Post by hoperefuge on Feb 16, 2012 11:58:07 GMT -5
...and I wasn't even looking to buy!! ;D
Back in Dec. I got an email from the lady we bought Mace from (he's my "second string" bull). She said they decided to sell their Dexters & would I know anyone interested in Mace's dam Mosey. She's been hand-milking her these 5 years & gets 2 gallons in the morning after separating the calf overnight during the summer when there's grass (which is really good production for a Dexter). Well, I already knew she was a pretty, friendly cow, so I couldn't resist. I didn't even have to do much convincing with the hubby, since we were already planning to sell Keira.
We set it all up with her but had to wait awhile to make the trip. Yesterday Mosey finally came home. So here she is!
She seems to be settling in nicely. The lady said she's only been getting about a quart off her lately, but I decided to go ahead & try to milk her this morning. First I clipped off a PILE of thick, long wooly hair from the bottom of her udder....really don't see how someone can hand-milk with all that there! Since everything else was so different for her, I did hand-milk her, even though I'm quite slow & not very good at it. Thankfully she was fairly patient & tolerant! I didn't get her at all emptied out, though, just a quart was all my hands could take. I switched on the pump when we were done to see what she would think & I didn't get a very big reaction at all, so I think tomorrow we'll try the milker. At least I can have a little bit of "real" milk until Bo finally calves!
Mosey calved last May & is due in May again this year, just preg checked by their vet & confirmed 6 months bred. She seems kinda thin to me though. She doesn't have much af a baby-belly at all, especially compared to my other girls, who all get HUGE. Standing there looking at her, it seems like her hip bones stick out wider than all the rest of her body! I guess I'll need to put a little weight on her probably.
I just liked the way that photo turned out. She was so curious about the camera! Looks like she lost an ear, though!
Oh, that's right, I had a question, too.
She's had 5 calves....ALL boys, being bred by 3 different bulls. Is there some genetic reason for a cow to only produce male offspring, or something "going on" with her? Or just a fluke (I hope!!)?
Kim
Back in Dec. I got an email from the lady we bought Mace from (he's my "second string" bull). She said they decided to sell their Dexters & would I know anyone interested in Mace's dam Mosey. She's been hand-milking her these 5 years & gets 2 gallons in the morning after separating the calf overnight during the summer when there's grass (which is really good production for a Dexter). Well, I already knew she was a pretty, friendly cow, so I couldn't resist. I didn't even have to do much convincing with the hubby, since we were already planning to sell Keira.
We set it all up with her but had to wait awhile to make the trip. Yesterday Mosey finally came home. So here she is!
She seems to be settling in nicely. The lady said she's only been getting about a quart off her lately, but I decided to go ahead & try to milk her this morning. First I clipped off a PILE of thick, long wooly hair from the bottom of her udder....really don't see how someone can hand-milk with all that there! Since everything else was so different for her, I did hand-milk her, even though I'm quite slow & not very good at it. Thankfully she was fairly patient & tolerant! I didn't get her at all emptied out, though, just a quart was all my hands could take. I switched on the pump when we were done to see what she would think & I didn't get a very big reaction at all, so I think tomorrow we'll try the milker. At least I can have a little bit of "real" milk until Bo finally calves!
Mosey calved last May & is due in May again this year, just preg checked by their vet & confirmed 6 months bred. She seems kinda thin to me though. She doesn't have much af a baby-belly at all, especially compared to my other girls, who all get HUGE. Standing there looking at her, it seems like her hip bones stick out wider than all the rest of her body! I guess I'll need to put a little weight on her probably.
I just liked the way that photo turned out. She was so curious about the camera! Looks like she lost an ear, though!
Oh, that's right, I had a question, too.
She's had 5 calves....ALL boys, being bred by 3 different bulls. Is there some genetic reason for a cow to only produce male offspring, or something "going on" with her? Or just a fluke (I hope!!)?
Kim