Post by dsimas on Oct 10, 2010 9:48:18 GMT -5
He's almost 6 months old and sold to be a herd sire out of state (registered Dexter). I've been sharemilking, so it's time to wean him. I only have 1 acre. I thought about taking him to a friend that boards horses to get him out of sight and sound, but I worry about him all alone and my friend isn't a cattleman. I've been separating them 50% of the time for milking, and they have their comfortable routine. He had a little calfpen by her in the barn area and an adjoining paddock fence when out on the irrigated pasture turnout. No crying, happy cows.
Edie holds up on me terribly, and I had to have him in the stanchion with her and put him on her halfway through to get enough milk. I must say, it will be WONDERFUL to not deal with a half grown bull calf in the milking parlor fighting for the udder. But, I figured we'd never get over the let down hump with him nearby at all, so I put him in a dry lot on the other side of the property with no adjoining fence and not in her cowbarn. Bawled all night! Marco Polo! If he'd quit, she would, but he'd start, she answeres. My poor neighbor called at 10pm asking if I had a predator. Bless him, he wasn't as worried about the noise as concerned for my cattle. I don't think I slept at all, he's right by my bedroom.
Of course, I only got 1 quart from Edie last night. We'll see this morning, I don't expect better yet with so much confusion on their part.
Is this the way to go? Would it be better with adjoining fenceline, but NOT nursing in the milking parlor? Or will that just confuse her as to why she can't have him back? Would off the property by the way to go to get over this with less stress?
TIA!
Dawn
Edie holds up on me terribly, and I had to have him in the stanchion with her and put him on her halfway through to get enough milk. I must say, it will be WONDERFUL to not deal with a half grown bull calf in the milking parlor fighting for the udder. But, I figured we'd never get over the let down hump with him nearby at all, so I put him in a dry lot on the other side of the property with no adjoining fence and not in her cowbarn. Bawled all night! Marco Polo! If he'd quit, she would, but he'd start, she answeres. My poor neighbor called at 10pm asking if I had a predator. Bless him, he wasn't as worried about the noise as concerned for my cattle. I don't think I slept at all, he's right by my bedroom.
Of course, I only got 1 quart from Edie last night. We'll see this morning, I don't expect better yet with so much confusion on their part.
Is this the way to go? Would it be better with adjoining fenceline, but NOT nursing in the milking parlor? Or will that just confuse her as to why she can't have him back? Would off the property by the way to go to get over this with less stress?
TIA!
Dawn