming convention is Ladies are Flowers and Bulls are Knights of the Round Table.  Her son, Sir Arthur, is on property also and getting ready to start breeding. Buttercup is expecting to deliver in May 2010 and we are hoping for a heifer this time.

At left is a picture of Buttercup and her son, Sir Arthur.

AT Turning Ranch we also breed regular (Standard) Jerseys. We are members of the American Jersey Cattle Association and have a registered bull, Turning Ranch Sir Lancelot (USA 116874195), registered with them. His Sire is Golden Boy of Ferreira and his Dam is Chuckies HD Hazel.

AT Turning Ranch we have a small family Dairy.  Due to the unfair (and biased to Big Business) law in Texas that prohibits us from selling "Raw Milk" unless we are a licensed Grade A Raw dairy, we have found other uses for our milk.  We could apply for a license to be a Grade A Raw Dairy but we would only be able to sell milk at our farm.  Because of our location, being so far from a major population center, we have decided that the cost to bring us to the "Big Dairy" standard is not feasible at this time.  We are hoping for a change in the regulations that will allow us to sell at Farmer's Markets and then it might be worth paying to become a Grade A Raw Milk Dairy.  For more information on the Raw Milk crisis read more at Raw Milk.com.

Since we breed Jerseys we now have gallons of Raw Milk. We allow our calves to stay on "momma" as long as we can so they grow big.  Our family has milk, butter, yogurt, and ice cream (all homemade). We feed our extra milk to our dogs, cats and chickens, who also grow up big and healthy.

We have no Jersey's for Sale at this time.  Check Back Next year.

At Turning Ranch we want to eventually set the standard for health and family welfare.

With the birth of our first bull (soon to be a steer) we are starting our herd of Jersey steers for Jersey beef.

Stephen T. Morris, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, MASSEY UNIVERSITY, Palmerston North, New Zealand says "One of the most outstanding characteristics of beef from Jersey cattle is the high level of intramuscular fat. Even under pasture feeding conditions, the genetic potential of the breed to deposit intramuscular fat implies that a high level of marbling can be obtained at low carcass weights." This adds flavor and nutrition.

Morris also says "Beef from Jersey cattle has the lowest values of Warner-Bratzler shear force an
objective mechanical measurement of tenderness."