Post by loriandersen on Apr 9, 2009 14:01:15 GMT -5
So I have a lot of questions here, but I want to say that if anyone knows of a few good sites I could read about this I would be greatfull too. I am having a hard time finding info out there on this.
i have two Dexter Heifers due to cave soon. Both were pasture bred. Tabatha is due any day now (though I think she is at least two weeks away) and Dulcie is due to cave the start of May (I think sooner, she has a large udder)
I want to milk one and give her calf to the other cow, so that I can have all the milk for us. We are a family of five and last year we were not getting enough while sharing with the calf. Bottle feeding is not an option for me, I do all the daily chores here while hubby works away during the day, no time to bottle feed a calf full time (temporarily maybe!).
Is there anything I shoul be doing to get the future nurse cow ready? are there things I can do when the calves are born to make it go smoother?
Tabatha is due first, I can lead her into the barn to the head gate,and will let me touch her all over (with a glove on a stick) and not even lift her foot. Tabatha also has the smallest udder I have ever seen (nice sized teats though). Dulcie is much wilder, still fights the halter, leading her to the head gate is alot of work, and I can only pet her if I am on the other side of the plank fence. Dulcie has a full udder, with very small teats.
So who is to be my milker, and who is to be the nurse cow?
If the milk cow calves before the nurse cow does, what do I do with the calf? Does the Calf stay with mommy until the other is born? Or do I not even let momma see the calf, and bottle feed it until the other cow has calved?
The only info I have found is to take the skin of the other calf and put it onto the new one! I am hoping that both calves will still be alive!
Lori
www.whynotgrassfed.webs.com/
i have two Dexter Heifers due to cave soon. Both were pasture bred. Tabatha is due any day now (though I think she is at least two weeks away) and Dulcie is due to cave the start of May (I think sooner, she has a large udder)
I want to milk one and give her calf to the other cow, so that I can have all the milk for us. We are a family of five and last year we were not getting enough while sharing with the calf. Bottle feeding is not an option for me, I do all the daily chores here while hubby works away during the day, no time to bottle feed a calf full time (temporarily maybe!).
Is there anything I shoul be doing to get the future nurse cow ready? are there things I can do when the calves are born to make it go smoother?
Tabatha is due first, I can lead her into the barn to the head gate,and will let me touch her all over (with a glove on a stick) and not even lift her foot. Tabatha also has the smallest udder I have ever seen (nice sized teats though). Dulcie is much wilder, still fights the halter, leading her to the head gate is alot of work, and I can only pet her if I am on the other side of the plank fence. Dulcie has a full udder, with very small teats.
So who is to be my milker, and who is to be the nurse cow?
If the milk cow calves before the nurse cow does, what do I do with the calf? Does the Calf stay with mommy until the other is born? Or do I not even let momma see the calf, and bottle feed it until the other cow has calved?
The only info I have found is to take the skin of the other calf and put it onto the new one! I am hoping that both calves will still be alive!
Lori
www.whynotgrassfed.webs.com/