Post by rd200 on Apr 22, 2019 8:18:25 GMT -5
Okay, so how soon is too soon for separating cow and calf when they're not used to it. I usually let everyone run together. I like the benefits for the calf the most. However our fencer isn't working great right now so the calf is in the barn now until I can find the short. Maple hates being in the barn away from the herd understandably. But also hates being away from her calf..in years past I've had issues with her just sitting at the barn door all day and not going out to graze or eat.... obviously not good. Especially right after calving. Talk about ketosis risk π€¦
I don't like to separate for long stretches so early on but we have new pasture thats quite a ways out from the barn and I'll never get her out there if she's pining for her calf all day. However I tried last year and she pined for her calf anyways for weeks.
Maybe If I do it NOW at 3 days old, she will adjust better than if they're used to running together all the time π€·π€·
All that to say I think I'm going to milk at 7am like normal, let her out, keep calf in and then keep her out until 4pm. Milk again and then let them together the rest of the time. Im hoping I can go to OAD sooner this way too. She never let's down good w/a calf and I screw around milking TAD forever.
So on OAD then it would be bringing calf in at 7am and milking at 4pm and running them back out together all night.
(No that won't happen until the calf can keep up good enough for OAD)
**ETA: I know some calves only ever drink TAD, I just don't like that long stretch and then they'll gorge themselves when they get back to the cow. Is that not a big concern for such a young calf? I've done it when they get older just fine but when they're younger they can't take as much variation.
I don't like to separate for long stretches so early on but we have new pasture thats quite a ways out from the barn and I'll never get her out there if she's pining for her calf all day. However I tried last year and she pined for her calf anyways for weeks.
Maybe If I do it NOW at 3 days old, she will adjust better than if they're used to running together all the time π€·π€·
All that to say I think I'm going to milk at 7am like normal, let her out, keep calf in and then keep her out until 4pm. Milk again and then let them together the rest of the time. Im hoping I can go to OAD sooner this way too. She never let's down good w/a calf and I screw around milking TAD forever.
So on OAD then it would be bringing calf in at 7am and milking at 4pm and running them back out together all night.
(No that won't happen until the calf can keep up good enough for OAD)
**ETA: I know some calves only ever drink TAD, I just don't like that long stretch and then they'll gorge themselves when they get back to the cow. Is that not a big concern for such a young calf? I've done it when they get older just fine but when they're younger they can't take as much variation.