Best method when calf isn't handling all the milk?

[zephyrhillsusan]

So I did not want to be milking Ebony regularly yet, because when she calved so early on April 10, I unfortunately agreed to take a trip to visit my daughter from May 1-9.  (Actually leaving April 30.)  My DD here and I worked on her for the first 10 days to get her through the edema and get Tiggy handling the milk.  Once it seemed like she was, I backed off.  I've been checking Ebby twice a day to see if Tiggy's handling things.  Here's the problem:

Tiggy seems to be a lazy nurser who has favorite quarters.  Usually she nurses one side one time, then the other side the next time.  That works okay.  On those days I have not milked.  But then every second or third day, I'll go out and see that one side or one quarter is really full and hard.  When that happens, Tiggy is apparently too lazy to nurse the full teat/s, and just keeps going after the easy ones.  I've actually seen her bypass the fuller quarters and nurse the others.   I'm so worried about mastitis, that my method to avoid it was what I'll call "Relief."  I would get Ebby in the stanchion and milk out enough to relieve the pressure on the full quarter/s so that Tiggy would then nurse it/them.  I have seen that be successful several times and see Tiggy go for the "relieved" quarters.  So far, so good.

I thought Ebby's bout with bloat would affect her production, but it didn't.  Despite no grain or grass and only grass hay, she seems to be gradually increasing her production over what Tiggy will take.  Tiggy is 18 days old today, btw.  I had her checked by the (old) vet when he came to read Ebby's TB test the end of last week.  He says she is fine and healthy, so no issue there.  But she was quite small at birth and although she's gaining well, she obviously isn't taking as much as a bigger calf would.

I didn't have to milk on Saturday at all.  Sunday evening Ebby was VERY full on the right side, especially the rear.  (This seems to be the side Tiggy ignores most frequently.)  I milked out that side and got a quart and a cup.

This morning, the same thing.  So I decided to try a different method, "Trick Tiggy!"  I relieved the pressure on the neglected right side and milked out the left side completely.  Got a quart plus 3/4 cup.  Then I got Tiggy to nurse the right side.  She went right for the front teat and ignored the fuller back one.  So I covered up the front teat, and after a minute, she did nurse on the back one.  She didn't begin to drain the quarter, though.  She doesn't really like to nurse in the stanchion.  I checked to be sure both right quarters were soft, then went over and removed the bit that had let down into the left side.  My hope is that Tiggy will now have to nurse the right side again when she's hungry.

I have to leave Wed. morning.    My DD Kara is coming to stay and do this for me, bless her heart, but I'm hoping you all can tell me what method will be best for her to use.  1)  "Relief" - Relieve pressure and stop?  2)  "Trick Tiggy" - Empty the side Tiggy prefers and hope to force Tiggy to nurse the other side.  

I really DO NOT want to increase Ebby's production (we have more milk than we can use), and I'm really hoping Tiggy will get to handle it all as she gets older.  However, I realize the possibility that she may just plain refuse to nurse on an un-loved quarter or two.     

And for the record, next year NO ONE is going to talk me into promising to travel until calving season is over, babies are handling the milk, and spring grass is done!  I let myself be talked into leaving against my gut instinct, and now I'm going to be worrying until I get home.  I trust Kara, of course, but I hate that this has become her responsibility when it's really mine.  

[wyomama]

Tiggy is normal. They all start with one favorite quarter, or favorite side, and it takes them all anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks before they learn to count all they way to four.

I'd just check her once a day and milk out whatever quarters are full. I don't see what the point of wrestling with a calf that may not even be hungry is.

[hoperefuge]

You're probably not going to be able to count on Tiggy keeping up with Ebby's production for quite a while. She's quite a small girlie. I think you're going to have to keep the quarters emptied out that Tiggy isn't.

For comparison, I have just now been able to skip a day milking Trixie & Cecilia keeps her empty. Cecilia is 5 weeks old and a good bit bigger than Tiggy (from birth). And last year Ebby's production was higher than Trixie's...first lactation for both of them.

Kim

[zephyrhillsusan]

Thank you, ladies! OAD milking out it is! At least that will be easier for Kara, not to have to check on her TAD. Is there an advantage to doing it at any particular time of the day? Or just pick a time and stay regular?

It's helpful to know that we're looking at probably 6 weeks until Tiggy learns to count to four. (That was funny, Wyoymama!) And that's a helpful comparison, Kim. It's super to have such a good milker--I just hadn't realized what that was going to mean, having only dealt with a lower-producing first-freshener. Duh! Believe me, I'm going nowhere next year until Ebby's third lactation is under complete control of her calf!

[Shawn]

Fern has 2 calves on her, it's 2 weeks post-calving. In the morning I take my bucket out and milk as fast as I can from her front quarters. I usually take about 3/4 of a gallon and then let her calves in. I may have to help them some in the evening too, because she's really coming into production and last year she produced 5 gal per day, this year I expect 6.

[petaddict]

I'm glad to read this post because I've also wondered how long it will be till my calf begins putting a dent in the milk. I'm milking every other day because it's been a real battle of wills between me and Raisa. Each time I only milk the back 2 quarters because the calf is nursing the front (mostly one side). I'm getting more than 3 gallons of milk from just those two back quarters and sometimes more. I'm wondering how old a calf would be to be able to drink that much milk. I hate seeing her udder so large and tight and wish she'd cooperate more and let me relieve her. I keep thinking the calf will nurse off the back quarters after I take some pressure off and make the teats more accessible but he doesn't.