Long time no talk (sorry) and question about twins
May 17, 2019 16:03:30 GMT -5
throwback, treatlisa, and 6 more like this
Post by heathermundt on May 17, 2019 16:03:30 GMT -5
Hey Everybody,
I was on here a loooooong time ago with questions about my Jersey cows, which are doing great. Well my first one has since died, good old Ellie was well, old. She went out happy with twin heifers at her side for a few months before a tough winter was finally too much for her. Then I got Buttercup, a heifer Jersey from a dairy, who is doing great and due to calve in late July.
But you guys know all about CALPC. And I got bit. A dairy closer by to me was selling out a large portion of their herd as they are preparing to move their farm, so I took the opportunity to get my dream cow. A gorgeous Fleckvieh second calver due this spring. She's A2/A2 which I've always wanted to try, but more importantly, she's got more meat on her body and long teats! I love hand milking and those tiny little Jersey teats are such a pain. Plus I just love the look of a milk cow who isn't as bony and meatless on her frame.
So we named her Groot (from Guardians of the Galaxy - it's a long story.) and she calved last week on the 6th with twin boys (sad they weren't heifers but happy with live calves!) Things were rough at first with some edema and she wouldn't let the calves nurse but we've got through all of that and she is doing totally amazing now. She lets the calves drink all day, I separate them as late at night as I can into a pen where Groot can see her babies but no drinking. I go early in the morning (5 am) to halter up and tie up the boys, and then milk Groot before putting them back together for the rest of the day.
So here's my question: They will be two weeks old on Tuesday and I've been milking out both front quarters and leaving them the shorter rear teats. It's been going well but their appetites are increasing and I'm wondering if I should only milk one quarter and leave them the other three? How do you know how much to leave for the calves? The lady from the dairy said that this being her second lactation, she should produce a minimum 30 L a day and likely will be more in the 35-40 range when she peaks. Just a note to add, unlike the Jersey and Holstein breeds, the dairy owners said that their Fleckvieh cows peak lower but sustain their peak longer than the other dairy breeds. So as the boys grow, she will have a pretty steady milk supply.
One other question: Is it safe to milk only in the morning? Will the twins drink enough for the rest of the day that I'm not risking mastitis or other complications? I've been able to make sure they drink on all four quarters. Here's a link to a picture! ^.^
ibb.co/w60KJ6s
<a href="https://imgbb.com/"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/x5CMm5H/Grootandtwins.jpg" alt="Grootandtwins" border="0"></a>
I was on here a loooooong time ago with questions about my Jersey cows, which are doing great. Well my first one has since died, good old Ellie was well, old. She went out happy with twin heifers at her side for a few months before a tough winter was finally too much for her. Then I got Buttercup, a heifer Jersey from a dairy, who is doing great and due to calve in late July.
But you guys know all about CALPC. And I got bit. A dairy closer by to me was selling out a large portion of their herd as they are preparing to move their farm, so I took the opportunity to get my dream cow. A gorgeous Fleckvieh second calver due this spring. She's A2/A2 which I've always wanted to try, but more importantly, she's got more meat on her body and long teats! I love hand milking and those tiny little Jersey teats are such a pain. Plus I just love the look of a milk cow who isn't as bony and meatless on her frame.
So we named her Groot (from Guardians of the Galaxy - it's a long story.) and she calved last week on the 6th with twin boys (sad they weren't heifers but happy with live calves!) Things were rough at first with some edema and she wouldn't let the calves nurse but we've got through all of that and she is doing totally amazing now. She lets the calves drink all day, I separate them as late at night as I can into a pen where Groot can see her babies but no drinking. I go early in the morning (5 am) to halter up and tie up the boys, and then milk Groot before putting them back together for the rest of the day.
So here's my question: They will be two weeks old on Tuesday and I've been milking out both front quarters and leaving them the shorter rear teats. It's been going well but their appetites are increasing and I'm wondering if I should only milk one quarter and leave them the other three? How do you know how much to leave for the calves? The lady from the dairy said that this being her second lactation, she should produce a minimum 30 L a day and likely will be more in the 35-40 range when she peaks. Just a note to add, unlike the Jersey and Holstein breeds, the dairy owners said that their Fleckvieh cows peak lower but sustain their peak longer than the other dairy breeds. So as the boys grow, she will have a pretty steady milk supply.
One other question: Is it safe to milk only in the morning? Will the twins drink enough for the rest of the day that I'm not risking mastitis or other complications? I've been able to make sure they drink on all four quarters. Here's a link to a picture! ^.^
ibb.co/w60KJ6s
<a href="https://imgbb.com/"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/x5CMm5H/Grootandtwins.jpg" alt="Grootandtwins" border="0"></a>