Post by Sharon on Jul 16, 2010 11:58:45 GMT -5
Hi Everyone and huge "thank you's" to all who posted advice! Your help is invaluable! This is a followup to "HELP!!!" from yesterday.
So last night I had a friend who grew up on a dairy farm come help me milk. She was very good and exemplified calmness and control, which I thought I was doing ok at but not at her level...good learning experience. Net result = 1 1/2 quarts with very little cream. She kept holding back, especially on her right side. Remember she only milks on her front two quarters.
This morning, she was again waiting for me in the barn. I had to clean up before starting to milk because she's got a bad case of diarrhea.....what do I do about that?....grass hay? She has alfalfa available in addition to grazing and grain mix during milking. Will this pass without treatment?
I tried very hard to make it a calm experience and keep her relaxed, but she is still holding out. I only got 1 quart today. It's as though she only gives me enough to give her relief and that's it. I have not found any signs of mastitis yet....no clumps in the milk, no hot or hard spots....what else do I look for?
I had intended to put the milking machine on her this morning, but I couldn't get it to work last night. I took it in to the shop today and found out that my vacuum pump is not strong enough for my Surge milking unit. It pulls 5 cfm......I called the pump manufacturer before I bought it and they assured me that it would be plenty of power. I got a loaner vacuum pump for the weekend so I'll put it on her tonight and see how it goes. Then we will most likely separate cow and calf tonight and put it on her again in the morning.
After Day 2, these are my questions....
1. At 3 1/2 days post-partum (is this an accurate "cow term"?) is her milk supply established yet or is there still time to build it up?
2. What do I do about her diarrhea?
3. How many cfms do I need to work my surge milking unit?
4. Can I separate the cow and calf by keeping one in the barn and one out? If so, which one should stay in the barn? Will Maggie go crazy in the barn if her calf is out? Will the baby by safe outside the barn alone? I don't think we have coyotes or wolves but I can't be sure of that.
Thanks again for all of your help! We're working our way through this and getting a little more comfortable with the process. Maggie actually gave me a kiss this morning ....makes it all better!
You all have a wonderful day!
So last night I had a friend who grew up on a dairy farm come help me milk. She was very good and exemplified calmness and control, which I thought I was doing ok at but not at her level...good learning experience. Net result = 1 1/2 quarts with very little cream. She kept holding back, especially on her right side. Remember she only milks on her front two quarters.
This morning, she was again waiting for me in the barn. I had to clean up before starting to milk because she's got a bad case of diarrhea.....what do I do about that?....grass hay? She has alfalfa available in addition to grazing and grain mix during milking. Will this pass without treatment?
I tried very hard to make it a calm experience and keep her relaxed, but she is still holding out. I only got 1 quart today. It's as though she only gives me enough to give her relief and that's it. I have not found any signs of mastitis yet....no clumps in the milk, no hot or hard spots....what else do I look for?
I had intended to put the milking machine on her this morning, but I couldn't get it to work last night. I took it in to the shop today and found out that my vacuum pump is not strong enough for my Surge milking unit. It pulls 5 cfm......I called the pump manufacturer before I bought it and they assured me that it would be plenty of power. I got a loaner vacuum pump for the weekend so I'll put it on her tonight and see how it goes. Then we will most likely separate cow and calf tonight and put it on her again in the morning.
After Day 2, these are my questions....
1. At 3 1/2 days post-partum (is this an accurate "cow term"?) is her milk supply established yet or is there still time to build it up?
2. What do I do about her diarrhea?
3. How many cfms do I need to work my surge milking unit?
4. Can I separate the cow and calf by keeping one in the barn and one out? If so, which one should stay in the barn? Will Maggie go crazy in the barn if her calf is out? Will the baby by safe outside the barn alone? I don't think we have coyotes or wolves but I can't be sure of that.
Thanks again for all of your help! We're working our way through this and getting a little more comfortable with the process. Maggie actually gave me a kiss this morning ....makes it all better!
You all have a wonderful day!