Post by brigitte on Jun 18, 2011 7:23:24 GMT -5
I have been milking Daisy now for almost 15 months, calfsharing. Her heifer is a picture of health because of her access to milk I think- huge. I also put a holstein heifer on her, but the holstein won't go for the udder of her adoptive mother unless Ruby the calf goes in first.
Calves can be removed from milk or replacer at two months (ugh, don't do that- give them real milk and not replacer if you can and let them nurse for four months at least- including first milk-they will be healthier in the long run)
But after six months they really don't need it any more.
Well, here we are at 14 months and those two heifers (now bigger than their cow mother) are still snatching milk when they can. I separate them as much as possible- but it's hard to do that with limited fenced pasture.
I bought a metal face gizmo recommended by the feed supply store that attached through the nose and allows the calf to feed but not suck a teat.
Ruby did not like it at all and I caved and took it off.
I am looking for ideas on how to convince these adolescent calves to stay away from that udder (in other cases I have seen the calves can really beat up the teats as older calves, luckily that isnt the case)
They have been taking less and less, and Daisy does seem to be drying up a bit, but I still want to milk her through the summer before I dry her off.
I also have a feeling it is keeping the cow from coming into heat. Had to use lutalase on her.
This is all sort of ridiculous- her heifer will be bred soon and has already gone into heat herself. The milk is still pretty tastey.
Any thoughts? It would be good for future reference too
Thanks!
Calves can be removed from milk or replacer at two months (ugh, don't do that- give them real milk and not replacer if you can and let them nurse for four months at least- including first milk-they will be healthier in the long run)
But after six months they really don't need it any more.
Well, here we are at 14 months and those two heifers (now bigger than their cow mother) are still snatching milk when they can. I separate them as much as possible- but it's hard to do that with limited fenced pasture.
I bought a metal face gizmo recommended by the feed supply store that attached through the nose and allows the calf to feed but not suck a teat.
Ruby did not like it at all and I caved and took it off.
I am looking for ideas on how to convince these adolescent calves to stay away from that udder (in other cases I have seen the calves can really beat up the teats as older calves, luckily that isnt the case)
They have been taking less and less, and Daisy does seem to be drying up a bit, but I still want to milk her through the summer before I dry her off.
I also have a feeling it is keeping the cow from coming into heat. Had to use lutalase on her.
This is all sort of ridiculous- her heifer will be bred soon and has already gone into heat herself. The milk is still pretty tastey.
Any thoughts? It would be good for future reference too
Thanks!