Post by campfarmerangie on Nov 22, 2007 20:21:32 GMT -5
Well, here I am, 6 days into new milk maid-ness, and my poor cow has mastitis, I THINK. Her one quarter in stuffed full of milk, is just a tad warm, but the milk does not seem to be clumpy or bloody, but the skin on her udder and teat is flaky and her teat is cracked. Oh I remember those days from breastfeeding....yuck. I called my dad in tears this morning, and he ran right out and got three teat infusions of penicillin for mastitis treatment. After our giant turkey lunch, we went to work on my cow. We cleaned her affected quarter, milked out as much as we could (but did not really make a dent in the supply-she will not let down!) and then my dad infused the teat. Holy cow. My cow did wonderfully, she stood for most of it, but did make a few swipes with her foot. I was standing by, with a stomach ache from nerves, holding the alcohol swab and thinking, "There is no way I am going to be able to do this by myself tomorrow!" My sweet wonderful dad volunteered to drive back down here (1 hour drive ) to do it for me in the morning. What a guy. I know this is a long and rambling post, but I'm just trying to process it all. I'm not totally convinced she has mastitis, but the calf is obvioulsy not sucking from this quarter. Nor have I been sucessful at milking it out completely, as she just will not let down. I hate to jump right in on the antibiotics, but I am terrified of things getting out of hand and damaging my cow. And I also feel like she's my cow and I need to be able to learn to do these things on my own, without always having to call my dad to help me out. The calf is being picked up by the new owners on Sunday, and I just keep thinking things will get easier when that calf is gone. My cow is such a good, protective momma, but it's getting in the way of the milking! She won't let down. Sorry for the rambling post, I'm tired and feeling a little discouraged. It was a wonderful day otherwise, and I have much to be thankful for (including a dad who would go to the ends of the earth for me and my cow!)
Happy Thanksgiving!
Angie
Happy Thanksgiving!
Angie