Post by Vanessa on Dec 7, 2005 1:44:31 GMT -5
I am worried about Gabi (again, as usual!) Hubby says I'm just a worrier-maybe he's right.
Tonight, she had cold teats. Not frozen-yet, I don't think. They were pinker than normal-definitely not white though-, and cold, even to my already frozen hands-it is below -30 C here, but at least not much wind tonite. She shivered the whole time I was milking, and then, just as I was finishing up, put her foot in my lap. Not hard, just like she was trying to brush me away. She hasn't done that before-she's good as gold. No sign of mastitis in the milk-yet. I haven't been dipping anyone's teats, for fear of freezing. They all have lots of bedding, but we've recently switched to free feeding, so I think she's been standing at the feeder more. I need to rebuild my homemade cow bra, I think, bigger, for her. (Heather-or anyone else! Patterns??) For tonite, I stuck her in the 3 sided shelter (bedded shin deep on me!), using a panel for a gate. She looked at me like I'd lost my mind-I gave her more good 2nd cut, the stuff reserved for milking time. I hope she is a good girl and settles down in there. The Dexter girls don't use it much anyways-they prefer a hollow surrounded by some trees-so I bed them in there. Plus, they have shaggier udders. I can't help but worry-I was concerned before, but her udder always felt fine (nice and warm on my hands!). I wonder if I should have been doing more? I really hope I haven't managed to ruin her this time! I think I am going to go to TAD milking with her-maybe keeping her udder more empty will help. I have heard that vaseline can act like an insulator-but at -30 C even vaseline is pretty chilly, so I was reluctant to try. Any thoughts? I am really looking for some reassurance, if there is any out there-I can't help but have flashbacks to the first winter with Dolly, and the mastitis, and then the teat freezing off-it was even more horrific than I can describe!
Tonight, she had cold teats. Not frozen-yet, I don't think. They were pinker than normal-definitely not white though-, and cold, even to my already frozen hands-it is below -30 C here, but at least not much wind tonite. She shivered the whole time I was milking, and then, just as I was finishing up, put her foot in my lap. Not hard, just like she was trying to brush me away. She hasn't done that before-she's good as gold. No sign of mastitis in the milk-yet. I haven't been dipping anyone's teats, for fear of freezing. They all have lots of bedding, but we've recently switched to free feeding, so I think she's been standing at the feeder more. I need to rebuild my homemade cow bra, I think, bigger, for her. (Heather-or anyone else! Patterns??) For tonite, I stuck her in the 3 sided shelter (bedded shin deep on me!), using a panel for a gate. She looked at me like I'd lost my mind-I gave her more good 2nd cut, the stuff reserved for milking time. I hope she is a good girl and settles down in there. The Dexter girls don't use it much anyways-they prefer a hollow surrounded by some trees-so I bed them in there. Plus, they have shaggier udders. I can't help but worry-I was concerned before, but her udder always felt fine (nice and warm on my hands!). I wonder if I should have been doing more? I really hope I haven't managed to ruin her this time! I think I am going to go to TAD milking with her-maybe keeping her udder more empty will help. I have heard that vaseline can act like an insulator-but at -30 C even vaseline is pretty chilly, so I was reluctant to try. Any thoughts? I am really looking for some reassurance, if there is any out there-I can't help but have flashbacks to the first winter with Dolly, and the mastitis, and then the teat freezing off-it was even more horrific than I can describe!