Post by Tricia on Aug 31, 2011 20:49:49 GMT -5
So Molly bloated today and it was my fault.
I really need Rena's bloat remedy recipe - I've found talk of it but couldn't find it. I improvised. Last year she bloated and I gave alot of mineral oil. Did the trick but found out later, that wasn't the best choice. Now in an emergency I can't find all my notes..... (moving messes up organization big time!- well a move that takes 8 months really destroys it).
So I did some veggie oil, baking soda and water. got that down her in the pasture. boy was Dh ticked off when a steer tried to mount her in the middle of THAT. btw she was in standing heat yesterday- it was an orgy - but steers and one bull....... steers just confused!
Then I took her for a walk as it got dark. I ended up putting a tube partially down her- well she got a chewing on it and burped ALOT of nasty gasses... We could watch the deflating.
So what started this fun? We moved here 6 weeks ago with most of the fields seed to all alfalfa but no first or second cutting taken off. So lots of weeds up- a good thing really. So the cows started grazing 5-6 foot tall stuff- aka weeds mixed with alfalfa. Well today after milking- molly wanted to stay in the part they grazed 2 weeks ago. Nice 6 inch tall alfalfa, clover and dandelion. So I left her there and said I'd come back 2 hours later and move her in with the herd- grazing the weeds.....
BIG MISTAKE. One thing after another and I forgot to move her. So this evening the cows are all happy but Molly is hanging back making quiet mooing sounds. I head over to check and WOA.... I have a blimped cow.
So off I head to the barn to get my stuff only I forgot the bloat stuff froze over the winter at the inlaws. So I have 2 gallons of mineral oil- I can use but rather not. So I mixed up her cocktail in a wine bottle and dosed her.
So as off 1/2 hour ago she was fine- in pasture with beef herd munching on very old hay that was here in the barn. Hopefully she is okay in the morning.
so what is Rena's recipe and why can't if find it on here easily?
AND who has advice on how the heck to graze these fields when we get to fall frosts? ALFALFA- frost and cows do not do well!!!!
I'm reading up on Bloat guard molasses licks..... going to find some.
We are planning to have out hay for them also. I think it was recommended to have out baking soda also? Stocking up on 100 pounds of that soon. What else- the herd of 10 beefers can't be tubed or drenched unless close to death - well I have a trocar for emergencies.
Alfalfa is a good legume- really it is... until we get lush new growth after heavy rain and of course after frosts.....
If one more neighbor says alfalfa fields are wonderfull......aaagggghhhh
I really need Rena's bloat remedy recipe - I've found talk of it but couldn't find it. I improvised. Last year she bloated and I gave alot of mineral oil. Did the trick but found out later, that wasn't the best choice. Now in an emergency I can't find all my notes..... (moving messes up organization big time!- well a move that takes 8 months really destroys it).
So I did some veggie oil, baking soda and water. got that down her in the pasture. boy was Dh ticked off when a steer tried to mount her in the middle of THAT. btw she was in standing heat yesterday- it was an orgy - but steers and one bull....... steers just confused!
Then I took her for a walk as it got dark. I ended up putting a tube partially down her- well she got a chewing on it and burped ALOT of nasty gasses... We could watch the deflating.
So what started this fun? We moved here 6 weeks ago with most of the fields seed to all alfalfa but no first or second cutting taken off. So lots of weeds up- a good thing really. So the cows started grazing 5-6 foot tall stuff- aka weeds mixed with alfalfa. Well today after milking- molly wanted to stay in the part they grazed 2 weeks ago. Nice 6 inch tall alfalfa, clover and dandelion. So I left her there and said I'd come back 2 hours later and move her in with the herd- grazing the weeds.....
BIG MISTAKE. One thing after another and I forgot to move her. So this evening the cows are all happy but Molly is hanging back making quiet mooing sounds. I head over to check and WOA.... I have a blimped cow.
So off I head to the barn to get my stuff only I forgot the bloat stuff froze over the winter at the inlaws. So I have 2 gallons of mineral oil- I can use but rather not. So I mixed up her cocktail in a wine bottle and dosed her.
So as off 1/2 hour ago she was fine- in pasture with beef herd munching on very old hay that was here in the barn. Hopefully she is okay in the morning.
so what is Rena's recipe and why can't if find it on here easily?
AND who has advice on how the heck to graze these fields when we get to fall frosts? ALFALFA- frost and cows do not do well!!!!
I'm reading up on Bloat guard molasses licks..... going to find some.
We are planning to have out hay for them also. I think it was recommended to have out baking soda also? Stocking up on 100 pounds of that soon. What else- the herd of 10 beefers can't be tubed or drenched unless close to death - well I have a trocar for emergencies.
Alfalfa is a good legume- really it is... until we get lush new growth after heavy rain and of course after frosts.....
If one more neighbor says alfalfa fields are wonderfull......aaagggghhhh