Post by citygirlfarmer on Dec 21, 2009 15:11:31 GMT -5
I sure hope I'm posting this in the right place. I'm new. New at having a dairy cow, too.
We acquired Lilly 3 weeks ago from a dairy farmer who was disgusted with her for her lack of production. She had been a family cow before she was part of his herd. It soon became apparent that she had mastitis in two quarters. When I called the farmer I got her from he told me she had already been treated for mastitis this year. I suspect now (experience is a brutal teacher) that it hadn't cleared up all the way when I got her. She dribbled pee when we milked her and she shivered. I assumed it was because of the record low temperatures we were having in Colorado. Her appetite was down but I was told that was because of the stress of being moved and not to worry. She had diarrhea when we got her but her stools were starting to improve. Then she went down 8 days ago. Her temperature was 99.4 F. I brought her food and water, built a straw bale shelter for her in the pasture and called the vet. He said to give her penicillin and get her up within 24 hours.
We did as he said and she got up. Her milk has cleared up and her appetite is back. She still dribbles pee when I milk her and her production has increased a little. Her temperature is still well below normal. She seems alert and happy otherwise---maybe still a little weak?
Anyway, my question is what next? Her symptoms are mostly gone. She has diarrhea again and I'm wondering if this isn't caused by the Penicillin. What can I do to help her regain her strength? Anything I can do to increase her milk production?
She calved two and a half months ago and seems to be in a pretty low condition (skinny). I was planning to breed her next month. Would you do that with your cow or would you give her more recovery time? If we don't breed her next month, we will wait until the summer as we do not want to have her calve in the winter.
Thanks for bearing with the length of this post. Three weeks of hands-on experience with a cow is just not enough!
Rachel
We acquired Lilly 3 weeks ago from a dairy farmer who was disgusted with her for her lack of production. She had been a family cow before she was part of his herd. It soon became apparent that she had mastitis in two quarters. When I called the farmer I got her from he told me she had already been treated for mastitis this year. I suspect now (experience is a brutal teacher) that it hadn't cleared up all the way when I got her. She dribbled pee when we milked her and she shivered. I assumed it was because of the record low temperatures we were having in Colorado. Her appetite was down but I was told that was because of the stress of being moved and not to worry. She had diarrhea when we got her but her stools were starting to improve. Then she went down 8 days ago. Her temperature was 99.4 F. I brought her food and water, built a straw bale shelter for her in the pasture and called the vet. He said to give her penicillin and get her up within 24 hours.
We did as he said and she got up. Her milk has cleared up and her appetite is back. She still dribbles pee when I milk her and her production has increased a little. Her temperature is still well below normal. She seems alert and happy otherwise---maybe still a little weak?
Anyway, my question is what next? Her symptoms are mostly gone. She has diarrhea again and I'm wondering if this isn't caused by the Penicillin. What can I do to help her regain her strength? Anything I can do to increase her milk production?
She calved two and a half months ago and seems to be in a pretty low condition (skinny). I was planning to breed her next month. Would you do that with your cow or would you give her more recovery time? If we don't breed her next month, we will wait until the summer as we do not want to have her calve in the winter.
Thanks for bearing with the length of this post. Three weeks of hands-on experience with a cow is just not enough!
Rachel