Post by 5webbkids on Oct 9, 2007 6:50:36 GMT -5
;D Whitney had her second (60 day) OB exam yesterday and she was confirmed bred again, so we are going to pick her up on the 27th. We would like to do it sooner, but intervening obligations make us wait. We will be out of town for a weekend and I worry she might have troubles with us leaving for a couple of days with her being new here and some novice milkers who would be taking over that chore while I was gone....so she is staying until then.
{Whitney is the 13 yo cow we looked at back in August and have been waiting to be bred...she had some reproductive issues}
Okay, she has been in milk for 9 months, can I extend her lactation until spring without hurting her?
How worried should I be about her slipping the calf, and what do I watch for? Just obvious heat signs? I so hope she doesn't do that, but if she does, she does.
I have the book KFC, I have read it. I am re-reading it. But any advice would be appreciated!
I have a pail, I have a strainer, I have jars......I am afraid I don't have a stool for milking a cow. I have one I used for the goats, but they were on a stand so I think it might be too tall. Any suggestions for a stool? I have a dozen 1/2 gallon jars, do you think I need more? I am anxious about being able to skim cream with no big wide cream bowl.....suggestions on that?
Should I wait until close to here calving time, like a month or two out, before buying milk fever and calving equipment?
My feed store no longer carries the dairy feed, but suggest a pregnant mare feed.....I don't know what to think of that.
I asked about milo and got a strange look. I can get corn, oats, but I don't think I can get barley. I can get cotton seed, though I have asked about that before......feed suggestions, please?
THey also do NOT carry liquid molasses. I don't know if I can get it up by where I am getting her, but would it be worth it? A 5 gallon bucket, maybe? They have the granulated I can mix with feed, but what will that do for me when she calves? How much am I going to need?
I have loose minerals, a red sat from Countryside Naturals and Kelp too, baking soda free choice.....missing anything?
She seemed bomb proof at their barn, but do you think the kids running around and yelling and doing kid things is going to upset her too badly?
Would it be okay for her to visit with the sheep?
If she ties, will she be easy to stake out? I would like to move her around as much as I can.
Would a collar be better than the halter?
I didn't have mastitis with the goats, but I share milked them and the kids did a good job of keeping them milked out and all that. And I will be bringing home a bull calf, as they feel she will milk more than we can use....so we will have someone else to use the extra. I don't think I will try to graft him on, but will bottle feed him......not decided on that yet.
Anyway.....what would YOU have on hand for the possibility of mastitis?
Does anyone have the recipes they use for the tea tree balm and others I have read about?
I am afraid I will make her too fat!
I am so nervous, a good nervous, just nervous.....you know kinda crazy nervous about what I am going to forget!
I have a halter (possibly too big)
I have hay, coastal and alfalfa.
I have water.
I have shelter and limited pasture right now, but it will be improved in a month or so.
I have the undeniable urge to drive up and get her today! ;D
After butter, what was the first thing you made with your milk? We have a large list, just was wondering what y'all thought was the easiest or most common newbie experiement? Mozzarella? Sour cream? Cream cheese? Yogurt?
See....I am nervous and crazy with anticipation! I figure y'all can appreciate it and help me get organized for her arrival! Thank you so very much, for answering all my other questions and holding my hand through this wait and then through the other newbie issues when she gets here!
Anna
{Whitney is the 13 yo cow we looked at back in August and have been waiting to be bred...she had some reproductive issues}
Okay, she has been in milk for 9 months, can I extend her lactation until spring without hurting her?
How worried should I be about her slipping the calf, and what do I watch for? Just obvious heat signs? I so hope she doesn't do that, but if she does, she does.
I have the book KFC, I have read it. I am re-reading it. But any advice would be appreciated!
I have a pail, I have a strainer, I have jars......I am afraid I don't have a stool for milking a cow. I have one I used for the goats, but they were on a stand so I think it might be too tall. Any suggestions for a stool? I have a dozen 1/2 gallon jars, do you think I need more? I am anxious about being able to skim cream with no big wide cream bowl.....suggestions on that?
Should I wait until close to here calving time, like a month or two out, before buying milk fever and calving equipment?
My feed store no longer carries the dairy feed, but suggest a pregnant mare feed.....I don't know what to think of that.
I asked about milo and got a strange look. I can get corn, oats, but I don't think I can get barley. I can get cotton seed, though I have asked about that before......feed suggestions, please?
THey also do NOT carry liquid molasses. I don't know if I can get it up by where I am getting her, but would it be worth it? A 5 gallon bucket, maybe? They have the granulated I can mix with feed, but what will that do for me when she calves? How much am I going to need?
I have loose minerals, a red sat from Countryside Naturals and Kelp too, baking soda free choice.....missing anything?
She seemed bomb proof at their barn, but do you think the kids running around and yelling and doing kid things is going to upset her too badly?
Would it be okay for her to visit with the sheep?
If she ties, will she be easy to stake out? I would like to move her around as much as I can.
Would a collar be better than the halter?
I didn't have mastitis with the goats, but I share milked them and the kids did a good job of keeping them milked out and all that. And I will be bringing home a bull calf, as they feel she will milk more than we can use....so we will have someone else to use the extra. I don't think I will try to graft him on, but will bottle feed him......not decided on that yet.
Anyway.....what would YOU have on hand for the possibility of mastitis?
Does anyone have the recipes they use for the tea tree balm and others I have read about?
I am afraid I will make her too fat!
I am so nervous, a good nervous, just nervous.....you know kinda crazy nervous about what I am going to forget!
I have a halter (possibly too big)
I have hay, coastal and alfalfa.
I have water.
I have shelter and limited pasture right now, but it will be improved in a month or so.
I have the undeniable urge to drive up and get her today! ;D
After butter, what was the first thing you made with your milk? We have a large list, just was wondering what y'all thought was the easiest or most common newbie experiement? Mozzarella? Sour cream? Cream cheese? Yogurt?
See....I am nervous and crazy with anticipation! I figure y'all can appreciate it and help me get organized for her arrival! Thank you so very much, for answering all my other questions and holding my hand through this wait and then through the other newbie issues when she gets here!
Anna