Post by Applelonia on Mar 23, 2016 22:41:01 GMT -5
Applelonia had her calf last May. Daffodil is just over ten-months-old. She is with momma cow 24/7. They have never been separated, except for a few minutes. Calf loves momma cow....Applelonia tolerates calf. She's never been thrilled with her since the beginning and spent months trying to pawn her off on me. Would bring Daffodil back to the barn, wait until I was petting calf and then sneak off to the back pasture. Apple might care when calf is weaned but I suspect she will be glad to be rid of her.
I'm not familiar with dairy cows and what they should ideally look like....Apple was much plumper when she was a heifer. After she had calf and over the last several months she's gotten, what I would consider, boney and too skinny. I'll be posting several pictures of her so people can hopefully give imput on her condition. I'm not milking her - haven't for months (didn't go back to regularly milking her after the whole squishing me fiasco - posted a thread months ago regarding that). Decided to wait until her next lactatation....a fresh start....and also planning on putting in a proper stanchion in the barn with sides. So, I don't know how much milk she's giving...I suspect enough as calf is rather plump!
The cows and calf do not get grain - only free choice organic grass hay and alfalfa/grass mix - second and third cutting. App is a VERY picky eater. Dazzy and calf tend to eat any hay they can get in their mouth, but Apple pushes it around and picks out only the select pieces she likes.
I'm thinking it is time to wean calf. Since I don't know how much Apple is producing, I thought I'd separate them and let calf back with Apple twice a day for the first few days. Then go to once a day for a few days. And then no more letting calf nurse. Does this sound reasonable or should it be done differently? Do I need to do anything special/ any treatment to Apple's udder when she is no longer feeding calf? This is all new to me. I will send in a milk sample for pregnancy check before she is dried up. She shows no signs of being in heat since her last AI. IF she is pregnant, she would be due August 1st. I want her to have time to hopefully gain some weight before then.
As for calf, I figured I'd just continue to give her free choice hay.
Thinking about trying a weaning ring, but I'm concerned Apple will remove it with her horns. She doesn't like new objects. She removes or tries to remove (if I let her) items like new chore gloves, new barn attire, new objects I may be holding in my hand. Might need to put them in separate pastures....how long does it usually take for a calf to be weaned completely, before they can return to the same pasture with momma cow without wanting to nurse again?
The posted pictures were taken in the morning when she's at her skinniest....
I'm not familiar with dairy cows and what they should ideally look like....Apple was much plumper when she was a heifer. After she had calf and over the last several months she's gotten, what I would consider, boney and too skinny. I'll be posting several pictures of her so people can hopefully give imput on her condition. I'm not milking her - haven't for months (didn't go back to regularly milking her after the whole squishing me fiasco - posted a thread months ago regarding that). Decided to wait until her next lactatation....a fresh start....and also planning on putting in a proper stanchion in the barn with sides. So, I don't know how much milk she's giving...I suspect enough as calf is rather plump!
The cows and calf do not get grain - only free choice organic grass hay and alfalfa/grass mix - second and third cutting. App is a VERY picky eater. Dazzy and calf tend to eat any hay they can get in their mouth, but Apple pushes it around and picks out only the select pieces she likes.
I'm thinking it is time to wean calf. Since I don't know how much Apple is producing, I thought I'd separate them and let calf back with Apple twice a day for the first few days. Then go to once a day for a few days. And then no more letting calf nurse. Does this sound reasonable or should it be done differently? Do I need to do anything special/ any treatment to Apple's udder when she is no longer feeding calf? This is all new to me. I will send in a milk sample for pregnancy check before she is dried up. She shows no signs of being in heat since her last AI. IF she is pregnant, she would be due August 1st. I want her to have time to hopefully gain some weight before then.
As for calf, I figured I'd just continue to give her free choice hay.
Thinking about trying a weaning ring, but I'm concerned Apple will remove it with her horns. She doesn't like new objects. She removes or tries to remove (if I let her) items like new chore gloves, new barn attire, new objects I may be holding in my hand. Might need to put them in separate pastures....how long does it usually take for a calf to be weaned completely, before they can return to the same pasture with momma cow without wanting to nurse again?
The posted pictures were taken in the morning when she's at her skinniest....