Post by minigi on Feb 26, 2010 21:03:37 GMT -5
I've had milk goats a few years, but am new to cows. We just bought a beautiful jersey heifer who is due to calve in June. She was vet checked so is definitely bred. This is her first baby. Last year I had a horrible year with goats and lost one of my best milkers, still unsure as to why, thinking it had to be a ruptured uterus since she was treated for everything else by me and the vet and then lost her doeling two months later. I am very scared about a repeat of the emotions from last year. I've bought the Keeping a Family Cow book and have read it once already, just got it yesterday! I'd like to make sure with people more experienced than me if I'm on the right track so far with her.
DiDi is getting a second cutting alfalfa hay which is fed to our goats and a dexter/highland cross calf we have. She has a loose pasture mineral and a red salt block free choice as well as all the fresh water she wants. She's been eating great, a bit less than a bale a day. The dairy we bought her from said they wouldn't start grain on her until 3 weeks before calving. I have a 16% ration I have custom mixed for my goats that I was going to use for her at that time. But now that I read the book, I'm going to try to get the special acidifying mix in for her too. We wanted to machine milk, but I think I can manange 3 times a day milking for at least a month to help prevent mastitis with her. We are still undecided if we will leave the calf on her or bottle feed it. I've got a lot of vet supplies on hand and a pretty good relationship with our vet group. With this feed plan am I missing something or does it look good? I don't want to set myself up for learning the hard way! We are working now on getting her used to us, we've only had her less than two weeks. But the farmer was nice and gentle with her and she's not spooked of people. She's a doll. Thanks so much!
DiDi is getting a second cutting alfalfa hay which is fed to our goats and a dexter/highland cross calf we have. She has a loose pasture mineral and a red salt block free choice as well as all the fresh water she wants. She's been eating great, a bit less than a bale a day. The dairy we bought her from said they wouldn't start grain on her until 3 weeks before calving. I have a 16% ration I have custom mixed for my goats that I was going to use for her at that time. But now that I read the book, I'm going to try to get the special acidifying mix in for her too. We wanted to machine milk, but I think I can manange 3 times a day milking for at least a month to help prevent mastitis with her. We are still undecided if we will leave the calf on her or bottle feed it. I've got a lot of vet supplies on hand and a pretty good relationship with our vet group. With this feed plan am I missing something or does it look good? I don't want to set myself up for learning the hard way! We are working now on getting her used to us, we've only had her less than two weeks. But the farmer was nice and gentle with her and she's not spooked of people. She's a doll. Thanks so much!