Post by Tricia on Oct 29, 2008 14:11:41 GMT -5
This starts back in September when Molly and Cleo along with Cleo's 2 month old calf were in the pasture together. Molly's production was irratic. I couldn't figure out why, until the marks on her teats showed up. Ah ha! July the calf was snacking. No biggy, she had a new home to go to, but that fell through. I finally found her a new home but had to separate Molly and Cleo with July. To the far corners of the acreage. July still found Molly, Cleo bellered in protest (she is a very verbal elephant, er Dexter). July went to her new home. Cleo was reunited with Molly. I added in 2 yearling highlander heifers. The rest of the herd was on a hillside pasture we managed to borrow.
Well production on MOlly went back up, then I noticed it dropping again. This time it was very noticeable that the front quarters were almost empty or bone dry at milking. AND shiny clean. Hmmmm, which one was doing it???
The trouble twins?
or trouble dexter (aka elephant-Cleo)
First we had Cleo in the barn for her training. She bellered for 3 days straight. Just about lost her "voice"-wish she had. Neighbors were stopping to see if we had another donkey. Nope, a short black trunkless elephant, er dexter cow.
Cleo's milk was dried up, hmmmm gee with July nursing Molly no wonder.
Well still having milk problems with Molly. So MOlly is separated from the highlander trouble girls. Ah ha, milk production goes up!!! Hmmm, Bella the smaller highlander is a brat, gets out follows Molly to milking but has NEVER nursed before, she was bucket raised. Emma is very independent so I really didn't think it was her.
We finally have enough of Cleo and the noise and NO milk. She comes out of the barn, back to pasture with the highlander trouble girls.
I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it. Bella was caught nursing on Cleo. Go figure.
Highlander heifers go to a neighboring pasture b/c herd and their daddy is coming back home. We don't want any breeding going on with daddy and daughters. So Cleo goes with Molly on one end of the property and herd on the other. WE've had Molly feeding the highlander calves a few years ago. Stinkers found the good stuff!!!! She was discovered with a calf on each side. So Molly cannot go near the herd.
Well production goes down again. Down from 3 1/2 gal in the am to 1 1/2 in the am, in just 3 days. Pasture wasn't that bad at all. Aha, one day she comes in all crap on the udder and teats. BUT, the front ones are very very clean.
So now Cleo is nursing on Molly or is that Cleo is doing it AGAIN!!!!!!!!
Molly is not allowed to be near another bovine AT ALL. Cleo is with the herd. She can see MOlly just fine, they are apart by about 20 feet and a creek(calves won't cross it b/c it is deep sided). Cleo is still bellering since Sunday, gee no wonder she wants her MILK!!! I saw her go over to the Highlander Mom, witchy, and duck her head under. Witchy, has a name that fits her, she went after Cleo with those horns. Later that day I saw Cleo nuzzling after Highlander mom, Tara, now Tara is a sweet sweet cow, and she rarely ever uses her horns. She went after Cleo also.
So is it I have bovines addicted to the liquid gold coming out of Molly? Or is Molly the milk siren and enticing them to come on over to the free milk bar.
Raw milk should be regulated and it will be here from now on. Once we move I am finding the perfect Jersey that is a lousy mother. Then I can have Molly feed calves only.
BTW, Cleo has an appointment. I can't take the noise anymore and I can't take the milk thieving....
This was Molly's response to my complaints:
then who me? Would this face do something like that?
She had smeared her head in mud for the effect.
Does she look skinny? The ribs make we wonder but the rest is so wide she is squeezing into the stanchion. She isn't due till April.
Well production on MOlly went back up, then I noticed it dropping again. This time it was very noticeable that the front quarters were almost empty or bone dry at milking. AND shiny clean. Hmmmm, which one was doing it???
The trouble twins?
or trouble dexter (aka elephant-Cleo)
First we had Cleo in the barn for her training. She bellered for 3 days straight. Just about lost her "voice"-wish she had. Neighbors were stopping to see if we had another donkey. Nope, a short black trunkless elephant, er dexter cow.
Cleo's milk was dried up, hmmmm gee with July nursing Molly no wonder.
Well still having milk problems with Molly. So MOlly is separated from the highlander trouble girls. Ah ha, milk production goes up!!! Hmmm, Bella the smaller highlander is a brat, gets out follows Molly to milking but has NEVER nursed before, she was bucket raised. Emma is very independent so I really didn't think it was her.
We finally have enough of Cleo and the noise and NO milk. She comes out of the barn, back to pasture with the highlander trouble girls.
I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it. Bella was caught nursing on Cleo. Go figure.
Highlander heifers go to a neighboring pasture b/c herd and their daddy is coming back home. We don't want any breeding going on with daddy and daughters. So Cleo goes with Molly on one end of the property and herd on the other. WE've had Molly feeding the highlander calves a few years ago. Stinkers found the good stuff!!!! She was discovered with a calf on each side. So Molly cannot go near the herd.
Well production goes down again. Down from 3 1/2 gal in the am to 1 1/2 in the am, in just 3 days. Pasture wasn't that bad at all. Aha, one day she comes in all crap on the udder and teats. BUT, the front ones are very very clean.
So now Cleo is nursing on Molly or is that Cleo is doing it AGAIN!!!!!!!!
Molly is not allowed to be near another bovine AT ALL. Cleo is with the herd. She can see MOlly just fine, they are apart by about 20 feet and a creek(calves won't cross it b/c it is deep sided). Cleo is still bellering since Sunday, gee no wonder she wants her MILK!!! I saw her go over to the Highlander Mom, witchy, and duck her head under. Witchy, has a name that fits her, she went after Cleo with those horns. Later that day I saw Cleo nuzzling after Highlander mom, Tara, now Tara is a sweet sweet cow, and she rarely ever uses her horns. She went after Cleo also.
So is it I have bovines addicted to the liquid gold coming out of Molly? Or is Molly the milk siren and enticing them to come on over to the free milk bar.
Raw milk should be regulated and it will be here from now on. Once we move I am finding the perfect Jersey that is a lousy mother. Then I can have Molly feed calves only.
BTW, Cleo has an appointment. I can't take the noise anymore and I can't take the milk thieving....
This was Molly's response to my complaints:
then who me? Would this face do something like that?
She had smeared her head in mud for the effect.
Does she look skinny? The ribs make we wonder but the rest is so wide she is squeezing into the stanchion. She isn't due till April.