Post by farmerswife on Jun 4, 2010 1:30:43 GMT -5
all new at this..... getting tips here and there and reading up on the subject- so need your help too!
I now have 3 Holestein cows Bessie is 8 and is adjusting her milk supply from where the dairy had started letting her dry up before she was culled- Bessie is HUGE at 1400lbs. I have 2 calves on her but she really only loves one of them and the second seems to be sucking regularly but only when it's convinient for her or if the "fav" calf is sucking. It's totally worrying me!- In my experience a true love connection is when she grunts and licks her baby- but I'm gathering w/ nurse cows it only matters if the calf sucks? not that she loves it?
Today I purchase 2 more pairs they are both supposedly 1/2 Jersey and 1/2 Holestein. The 4 year old "Nellie" carries the characteristics of the Jersey frame but the color of a Holestein. Nellie has one adopted Char. calf on her (230lbs apx). Nancy is 2 w/ her first calf on her and has never had another calf tried- her calf is at least 200lbs as well. They seem to be good natured and easy going- not halter broke or even close but they are not sassy at all.
The #2 calf on Bessie was trying to steal milk from everyone today so I put him in w/ Nancy for a bit and she let him suck while she was eating so I'm thinking that's a good sign
here's where I need the advice-- I know we all have to figure out what works best for us and for the cows we have- but how do you all go about keeping specific cows for specific calves or do you just pen the calves all together and turn the cows out for the day then repen them all together in the evening and just let them fight for it? no matter which cow - as long as there is enough teats to go around?!
I wasn't sure that Nancy being two and not having a large bag could support 4 calves but how will I keep it separate? I was thinking with these three cows I would only run 10 calves max- so when they all got together for feeding time- when Nancy ran out- someone else could share?-- kinda one big rotating milk buffet?!
I want to pull the 2 bigger calves off when I start getting some smaller calves in so they don't steal all the milk! but I don't want to pull them completely until I get a few more babies in- for now I can pen them to the side and let the babes nurse for a bit and then allow them to come in to mommas-- I will be putting in a calf feeder for them during the day too.
I will also be increasing Nellie and Nancy's feed intake to increase milk production to allow for the extras- although- Nellie seems to have a good supply-- Nellie the 4 year old is also 4-5 mo bred!!! so she will be coming out of the family in about 8 weeks anyways but by then all the calves/cows should be eating feed and adjusting pretty good without her? OR I just might find another to add to the family by then-- my goal is 4 to 5 nurse cows MAX!!!
lets have it? what do I need to change about my "plan" or is that no kinda "plan" at all?! lol
I now have 3 Holestein cows Bessie is 8 and is adjusting her milk supply from where the dairy had started letting her dry up before she was culled- Bessie is HUGE at 1400lbs. I have 2 calves on her but she really only loves one of them and the second seems to be sucking regularly but only when it's convinient for her or if the "fav" calf is sucking. It's totally worrying me!- In my experience a true love connection is when she grunts and licks her baby- but I'm gathering w/ nurse cows it only matters if the calf sucks? not that she loves it?
Today I purchase 2 more pairs they are both supposedly 1/2 Jersey and 1/2 Holestein. The 4 year old "Nellie" carries the characteristics of the Jersey frame but the color of a Holestein. Nellie has one adopted Char. calf on her (230lbs apx). Nancy is 2 w/ her first calf on her and has never had another calf tried- her calf is at least 200lbs as well. They seem to be good natured and easy going- not halter broke or even close but they are not sassy at all.
The #2 calf on Bessie was trying to steal milk from everyone today so I put him in w/ Nancy for a bit and she let him suck while she was eating so I'm thinking that's a good sign
here's where I need the advice-- I know we all have to figure out what works best for us and for the cows we have- but how do you all go about keeping specific cows for specific calves or do you just pen the calves all together and turn the cows out for the day then repen them all together in the evening and just let them fight for it? no matter which cow - as long as there is enough teats to go around?!
I wasn't sure that Nancy being two and not having a large bag could support 4 calves but how will I keep it separate? I was thinking with these three cows I would only run 10 calves max- so when they all got together for feeding time- when Nancy ran out- someone else could share?-- kinda one big rotating milk buffet?!
I want to pull the 2 bigger calves off when I start getting some smaller calves in so they don't steal all the milk! but I don't want to pull them completely until I get a few more babies in- for now I can pen them to the side and let the babes nurse for a bit and then allow them to come in to mommas-- I will be putting in a calf feeder for them during the day too.
I will also be increasing Nellie and Nancy's feed intake to increase milk production to allow for the extras- although- Nellie seems to have a good supply-- Nellie the 4 year old is also 4-5 mo bred!!! so she will be coming out of the family in about 8 weeks anyways but by then all the calves/cows should be eating feed and adjusting pretty good without her? OR I just might find another to add to the family by then-- my goal is 4 to 5 nurse cows MAX!!!
lets have it? what do I need to change about my "plan" or is that no kinda "plan" at all?! lol