Post by bertaburtonlake on Apr 20, 2006 9:39:14 GMT -5
Good morning, everyone!
As you may have read in my previous posts, we got our bred back Jersey and calf last Friday. She seems much happier here on our 2 acre pasture than she was at her previous little lot full of weeds. However, the journey rattled her and the calf quite a bit, so we have just let her be for the last few days except for calling her in to the barn, brushing her, handling her etc. as we knew the calf would get the milk.
I discovered The calf had pneumonia. I knew she would be a little discombobulated after the 90 mile haul in a cattle trailer, but after her 2nd full day here, she still was "just not right" She laid around all the time and then I noticed coughing. I called the vet and he confirmed my diagnosis and I went and picked up an injection of Nuflor. After giving her that yesterday morning, it is like we have a new calf. She is bouncing around and eating hay and I am so happy!
Hubby milked Dulcie this morning, but was a little late getting out there so only got a quart, but we feel it was a good start. He had to correct some tail swishing but she responded beautifully. I strained the milk and it is a pale yellow and looks very rich.
We plan to start separating her from the calf tonight in the barn. We partitioned an existing stall with a low wall the cow can reach over to lick the calf and they are see, smell each other and touch noses, but the calf will not be able to nurse. We will milk her first thing tomorrow and then grain her and turn her out with the calf.
Does this sound like a reasonable plan? Is there anything else we should do? What do you think of our progress so far? Being total newbies at the family cow thing, any help would be appreciated.
Cheers and have a happy day!
~Berta
As you may have read in my previous posts, we got our bred back Jersey and calf last Friday. She seems much happier here on our 2 acre pasture than she was at her previous little lot full of weeds. However, the journey rattled her and the calf quite a bit, so we have just let her be for the last few days except for calling her in to the barn, brushing her, handling her etc. as we knew the calf would get the milk.
I discovered The calf had pneumonia. I knew she would be a little discombobulated after the 90 mile haul in a cattle trailer, but after her 2nd full day here, she still was "just not right" She laid around all the time and then I noticed coughing. I called the vet and he confirmed my diagnosis and I went and picked up an injection of Nuflor. After giving her that yesterday morning, it is like we have a new calf. She is bouncing around and eating hay and I am so happy!
Hubby milked Dulcie this morning, but was a little late getting out there so only got a quart, but we feel it was a good start. He had to correct some tail swishing but she responded beautifully. I strained the milk and it is a pale yellow and looks very rich.
We plan to start separating her from the calf tonight in the barn. We partitioned an existing stall with a low wall the cow can reach over to lick the calf and they are see, smell each other and touch noses, but the calf will not be able to nurse. We will milk her first thing tomorrow and then grain her and turn her out with the calf.
Does this sound like a reasonable plan? Is there anything else we should do? What do you think of our progress so far? Being total newbies at the family cow thing, any help would be appreciated.
Cheers and have a happy day!
~Berta