Post by clifftrina on Jul 7, 2008 22:40:39 GMT -5
So I posted all about the drama involved with getting our newest cow over the photos forum so I'll spare all the indepth details. But basically I bought a cow that I felt very pressured into buying by a livestock trader that scouted her out for me. She is in her second pregnancy and is 3 years old. She was a heavy producer coming in at 68 pounds 4 days after giving birth the first time. Here is how she milked:
Sept 68#
Oct 53#
Nov 65#
Dec 63#
Jan 55#
Feb 49#
And then they turned her dry because she was giving 10# a day so she was dry for the March milk test. At the dairy they attributed this to her going on strike, that the bigger cows kept her from the feed, etc. I was not able to get good info on this from them. They said they don't think this would happen again to her but then again, they were trying to sell her.
I am very nervous about her drying up on me. Do some cows just do this despite having ample food and on time milkings?
The buying process was not a good experience coupled with the fears of possible mastitis (she had none previously according to the dairy), milk fever risk because she's a high producer and then I wonder if she will dry up on me which is the biggest concern.
I'm having a terrible time sorting things out and trying to make a good decision. Any advice and input is welcome. If I want to sell before she calves, I really need to act fast. She is due to calve in early August.
I have called my livestock trader that kept repeating how he'd buy her that day if I didn't but now won't buy her (less than one week later) until he finds someone else that will buy her from him but doing that, I am going to be taking a financial loss. I'm really disappointed in him and his integrity because I thought I could trust him and his expertise to find me a good cow but it really looks like he was trying to make some quick money. Still having a hard time reconciling that in my mind because he's a very religious man and none of it adds up.
Sept 68#
Oct 53#
Nov 65#
Dec 63#
Jan 55#
Feb 49#
And then they turned her dry because she was giving 10# a day so she was dry for the March milk test. At the dairy they attributed this to her going on strike, that the bigger cows kept her from the feed, etc. I was not able to get good info on this from them. They said they don't think this would happen again to her but then again, they were trying to sell her.
I am very nervous about her drying up on me. Do some cows just do this despite having ample food and on time milkings?
The buying process was not a good experience coupled with the fears of possible mastitis (she had none previously according to the dairy), milk fever risk because she's a high producer and then I wonder if she will dry up on me which is the biggest concern.
I'm having a terrible time sorting things out and trying to make a good decision. Any advice and input is welcome. If I want to sell before she calves, I really need to act fast. She is due to calve in early August.
I have called my livestock trader that kept repeating how he'd buy her that day if I didn't but now won't buy her (less than one week later) until he finds someone else that will buy her from him but doing that, I am going to be taking a financial loss. I'm really disappointed in him and his integrity because I thought I could trust him and his expertise to find me a good cow but it really looks like he was trying to make some quick money. Still having a hard time reconciling that in my mind because he's a very religious man and none of it adds up.