Post by wyomama on Dec 15, 2004 10:37:23 GMT -5
Negotiations have been completed, and I have the "all clear" from DH to go to Sidney NE on Saturday and come home with a cow. ;D
Convincing my Dad to let me use his truck and trailer to do so was slightly more challenging He thinks I work too hard as it is. Anyway.
So....
Cindy should calve at the end of July. She's giving about a gallon a day right now. My ideal would be to stagger two cows so that we are never without milk, and have Cindy's primary job be that of "nurse cow". She seems committed to nursing anything that wants to, and she is an easy keeper.
Cow #1 is the black cow Ann posted a picture of. She is 9 yrs old, has had 7 calves. Jersey/Guernsey. Should calve "between Jan and April". Freshens at 5-6 gal per day. Is "gentle when caught, a little stand-offish until then" and "not a good nurse cow"
Cow #2 is also Jersey/Guernsey - she is 4, has had 3 calves - will be preg checked tomorrow, was "exposed" in June-July and in Oct. So either April or July if bred. Freshened at 4-5 gal per day. Is "very timid". She hasn't tried to put calves on her.
Both have been milked by hand and machine, both are halter broke, both shown at county fair.
Cow #1 is currently dry. Cow #2 is milking, but "not much" - the owner hit a rough spot and was missing some milkings so she dried down. I can understand that!
She has said that she would want $1000 for either cow.
Cow #1 would be a better choice as far as timing for her to freshen goes, but I'm concerned about her age.
Cow #2 seems to be a better choice as far as age, but especially if she wasn't bred until October, I'll have two cows freshening at the same time, and end up milking two cows who are both giving a dribble.
I did try the tincture from motherlove.com for pregnant mothers on Cindy, and didn't get great results.
All feedback and comments welcome!
Convincing my Dad to let me use his truck and trailer to do so was slightly more challenging He thinks I work too hard as it is. Anyway.
So....
Cindy should calve at the end of July. She's giving about a gallon a day right now. My ideal would be to stagger two cows so that we are never without milk, and have Cindy's primary job be that of "nurse cow". She seems committed to nursing anything that wants to, and she is an easy keeper.
Cow #1 is the black cow Ann posted a picture of. She is 9 yrs old, has had 7 calves. Jersey/Guernsey. Should calve "between Jan and April". Freshens at 5-6 gal per day. Is "gentle when caught, a little stand-offish until then" and "not a good nurse cow"
Cow #2 is also Jersey/Guernsey - she is 4, has had 3 calves - will be preg checked tomorrow, was "exposed" in June-July and in Oct. So either April or July if bred. Freshened at 4-5 gal per day. Is "very timid". She hasn't tried to put calves on her.
Both have been milked by hand and machine, both are halter broke, both shown at county fair.
Cow #1 is currently dry. Cow #2 is milking, but "not much" - the owner hit a rough spot and was missing some milkings so she dried down. I can understand that!
She has said that she would want $1000 for either cow.
Cow #1 would be a better choice as far as timing for her to freshen goes, but I'm concerned about her age.
Cow #2 seems to be a better choice as far as age, but especially if she wasn't bred until October, I'll have two cows freshening at the same time, and end up milking two cows who are both giving a dribble.
I did try the tincture from motherlove.com for pregnant mothers on Cindy, and didn't get great results.
All feedback and comments welcome!