Post by evamommy on Mar 28, 2011 8:40:31 GMT -5
Hello all,
I've spent the last few days reading through the tree of knowledge, and the other archives for advice on share-milking vs. separation and bottle-feeding, and I think I've been convinced that separation is the way to go. I have waited too long to get a milk cow (that is actually in milk!), and I actually have 3 families wanting to buy milk from me once she freshens, to lose more to a calf than it really needs. That, and I'm really in this for the cream/butter.
So...
What I have read in the book, and on these boards is that you can leave the calf and cow together for 3 days, and then separate, and put the calf on a bottle. I'm wondering what the specific purpose of the 3 days is. If we milk out the cow, and bottle-feed the colostrum, could we separate earlier? Are there other advantages/disadvantages I'm not thinking of? What about the "crazed hormones/my cow is going to try to kill me if she thinks I'm stealing her baby"? Is that why to wait 3 days? Here's the deal....I am a big softy when it comes to crying babies..and mommies, for that matter. I've nursed all my own children (still nursing my almost 3 year old), and it is going to take all the will-power I've got to separate them. I'm really having to work hard to psyche myself up for this, even though intellectually, I think it will work best for our little homestead, I fully anticipate having a really hard time with it, emotionally. So, what I'm hoping to do is figure out the best timing to minimize separation crying on the part of the cow and the calf, so that I can actually follow through with this plan, and not give up/in because they are just so sad!
Perhaps I should add, the other reason I am thinking that separation will be best is that our property does not have much in the way of cross-fencing. We have one small area to the north of the house. (Maybe 3/4 acre), and another electric-fenced area attached to the milking shed about the same size, and then the rest of it (about 35 acres) is all together. I am just not seeing that I'll be able to separate them later for weaning, once they have a nursing relationship. I'm hoping that, by bottle-feeding, that once the calf is a few months old, I can put them in the same pasture together. Does this seem like it would work, or is it overly optimistic/wishful thinking?
Thanks so much for any input,
Carrie
I've spent the last few days reading through the tree of knowledge, and the other archives for advice on share-milking vs. separation and bottle-feeding, and I think I've been convinced that separation is the way to go. I have waited too long to get a milk cow (that is actually in milk!), and I actually have 3 families wanting to buy milk from me once she freshens, to lose more to a calf than it really needs. That, and I'm really in this for the cream/butter.
So...
What I have read in the book, and on these boards is that you can leave the calf and cow together for 3 days, and then separate, and put the calf on a bottle. I'm wondering what the specific purpose of the 3 days is. If we milk out the cow, and bottle-feed the colostrum, could we separate earlier? Are there other advantages/disadvantages I'm not thinking of? What about the "crazed hormones/my cow is going to try to kill me if she thinks I'm stealing her baby"? Is that why to wait 3 days? Here's the deal....I am a big softy when it comes to crying babies..and mommies, for that matter. I've nursed all my own children (still nursing my almost 3 year old), and it is going to take all the will-power I've got to separate them. I'm really having to work hard to psyche myself up for this, even though intellectually, I think it will work best for our little homestead, I fully anticipate having a really hard time with it, emotionally. So, what I'm hoping to do is figure out the best timing to minimize separation crying on the part of the cow and the calf, so that I can actually follow through with this plan, and not give up/in because they are just so sad!
Perhaps I should add, the other reason I am thinking that separation will be best is that our property does not have much in the way of cross-fencing. We have one small area to the north of the house. (Maybe 3/4 acre), and another electric-fenced area attached to the milking shed about the same size, and then the rest of it (about 35 acres) is all together. I am just not seeing that I'll be able to separate them later for weaning, once they have a nursing relationship. I'm hoping that, by bottle-feeding, that once the calf is a few months old, I can put them in the same pasture together. Does this seem like it would work, or is it overly optimistic/wishful thinking?
Thanks so much for any input,
Carrie