Post by vkrussell on Apr 2, 2011 11:41:31 GMT -5
Just wanted to share some information that may interest a few folks. Some might remember that I posted some time ago asking for information regarding my Guernsey cow that we were having trouble getting bred. Here's a quick summary of what we have been through for those of you that might be having similar issues or concerns.
Had Dolly cow vet checked twice by two different vets that both said she was open after running with the bull for a few months. First vet gave shot of Lute. Bull put back with her. Back to vet for second check (with a different vet) and second shot of Lute. Back with different bull.
Posted on here about the problem where a few folks said she was possibly too fat and that might be part of the problem. Worried about feed intake and needing to sale my sweetheart since we couldn't seem to get her bred. Discussed and fussed with DH. He was adamant about her being perfectly fine and in good shape. Left things alone for a few months with the bad weather and life going on as it does. Here's a pic of her then.
About a month ago, we started noticing a change in her shape and disposition while milking - more "poops" while in the milking parlor, change in udder shape, etc. Looked back through paperwork and decided it was possible that she had been bred after the second shot of Lute. Started drying her off and decreasing grain. About the 4th milking of this, her milk suddenly changed color and texture- looked like colostrum... hmmm... Stopped milking her totally and cut back on all but a little grain and turned her out of the pasture.
We had a sudden warm spell and clover came up. Dolly bloated and we thought we might even lose her. Vet wouldn't come out and we were on our own. Got through that experience and were totally convinced that we were looking at a May/June calving. Happy days as Dolly had been milking almost 2 years. Really missing our wonderful fresh cow milk though!
DH walked out to do chores Thursday morning and found a huge, healthy black bull calf being born. Mom and baby are doing very well and she is one proud momma cow! Calf looks to weigh at least 80-100 lbs. We are gradually increasing her grain intake and hoping we don't have any problems as she settles in to motherhood. Here is Dolly and son today. ;D
Obviously she was bred way before any of this started. It's amazing to us that he survived 2 different shots of Lute, 2 different vets said she was open, and we totally couldn't tell until very recently that she was expecting. Dolly is a big girl, but we are not newbies to the cow world, just the milk cow part. I'm sure that there will be some comments about our missing things we might should have seen, as there always seem to be.
I am hoping this gives some relief to others that may be feeling as I did and may have spent time worrying that their darling cows may not breed or need to be sold for the same reasons. I feel bad about her not getting much recovery time as she was only dried up for about 4 weeks before the baby come, but it doesn't seem to be bothering her a bit! Mother Nature is awesome and definitely puts us in our place at times.
Had Dolly cow vet checked twice by two different vets that both said she was open after running with the bull for a few months. First vet gave shot of Lute. Bull put back with her. Back to vet for second check (with a different vet) and second shot of Lute. Back with different bull.
Posted on here about the problem where a few folks said she was possibly too fat and that might be part of the problem. Worried about feed intake and needing to sale my sweetheart since we couldn't seem to get her bred. Discussed and fussed with DH. He was adamant about her being perfectly fine and in good shape. Left things alone for a few months with the bad weather and life going on as it does. Here's a pic of her then.
About a month ago, we started noticing a change in her shape and disposition while milking - more "poops" while in the milking parlor, change in udder shape, etc. Looked back through paperwork and decided it was possible that she had been bred after the second shot of Lute. Started drying her off and decreasing grain. About the 4th milking of this, her milk suddenly changed color and texture- looked like colostrum... hmmm... Stopped milking her totally and cut back on all but a little grain and turned her out of the pasture.
We had a sudden warm spell and clover came up. Dolly bloated and we thought we might even lose her. Vet wouldn't come out and we were on our own. Got through that experience and were totally convinced that we were looking at a May/June calving. Happy days as Dolly had been milking almost 2 years. Really missing our wonderful fresh cow milk though!
DH walked out to do chores Thursday morning and found a huge, healthy black bull calf being born. Mom and baby are doing very well and she is one proud momma cow! Calf looks to weigh at least 80-100 lbs. We are gradually increasing her grain intake and hoping we don't have any problems as she settles in to motherhood. Here is Dolly and son today. ;D
Obviously she was bred way before any of this started. It's amazing to us that he survived 2 different shots of Lute, 2 different vets said she was open, and we totally couldn't tell until very recently that she was expecting. Dolly is a big girl, but we are not newbies to the cow world, just the milk cow part. I'm sure that there will be some comments about our missing things we might should have seen, as there always seem to be.
I am hoping this gives some relief to others that may be feeling as I did and may have spent time worrying that their darling cows may not breed or need to be sold for the same reasons. I feel bad about her not getting much recovery time as she was only dried up for about 4 weeks before the baby come, but it doesn't seem to be bothering her a bit! Mother Nature is awesome and definitely puts us in our place at times.