Post by zephyrhillsusan on Aug 13, 2014 14:51:24 GMT -5
Here's an update on my (hopefully former) self-sucking cow, Siobhan. The post shows photos of Version 2.0 and 2.1 of her harness. 
As a matter of fact, she is currently harness-free because she's with the bull to be bred. Obviously the harness would have been a terrible hazard for our bull, so it had to go. Once she's confirmed bred, I'll figure out the next step. No spoilers, but if you read the post, I hope it will be an encouragement to anyone else who has a self-sucking cow. As soon as you mention self-sucking to any cattlemen, you get a finger drawn across the throat. Siobhan and I are here to tell you that doesn't have to be!
And even more good news, I can hardly contain it! Her second post-freshening milk culture (finally) came back today--and she's clean!
The results should have been ready Friday, and I've been trying to get in touch with the lab since Monday. It turns out they were off-site doing testing, but I was imagining the worst--figuring that I didn't hear anything because the culture grew something and they were waiting for the sensitivity to be finished.
Well, the worrying is over, and Siobhan is OKAY! Two clean tests post-freshening! I hope this is encouraging to anyone who ever has to deal with Staph A mastitis.
As a matter of fact, she is currently harness-free because she's with the bull to be bred. Obviously the harness would have been a terrible hazard for our bull, so it had to go. Once she's confirmed bred, I'll figure out the next step. No spoilers, but if you read the post, I hope it will be an encouragement to anyone else who has a self-sucking cow. As soon as you mention self-sucking to any cattlemen, you get a finger drawn across the throat. Siobhan and I are here to tell you that doesn't have to be!
And even more good news, I can hardly contain it! Her second post-freshening milk culture (finally) came back today--and she's clean!
The results should have been ready Friday, and I've been trying to get in touch with the lab since Monday. It turns out they were off-site doing testing, but I was imagining the worst--figuring that I didn't hear anything because the culture grew something and they were waiting for the sensitivity to be finished.
Well, the worrying is over, and Siobhan is OKAY! Two clean tests post-freshening! I hope this is encouraging to anyone who ever has to deal with Staph A mastitis.
