Post by nsnfarm on Oct 22, 2008 20:45:46 GMT -5
My Jersey, Clover, just calved a week ago Sunday. All was well with the calving and the owners of the calf picked it up last Saturday. (not my choice, part of the deal of the original purchase of the cow ) Cow and calf had been together the entire week with no separation and no milking by me. I started milking twice a day beginning with the evening milking on the day the calf left. Here it is 4 days later and I am only getting about a gallon or so of milk per milking! Clover is a 3 year old and this is her second lactation. Last May she was giving me 3-4 gallons milking once a day and was still giving 2 gallons once per day at dry off at the end of August. Her first milk Saturday night, was really salty with a bit of a pink tinge. I presume it was due to the calf not emptying her out and continued as planned. The salty taste was gone the next day and most of the pink at the cream line has disappeared as well. Clover used to be a real pig while being milked. Now she doesn't touch her alfalfa pellets. Once I milk and turn her back out, she cleans up her meal (same pellets) with gusto. She has no fever and is not acting sick, just different......and of course there is the meager amount of milk for a cow who has just calved! Tonight I milked each quarter separately to see if I could figure out a problem. Both front quarters gave me about a 1/2 gallon each and both back quarters, maybe a quart each. Kinda backwards, don't you think? She appears to be letting down as I am getting a normal amount of cream. I use a machine and the same routine I always have. I've called the vet and he stated that some cows are just "slow starters" after calving. Any one have any experience with this? I just purchased her last spring, so I don't have history of her first lactation. I do know at the dairy her first year, she was giving 60 lbs per day. (they have monthly records back a few months) Clover is not thin, is on pasture with free choice grass hay and about 5 pounds of alfalfa pellets twice per day. Nothing has changed in her environment, except of course the loss of her calf. Her first calf was taken from her right after birth at the dairy. This one was with her for a week, yet she only seemed to look for her for about 4 hours after she left. I am at a loss at what is going on. Anyone's input would be greatly appreciated. thanks