Post by mrskk on Mar 7, 2008 8:20:07 GMT -5
The couple who owns the dairy are getting divorced, so they sold all of their equipment, hay, straw, and cows. I have a friend who was interested in some of what they had for sale, so we spent the day at the farm, learning a lot about auctions (I've never been to one before), and a lot about commercial dairy cows.
I did know that the cows are kept in 24-7 throughout the winter, however, I know now that I have learned so much from everyone here on the board that I was able to pick up on a lot of things that I have never seen before when I have visited dairies in the past.
These cows were all Holsteins - very huge, giant udders, and the cows and barn were quite clean, however, I saw a lot of things that made me realize that I will never be able to sell any heifers to a commercial diary farmer unless I visit his dairy first. There was one cow with a hole in her back leg the size of a quarter. It was continuously draining pus. Three or four of the cows had a teat that looked like the end had been cut off or something - constantly dripping milk.
One cow had hugely bulging eyes, yet her pupils and irises seemed small. We were there when they ran her out to auction her off and I don't think she could see very well. She was obviously terrified.
These cows did not have mats - they were on concrete with some straw thrown down. Most of them had no hair on their knees and many were noted as having foot/leg issues.
My friend was so saddened by it that she wanted to take them all home and make it so they "wouldn't ever have to be milked again". I told her that, unfortunately, milking is what all those cows were bred for. That not milking them would result in a very bad end for all of them.
I once thought that I would like to raise replacement heifers. No more.
Karen
They had a new calf that was tied up alongside a concrete wall that kept shivering. I'm sure it has died by now.
I did know that the cows are kept in 24-7 throughout the winter, however, I know now that I have learned so much from everyone here on the board that I was able to pick up on a lot of things that I have never seen before when I have visited dairies in the past.
These cows were all Holsteins - very huge, giant udders, and the cows and barn were quite clean, however, I saw a lot of things that made me realize that I will never be able to sell any heifers to a commercial diary farmer unless I visit his dairy first. There was one cow with a hole in her back leg the size of a quarter. It was continuously draining pus. Three or four of the cows had a teat that looked like the end had been cut off or something - constantly dripping milk.
One cow had hugely bulging eyes, yet her pupils and irises seemed small. We were there when they ran her out to auction her off and I don't think she could see very well. She was obviously terrified.
These cows did not have mats - they were on concrete with some straw thrown down. Most of them had no hair on their knees and many were noted as having foot/leg issues.
My friend was so saddened by it that she wanted to take them all home and make it so they "wouldn't ever have to be milked again". I told her that, unfortunately, milking is what all those cows were bred for. That not milking them would result in a very bad end for all of them.
I once thought that I would like to raise replacement heifers. No more.
Karen
They had a new calf that was tied up alongside a concrete wall that kept shivering. I'm sure it has died by now.