Post by craftygemini on Mar 25, 2015 21:16:31 GMT -5
HELP! Last month we got our first two cows ever-- a 4 yr old Dexter momma and her 6 month old heifer calf.
Two days ago I noticed her udder was still full when I went to separate momma and calf at night like I usually do so I can milk her in the morning. Instead of separating them I left them together hoping the calf would nurse and relive her overnight. No such luck. In the morning she was super full and I tried to milk her but she wouldn't let me. Again, I left them loose together all day hoping the calf would nurse. I saw her peek underneath a few times but didn't really seem interested. On one occassion I saw her put her head in momma's udder directly from behind her and the momma kicked her but missed.
Today again, I tried to milk her in the morning because the heifer calf didn't empty her out. She was not having it. The flies are bad already and between her swishing her tail from side to side and picking up her hooves she really tried to kick my head in today. Every single time I touched her teats she would kick at me with force. Luckily I have boards on the sides of the stanchion I built for her so I can be behind the board and not get kicked but I was out there for 30 minutes and she didn't even let me so much as squeeze a little milk out. I went back out tonight before putting them up and tried to milk her again and she just kept kicking at me as soon as I would touch her udder.
Her udder is really full now that it's been two days now that the calf doesn't nurse and she won't let me milk her. Her udder was firm but not red or anything. She didn't have any cuts on the teats either. I'm gonna try again in the morning but if she doesn't let me what do I do?! Is that it? Is she drying herself off and will she be okay or likely to get mastitis? Her udder felt firm tonight and I really wanted to give her some relief but she was so mean! HELP.
Right now my plan is to go to Tractor Supply after I (hopefully!) milk her in the morning to get some mastitis test strips, maybe some hobbles? If she is anything like she was tonight she will not let me milk her in the morning either. I know I need to milk her out ASAP but not sure what to do so that I don't get kicked in the head! Any help, ideas and suggestions is really appreciated right now! What to buy in case she does have some mastistis already? I prefer natural remedies if I can use them and it's still early on.
THANKS!
Two days ago I noticed her udder was still full when I went to separate momma and calf at night like I usually do so I can milk her in the morning. Instead of separating them I left them together hoping the calf would nurse and relive her overnight. No such luck. In the morning she was super full and I tried to milk her but she wouldn't let me. Again, I left them loose together all day hoping the calf would nurse. I saw her peek underneath a few times but didn't really seem interested. On one occassion I saw her put her head in momma's udder directly from behind her and the momma kicked her but missed.
Today again, I tried to milk her in the morning because the heifer calf didn't empty her out. She was not having it. The flies are bad already and between her swishing her tail from side to side and picking up her hooves she really tried to kick my head in today. Every single time I touched her teats she would kick at me with force. Luckily I have boards on the sides of the stanchion I built for her so I can be behind the board and not get kicked but I was out there for 30 minutes and she didn't even let me so much as squeeze a little milk out. I went back out tonight before putting them up and tried to milk her again and she just kept kicking at me as soon as I would touch her udder.
Her udder is really full now that it's been two days now that the calf doesn't nurse and she won't let me milk her. Her udder was firm but not red or anything. She didn't have any cuts on the teats either. I'm gonna try again in the morning but if she doesn't let me what do I do?! Is that it? Is she drying herself off and will she be okay or likely to get mastitis? Her udder felt firm tonight and I really wanted to give her some relief but she was so mean! HELP.
Right now my plan is to go to Tractor Supply after I (hopefully!) milk her in the morning to get some mastitis test strips, maybe some hobbles? If she is anything like she was tonight she will not let me milk her in the morning either. I know I need to milk her out ASAP but not sure what to do so that I don't get kicked in the head! Any help, ideas and suggestions is really appreciated right now! What to buy in case she does have some mastistis already? I prefer natural remedies if I can use them and it's still early on.
THANKS!