Post by belle on Aug 31, 2008 16:47:45 GMT -5
Hi all -- sorry this will be a somewhat despondent message.
I've written in about my new jersey, who's name is Belle, and who had teat sores that are healing up. She's a good cow, but things are pretty rough, and it may be taking too much of a toll on my family:
1. I'm a single mom. Every time I go milk, I leave my son in front of a video (he's 2 -- he tends to wander if I don't park him in front of Dora, which he's addicted to).
2. I live near my dad. He helps as much as he can, but I feel like I'm straining my relationship with him with all these logistical problems with the cow.
3. The calf is with her. He's so strong (5 weeks old) that he's dragged me on my belly across the pasture a couple times. I have a sprained foot, bruises, etc.
4. I'm rotationally grazing her around our pastures. I.e., building a new temporary fence every day.
5. I have no perimeter fence. Just can't afford to put one in right now.
So...the calf is a big part of teh problem. At this point it would really be easier to just contain him in the chicken yard or something and switch to bottle-feeding him, because right now every time I milk her or rotate her, he's there to be contended with. He's rambunctious, etc. you know how calves are. Runs through my fence if I dare turn off the charger for a second.
But I can't contain him apart from her b/c then she'll run right through the temporary fence (step-in posts and polywire) in her effort to get to him.
6. Oh, also, I don't have a stanchion and have virtually no carpentry or mechanical skills.
So, I'm thinking about selling her. Having her is the fulfillment of a long-time dream, and I love the cream and yogurt, and I love HER, but I feel it's stressing me out, and my dad, and I don't want to be attending to the cow when I should be with my son.
I'd really love any practical ideas people have for my various problems.
Also wondering if anyone wants a 5-year-old jersey located near Peoria, IL.
Kate
I've written in about my new jersey, who's name is Belle, and who had teat sores that are healing up. She's a good cow, but things are pretty rough, and it may be taking too much of a toll on my family:
1. I'm a single mom. Every time I go milk, I leave my son in front of a video (he's 2 -- he tends to wander if I don't park him in front of Dora, which he's addicted to).
2. I live near my dad. He helps as much as he can, but I feel like I'm straining my relationship with him with all these logistical problems with the cow.
3. The calf is with her. He's so strong (5 weeks old) that he's dragged me on my belly across the pasture a couple times. I have a sprained foot, bruises, etc.
4. I'm rotationally grazing her around our pastures. I.e., building a new temporary fence every day.
5. I have no perimeter fence. Just can't afford to put one in right now.
So...the calf is a big part of teh problem. At this point it would really be easier to just contain him in the chicken yard or something and switch to bottle-feeding him, because right now every time I milk her or rotate her, he's there to be contended with. He's rambunctious, etc. you know how calves are. Runs through my fence if I dare turn off the charger for a second.
But I can't contain him apart from her b/c then she'll run right through the temporary fence (step-in posts and polywire) in her effort to get to him.
6. Oh, also, I don't have a stanchion and have virtually no carpentry or mechanical skills.
So, I'm thinking about selling her. Having her is the fulfillment of a long-time dream, and I love the cream and yogurt, and I love HER, but I feel it's stressing me out, and my dad, and I don't want to be attending to the cow when I should be with my son.
I'd really love any practical ideas people have for my various problems.
Also wondering if anyone wants a 5-year-old jersey located near Peoria, IL.
Kate