Post by tarheelbilly on Dec 8, 2011 20:34:31 GMT -5
Hi, Ya'll.
So, I've been enlisted to help my elderly neighbors care for their milk cow, Bess. She is about 6 years old, and when they got her she was nursing her yearling bull who beat her up pretty badly. She wasn't milked by her previous owners; the grabbed a gallon or two here and there, but that was pretty much it. Well, my neigbors bought her, and she's the only cow in a nice sized pasture. Due to some family issues (sick relative) and drama after Hurricane Irene, I milked her for them until Veteran's Day. She's bred back (probably by her Angus cross bull son!), and since no one knew when she was due to calve, it was decided to dry her off since she'd been in milk for about 14 months at that time. Here's the thing: I went out and checked on her this afternoon, and tried to see whether she was still in milk, since it's been about 3 weeks since I'd milked her. (Note-- I have zero experience in drying off cows, other than what I've read here and in the KFC book.) A thick, yogurt-like substance came out of each teat (and I milked for several squirts from each teat); I assume this is mastitis. She'd had an issue with mastitis as I was drying her off, in one teat, but it was really mild and cleared up when I milked her more often.
Now what? She's a kicky mad woman sometimes, and I can't imagine trying to put something in her teat to clear it up, but I am positive that allowing the mastitis to run unchecked is a very bad thing. But, I need to dry her off in anticipation of her calving-- you know, at some point! I don't even know when she's due to calve! (Poor husbandry by the former owners!) Anyhoo, I guess I care so much because it looks like my neighbors are going to gift this cow to me since I've been caring for her.
Anyone have any advice to give? I totally appreciate it!!! :-)
Charis in NC
So, I've been enlisted to help my elderly neighbors care for their milk cow, Bess. She is about 6 years old, and when they got her she was nursing her yearling bull who beat her up pretty badly. She wasn't milked by her previous owners; the grabbed a gallon or two here and there, but that was pretty much it. Well, my neigbors bought her, and she's the only cow in a nice sized pasture. Due to some family issues (sick relative) and drama after Hurricane Irene, I milked her for them until Veteran's Day. She's bred back (probably by her Angus cross bull son!), and since no one knew when she was due to calve, it was decided to dry her off since she'd been in milk for about 14 months at that time. Here's the thing: I went out and checked on her this afternoon, and tried to see whether she was still in milk, since it's been about 3 weeks since I'd milked her. (Note-- I have zero experience in drying off cows, other than what I've read here and in the KFC book.) A thick, yogurt-like substance came out of each teat (and I milked for several squirts from each teat); I assume this is mastitis. She'd had an issue with mastitis as I was drying her off, in one teat, but it was really mild and cleared up when I milked her more often.
Now what? She's a kicky mad woman sometimes, and I can't imagine trying to put something in her teat to clear it up, but I am positive that allowing the mastitis to run unchecked is a very bad thing. But, I need to dry her off in anticipation of her calving-- you know, at some point! I don't even know when she's due to calve! (Poor husbandry by the former owners!) Anyhoo, I guess I care so much because it looks like my neighbors are going to gift this cow to me since I've been caring for her.
Anyone have any advice to give? I totally appreciate it!!! :-)
Charis in NC