Post by simplynaturalfarm on May 12, 2011 23:52:18 GMT -5
I had Dh come out and check the cows and he did a complete $35 physical on little Dydee who he said is just fine even though he was coughing this afternoon and seems to not want to drink too much (still bellows for Mom who he hasn't even seen for more than 3 hours in his lifetime). And contrary to what I thought, he has no horns - hooray. I am so used to horned calves that when I felt his pointy poll I thought was buds LOL.
Then he checked Tilly and said she does have pretty good edema which is why her udder looks like it does AND feels like it does. I can't seem to get more milk out of it and tonight it was down to 3/4 gallon. I massaged and massaged and will maybe put her in at noon to give her a good massage and milk out what is in there (my problem is I can't reach her other side due to my stanchion being up against the wall and me having a 34 week pregnant tummy . . . ).
My question is, does this edema affect their milk production? Yes, she is only 24 hours past calving, but I am simply concerned I am not getting it all out and that she is going down in production or even getting mastitis - I guess I can do CMT but at this point I don't know that I would trust it. Milk seems to flow well, but how to tell I don't know as the udder edema while nothing like your dairy girls, is making it impossible to tell how milked out she is.
It was bothering her today and she kicked at me twice, but I just apologized for life (I was massaging and the milker was hissing) and kept at it.
I'll dig out my raspberry leaves wherever they are as well as my udder cream and do that also.
The oddest stuff I have ever felt in my life. I have always said I would cull for cows that get edema because I've never had one have it before and I don't like problems in my cows. I guess I'll see how well she does with milking, health problems etc.
If a cow has edema once, will she get it worse with each lactation?
Thanks
Heather
Then he checked Tilly and said she does have pretty good edema which is why her udder looks like it does AND feels like it does. I can't seem to get more milk out of it and tonight it was down to 3/4 gallon. I massaged and massaged and will maybe put her in at noon to give her a good massage and milk out what is in there (my problem is I can't reach her other side due to my stanchion being up against the wall and me having a 34 week pregnant tummy . . . ).
My question is, does this edema affect their milk production? Yes, she is only 24 hours past calving, but I am simply concerned I am not getting it all out and that she is going down in production or even getting mastitis - I guess I can do CMT but at this point I don't know that I would trust it. Milk seems to flow well, but how to tell I don't know as the udder edema while nothing like your dairy girls, is making it impossible to tell how milked out she is.
It was bothering her today and she kicked at me twice, but I just apologized for life (I was massaging and the milker was hissing) and kept at it.
I'll dig out my raspberry leaves wherever they are as well as my udder cream and do that also.
The oddest stuff I have ever felt in my life. I have always said I would cull for cows that get edema because I've never had one have it before and I don't like problems in my cows. I guess I'll see how well she does with milking, health problems etc.
If a cow has edema once, will she get it worse with each lactation?
Thanks
Heather