Post by RachelK on Jan 1, 2008 19:32:14 GMT -5
I don't think that share milking is going to work for us. Heart has one front quarter that has been firm up top since she freshened. I really don't think that it is edema since her other quarters are not like that and never were. This quarter is also the one that was treated for mastitis with Tomorrow after we dried her off. It seemed fine after the treatment. The milk was clear and watery just like the other quarters. She is only letting me have 3/4 to 1 gallon at each milking from all quarters combined. She was giving us 4 1/2 gallons a day when we got her last year and was 4 months into her lactation. The calf cannot be drinking that much since her bag has been very full every time I go out, she just won't let me have it.
Tonight there were some very small clumps on the milk filter and what I believe to be a small speck of blood. I have been massaging it a lot when I milk but she just doesn't want to give me her milk. There is very little if any cream also.
I know it has only been 4 days but I do have milk customers from her last lactation that are patiently waiting for milk and 2 gallons a day just isn't nearly enough for even ourselves and my MIL, who owns 1/2 our cow.
I guess I would like some opinions on what to do. I don't mind training Lily to bucket feedings and would make things much easier later on since we are going to keep her and would like all the cows to run together with out worrying about her always nursing. On the other hand.....I am having a baby of my own in a few weeks and we would need somebody then to milk her 2x a day while I am in the hospital. My last two hospital stays have been 2 days. My MIL would need some practice and my BIL and SIL, who milk cows of their own might have 3 in milk by the time I have my baby. I just don't want to come home after having a baby to a cow that is having health problems.
We don't want to take Lily away from her until we have all our ducks in a row and we need some practical advice.
Rachel
Tonight there were some very small clumps on the milk filter and what I believe to be a small speck of blood. I have been massaging it a lot when I milk but she just doesn't want to give me her milk. There is very little if any cream also.
I know it has only been 4 days but I do have milk customers from her last lactation that are patiently waiting for milk and 2 gallons a day just isn't nearly enough for even ourselves and my MIL, who owns 1/2 our cow.
I guess I would like some opinions on what to do. I don't mind training Lily to bucket feedings and would make things much easier later on since we are going to keep her and would like all the cows to run together with out worrying about her always nursing. On the other hand.....I am having a baby of my own in a few weeks and we would need somebody then to milk her 2x a day while I am in the hospital. My last two hospital stays have been 2 days. My MIL would need some practice and my BIL and SIL, who milk cows of their own might have 3 in milk by the time I have my baby. I just don't want to come home after having a baby to a cow that is having health problems.
We don't want to take Lily away from her until we have all our ducks in a row and we need some practical advice.
Rachel