Post by katie k on Dec 26, 2018 17:36:51 GMT -5
I am on my third failed attempt to have a normal family cow, and very discouraged. I have wanted a family cow ever since I read Grohman's book 15 years ago. I believed- I really believed she was dead on, had been buying raw milk for years, and made the leap. There are passages in that book that still make my heart sing, but I have had a string of difficult experiences. May I say first that I am willing to work hard and long, pay the vet, and hear that I'm wrong! I have not bought culls, I have mentors, I have a good vet. Here's my tail of woe, what I'm learning, and advice needed.
Cow #1 Canadienne Nadine bought in 2015. Did not blood test, she developed early BLV. We had her 1 year and I learned a ton. We put her down on farm. Learned to test!
Cow #2 Jersey Guersey Ruby. Bought 2017 as a 4 month old. Vet checked, very clean tested herd. My seed cow. Could not get her bred (saga on different thread). Slaughtered on farm last weekend. Learned to ask more questions about parentage. She will still nourish us, just not how I thought.
Cow #3 Jersey Peony 5y/o from recommended grassfed raw dairy. Vet checked. Dry. Freshened 8 weeks ago and learned last week staph A in FL qtr, and I suspect brewing in FR. ( I have worn gloves, pre and post dipped, tidy barn, though calf sharing.) On again off again clumping tipped me off, then scc 830,000, then culture of each qtr. My vet is very pessimistic about treating, esp an older cow, who may have had this for a while. No lg clumps, no knots in udder, milk was tasting fine, now salty in that qtr. Dh hesitant to use DMSO after his research, esp as she is likely to end up beef.
Have I mentioned I am really bummed out? We have deeply loved each of these animals, committed to care fully for them, and engaged with them as much more than mere suppliers of a product.
Right now I am letting calf nurse bad qtr, milking the other 2 (she's a 3 teater) 2x a day. I cover the other teats while he nurses. Making abt 4 gal is my best guess. I will not breed her back, but would like to keep her thru fall. Have Pirsue, trying to decide what to do.
Could she go happily to fall, maybe drying that side off?
Is it a total waste of time to use Pirsue without DMSO?
Could I use pasteurized staph a milk?
Could I milk OAD by letting him nurse evenings good qtrs before bad qtr? Handmilking 2x a day wears me a little thin.
Is this "normal" cow experience? I am not sure I want to go on. Its not the hassle or cost (somehow the math always works out-they are generous creatures), but the HEARTACHE!
Cow #1 Canadienne Nadine bought in 2015. Did not blood test, she developed early BLV. We had her 1 year and I learned a ton. We put her down on farm. Learned to test!
Cow #2 Jersey Guersey Ruby. Bought 2017 as a 4 month old. Vet checked, very clean tested herd. My seed cow. Could not get her bred (saga on different thread). Slaughtered on farm last weekend. Learned to ask more questions about parentage. She will still nourish us, just not how I thought.
Cow #3 Jersey Peony 5y/o from recommended grassfed raw dairy. Vet checked. Dry. Freshened 8 weeks ago and learned last week staph A in FL qtr, and I suspect brewing in FR. ( I have worn gloves, pre and post dipped, tidy barn, though calf sharing.) On again off again clumping tipped me off, then scc 830,000, then culture of each qtr. My vet is very pessimistic about treating, esp an older cow, who may have had this for a while. No lg clumps, no knots in udder, milk was tasting fine, now salty in that qtr. Dh hesitant to use DMSO after his research, esp as she is likely to end up beef.
Have I mentioned I am really bummed out? We have deeply loved each of these animals, committed to care fully for them, and engaged with them as much more than mere suppliers of a product.
Right now I am letting calf nurse bad qtr, milking the other 2 (she's a 3 teater) 2x a day. I cover the other teats while he nurses. Making abt 4 gal is my best guess. I will not breed her back, but would like to keep her thru fall. Have Pirsue, trying to decide what to do.
Could she go happily to fall, maybe drying that side off?
Is it a total waste of time to use Pirsue without DMSO?
Could I use pasteurized staph a milk?
Could I milk OAD by letting him nurse evenings good qtrs before bad qtr? Handmilking 2x a day wears me a little thin.
Is this "normal" cow experience? I am not sure I want to go on. Its not the hassle or cost (somehow the math always works out-they are generous creatures), but the HEARTACHE!