Post by tracy on Oct 31, 2008 10:54:41 GMT -5
First, here is a quick report on the morning milking. It took forever for Sweetheart to come into the milking lane and get settled in. She just didn't want to be there, BUT once she got in and settled into the stanchion, she was an angel. She never moved her feet ONCE during milking. Dh was able to completely finish milking, dipping with the final teat dip, and rub bag balm on her. We opened the stanchion and she just kept standing there a long time, eating hay.
So the struggle was simply getting her to go where we wanted her to go. My guess is that this is normal, because it is a new farm new barn, new people, new routine, and my--what a small space that milking lane is--right? She's unsure I think. And since she is stand-offish, it probably makes it a bit harder for her. She isn't a friendly cow, but she is not agressive or mean either. She just doesn't want to be bothered.
My first question then is, does this sound normal? Will it maybe get easier to get her into the milking lane, once she relaxes and learns what to do?
My second question is about her mooing. She has been mooing a lot. There are a lot of cows on the farm here--a neighbor runs beef cattle on the farm. So she can see them out there, not too far away. And she seems to be mooing to them. And she moos at us. Does she miss her big herd? Is this why she moos? I know this is hard on her. Daisy didn't moo like this when she came, but she was a few years younger than this cow, and was very people oriented. Sweetheart was born at the dairy--that is all she knows.
And my final question is about Isabelle--one of her eyes is running, and there is some whitish stuff in the corner and around it a bit. Should I panic? Should I call the vet?
I'm sorry to ask so many questions.
So the struggle was simply getting her to go where we wanted her to go. My guess is that this is normal, because it is a new farm new barn, new people, new routine, and my--what a small space that milking lane is--right? She's unsure I think. And since she is stand-offish, it probably makes it a bit harder for her. She isn't a friendly cow, but she is not agressive or mean either. She just doesn't want to be bothered.
My first question then is, does this sound normal? Will it maybe get easier to get her into the milking lane, once she relaxes and learns what to do?
My second question is about her mooing. She has been mooing a lot. There are a lot of cows on the farm here--a neighbor runs beef cattle on the farm. So she can see them out there, not too far away. And she seems to be mooing to them. And she moos at us. Does she miss her big herd? Is this why she moos? I know this is hard on her. Daisy didn't moo like this when she came, but she was a few years younger than this cow, and was very people oriented. Sweetheart was born at the dairy--that is all she knows.
And my final question is about Isabelle--one of her eyes is running, and there is some whitish stuff in the corner and around it a bit. Should I panic? Should I call the vet?
I'm sorry to ask so many questions.