Post by Applelonia on May 28, 2018 1:30:51 GMT -5
I’m trying to dry off France.
About three weeks ago she was switched to OAD milking (by her calf). Then about two weeks ago, I let her go about 36 hours and then left calf drink ~ did that about four times. Then I skipped a day completely ~ did that twice. Then last Monday I stopped letting Cordelia drink cold turkey. The next day France was very uncomfortable ~ distended udder ~ kicking at it ~ moving around ~ clearly wanted relief. I left Cordelia drink one last time and decided it was time to dry France up.
So it’s been five days ...going on six that she has not been milked. Her udder was still dripping milk tonight. The stall has a sour milk smell that I noticed. I clean her stall area at least three times a day to make sure where she lays down is shoveled out and clean and dry shavings are put back. Keeping it as clean as possible. There are often puddles of milk that have soaked into the shavings when I clean the area. And with the hot 90plus degree weather, I suspect it’s adding to the off smell.
When I decided to dry her up, she had recently been put on pasture. The weather warmed up considerably ~ so, she’s drinking more. Her udder was getting sun burnt and red so observing for signs of mastitis ~ redness, heat would be more difficult. Also the bugs where biting her udder all up something terrible.
It’s not ideal, but this past Wednesday, I brought her back to the barn for observation and away from the hot sun and bugs until her udder starts to shrink and until she stops dripping milk.
I’ve left her udder alone except on Wednesday I washed it off as she plopped down in a patty. I lightly lay my hand on each quarter once a day - very quickly just to make sure there’s no heat/too much warmth.
I only have experience drying off Appy...she dried up rather quickly and dripped milk for a little while. France’s udder has gotten a tad smaller but it’s still very firm and still dripping milk.
How long should it be before I start to see her udder noticeably shrinking? And is it normal for her to still be dripping? I assume I continue to leave her...I shouldn’t milk any out at this point?
Took these this evening...
About three weeks ago she was switched to OAD milking (by her calf). Then about two weeks ago, I let her go about 36 hours and then left calf drink ~ did that about four times. Then I skipped a day completely ~ did that twice. Then last Monday I stopped letting Cordelia drink cold turkey. The next day France was very uncomfortable ~ distended udder ~ kicking at it ~ moving around ~ clearly wanted relief. I left Cordelia drink one last time and decided it was time to dry France up.
So it’s been five days ...going on six that she has not been milked. Her udder was still dripping milk tonight. The stall has a sour milk smell that I noticed. I clean her stall area at least three times a day to make sure where she lays down is shoveled out and clean and dry shavings are put back. Keeping it as clean as possible. There are often puddles of milk that have soaked into the shavings when I clean the area. And with the hot 90plus degree weather, I suspect it’s adding to the off smell.
When I decided to dry her up, she had recently been put on pasture. The weather warmed up considerably ~ so, she’s drinking more. Her udder was getting sun burnt and red so observing for signs of mastitis ~ redness, heat would be more difficult. Also the bugs where biting her udder all up something terrible.
It’s not ideal, but this past Wednesday, I brought her back to the barn for observation and away from the hot sun and bugs until her udder starts to shrink and until she stops dripping milk.
I’ve left her udder alone except on Wednesday I washed it off as she plopped down in a patty. I lightly lay my hand on each quarter once a day - very quickly just to make sure there’s no heat/too much warmth.
I only have experience drying off Appy...she dried up rather quickly and dripped milk for a little while. France’s udder has gotten a tad smaller but it’s still very firm and still dripping milk.
How long should it be before I start to see her udder noticeably shrinking? And is it normal for her to still be dripping? I assume I continue to leave her...I shouldn’t milk any out at this point?
Took these this evening...