Post by kathnunley on Oct 12, 2007 7:44:42 GMT -5
Hi all. This is my first cow - I've had her for almost one year. She is due Dec 28. We're drying her off as of today as I have to be out of town all next week so this seemed the easiest. She dropped production A LOT over the last month anyway and now we're down to not even 1 gallon a day.
I have the KFC book and have read the chapter (3 times) on drying off, but am still a bit nervous and have some questions.
So I milked her out as best I could this morning. (nearly crying - felt like I was weening a baby). I dipped her teats with iodine solution as usual.
So the book says, with this little production - go "cold turkey" - and that's our plan. Tomorrow I'll send hubby out with the hay, but I won't let her see me and try to stay out of sight for all this.
The books says, "stop feeding grain and drop to 2nd rate hay".
OK. But the next page goes on about the kinds of grain / rations to feed during the dry stage. So WHEN do you re-introduce the grain? Can she still get a little grain (she'll be so sad to have that gone). Do we reintroduce it once we see her bag is flabby? or sooner?
I'm very confused by the 2 milk fever prevention formulas too. When do I start that? We are so very limited on feed here in Southern New Hampshire (we don't even have a large animal vet here anymore, so everyone's on their own!). We currently use "Blue Seal Milk Maker 16" for her grain - about 3 coffee cans a day - and unlimited hay - best we can get but that varies wildly around here. Is there something I could just add to that?
I know to have hubby go feel her udder tomorrow and for a few days? I guess he's to look for red? Hot? He's a bit nervous with me leaving town as he doesn't want to run into a problem. The book says, if she looks "uncomfortable" milk her out. He has no idea what uncomfortable looks like, but I think if she's down to less than 1 gallon a day, she should be fine with the cold turkey thing.
Sorry to ramble. I just need a bit of reassurance and clarification I'm so nervous about all this and want to do everything right for Dixie - she's such a sweetheart. She's almost 9 years old so I know she's got more experience with this than me - and I'm sure counting on that come Christmas time. I keep having that talk with her that she's going to have to do this all by herself!!
She lost her last calf about 6 months into the pregnancy and I know she's also had milk fever once - so we need to be prepared.
Thanks for any help.
I have the KFC book and have read the chapter (3 times) on drying off, but am still a bit nervous and have some questions.
So I milked her out as best I could this morning. (nearly crying - felt like I was weening a baby). I dipped her teats with iodine solution as usual.
So the book says, with this little production - go "cold turkey" - and that's our plan. Tomorrow I'll send hubby out with the hay, but I won't let her see me and try to stay out of sight for all this.
The books says, "stop feeding grain and drop to 2nd rate hay".
OK. But the next page goes on about the kinds of grain / rations to feed during the dry stage. So WHEN do you re-introduce the grain? Can she still get a little grain (she'll be so sad to have that gone). Do we reintroduce it once we see her bag is flabby? or sooner?
I'm very confused by the 2 milk fever prevention formulas too. When do I start that? We are so very limited on feed here in Southern New Hampshire (we don't even have a large animal vet here anymore, so everyone's on their own!). We currently use "Blue Seal Milk Maker 16" for her grain - about 3 coffee cans a day - and unlimited hay - best we can get but that varies wildly around here. Is there something I could just add to that?
I know to have hubby go feel her udder tomorrow and for a few days? I guess he's to look for red? Hot? He's a bit nervous with me leaving town as he doesn't want to run into a problem. The book says, if she looks "uncomfortable" milk her out. He has no idea what uncomfortable looks like, but I think if she's down to less than 1 gallon a day, she should be fine with the cold turkey thing.
Sorry to ramble. I just need a bit of reassurance and clarification I'm so nervous about all this and want to do everything right for Dixie - she's such a sweetheart. She's almost 9 years old so I know she's got more experience with this than me - and I'm sure counting on that come Christmas time. I keep having that talk with her that she's going to have to do this all by herself!!
She lost her last calf about 6 months into the pregnancy and I know she's also had milk fever once - so we need to be prepared.
Thanks for any help.