Post by crmemory on Dec 26, 2013 11:58:12 GMT -5
Hi all, I introduced myself some time ago, when we were in the "researching" phase, and have been a lurker ever since. Here's our situation: We were blessed to finally receive a gorgeous sweetheart of a jersey heifer this past summer to add to our farm. She wound up jumping the fence to mingle with our Lowline bull earlier than was planned, so she was bred a bit young. We spoke with our vet and several local cattlemen, all of whom agreed not to worry about it. She was already taller than the Lowline bull, so everyone said to just watch her closely, but the calf should be plenty small and it wasn't worth aborting her and the possible risks therein--especially with 9 more months of age and growth to gain in the interim.
Fast forward a bit. She is almost 5 months pregnant, and while I never had it confirmed, she appears to be starting to develop her udder. It is becoming more pronounced, loose-skinned, and the teats have lengthened a bit. Like everyone said, I watch her like a hawk, and she is housed in a way that ensures she has free-choice, high-quality clover, alfalfa, and grass mix hays. Although I'd prefer not to grain (we are a grass-fed operation), most of the folks who took a look at her thought she could use a few more groceries. Thus, I do give her a 14% organic grain during this early time to make sure she has plentiful resources. Otherwise, she has been health checked by the vet and passed with flying colors. She is happy, sweet, alert, and everything I imagine a good family milk cow to be.
Now, to my question: This morning, I noticed she has a thick, sticky, amber-colored discharge stringing from her vulva to her tail. Again, she is almost 5 months pregnant. Should I be concerned?
Thanks in advance.
crmemory
Fast forward a bit. She is almost 5 months pregnant, and while I never had it confirmed, she appears to be starting to develop her udder. It is becoming more pronounced, loose-skinned, and the teats have lengthened a bit. Like everyone said, I watch her like a hawk, and she is housed in a way that ensures she has free-choice, high-quality clover, alfalfa, and grass mix hays. Although I'd prefer not to grain (we are a grass-fed operation), most of the folks who took a look at her thought she could use a few more groceries. Thus, I do give her a 14% organic grain during this early time to make sure she has plentiful resources. Otherwise, she has been health checked by the vet and passed with flying colors. She is happy, sweet, alert, and everything I imagine a good family milk cow to be.
Now, to my question: This morning, I noticed she has a thick, sticky, amber-colored discharge stringing from her vulva to her tail. Again, she is almost 5 months pregnant. Should I be concerned?
Thanks in advance.
crmemory