Post by zephyrhillsusan on Aug 30, 2014 18:31:44 GMT -5
Here's the background: Wellie was born May 26 so he's barely 3 months old. Because of travels I haven't been milking, just left the calves on their dams. Wellie was in the Back Pasture with Siobhan (minus her harness) and the bull, Royal, to be bred. Sir Loin the steer is in there. Based on the Estrotect patch and what our relief feeder (who grew up with dairy cows) told me, Siobhan was in season Aug. 19 or 20 and got bred. It's too soon to send off milk to BioPryn, though. Because that pasture was grazed down, we brought the animals into another pasture on Wednesday. I realized that was a mistake because Royal could get next to the pasture holding two heifers. So Thursday morning we led Royal and the steer back to the Back Pasture (they still had a lot of hay) and moved all the other animals up to another pasture where we had a hay bale out. Thursday evening when I went down to feed them, Wellie had gotten himself into the Back Pasture with Royal, his great buddy. So we got a lead on him and led him up to the pasture where Siobhan is. He didn't seem too excited to go see her and nurse, so I figured he hadn't been there that long. She wasn't dying to see him, either, but did amble over that way. After that DH fixed the only place he thought could have gotten through, and we kept an eye on Wellie to be sure he didn't find another place. He has stayed in the pasture with Siobhan yesterday and today.
This morning when I fed Siobhan I noticed that her udder seemed a bit fuller than usual, but I figured I was out early and had fed her before Wellie nursed. However, each time I looked out today, I always saw Wellie off by himself. He doesn't even come over to see Tiggy, whom he used to love to visit with through the fence. So I decided I'd better check Siobhan's udder tonight, even though she doesn't get fed at night. (She gets 2 lbs. of 16% mare and foal feed in the morning and nothing at night, as that seems to be all she needs to stay in condition.) Uh-oh, I could see as she walked toward me that she was very full. I brought her into the stanchion, and she was bursting. Her rear teats were swollen and shiny as if she was about to calve. All four quarters were really full, but especially the rear ones, her higher-producing ones. I slathered on the mint balm and milked her out as much as I could. I got 3 quarts + 1/2 cup. (When Wellie was sick in June and had to be off her for 36 hours, the most I got was 1 cup short of a gallon.) Her milk strained fine, no clumps at all. I haven't tasted it yet, cooling it down now.
So what is happening? Would a 3-month old calf suddenly wean himself voluntarily?
I did notice one small cut on one teat, and it occurred to me she might have kicked him off, but Siobhan is very laid back and although she must have been very sore, she stood like a rock for me to milk--not a twitch, not even at the flies.
Could he be grieving because he misses Royal? Sulking?
If she was bred on Aug. 19 or 20, could her milk have an off flavor to it? I would almost swear she doesn't have mastitis, so there's no reason I can see that the milk would taste bad to him.
Or could it be the change in grass/hay in the new pasture? None of our grass is that good with the drought, so this is only a stab at an answer; it shouldn't be that different, and he's certainly eating it.
Do you think he'll start nursing again? Or am I on TAD milking?
I would sure love to hear anyone's input if you've ever had something like this happen or have any ideas what's going on.
This morning when I fed Siobhan I noticed that her udder seemed a bit fuller than usual, but I figured I was out early and had fed her before Wellie nursed. However, each time I looked out today, I always saw Wellie off by himself. He doesn't even come over to see Tiggy, whom he used to love to visit with through the fence. So I decided I'd better check Siobhan's udder tonight, even though she doesn't get fed at night. (She gets 2 lbs. of 16% mare and foal feed in the morning and nothing at night, as that seems to be all she needs to stay in condition.) Uh-oh, I could see as she walked toward me that she was very full. I brought her into the stanchion, and she was bursting. Her rear teats were swollen and shiny as if she was about to calve. All four quarters were really full, but especially the rear ones, her higher-producing ones. I slathered on the mint balm and milked her out as much as I could. I got 3 quarts + 1/2 cup. (When Wellie was sick in June and had to be off her for 36 hours, the most I got was 1 cup short of a gallon.) Her milk strained fine, no clumps at all. I haven't tasted it yet, cooling it down now.
So what is happening? Would a 3-month old calf suddenly wean himself voluntarily?
I did notice one small cut on one teat, and it occurred to me she might have kicked him off, but Siobhan is very laid back and although she must have been very sore, she stood like a rock for me to milk--not a twitch, not even at the flies.
Could he be grieving because he misses Royal? Sulking?
If she was bred on Aug. 19 or 20, could her milk have an off flavor to it? I would almost swear she doesn't have mastitis, so there's no reason I can see that the milk would taste bad to him.
Or could it be the change in grass/hay in the new pasture? None of our grass is that good with the drought, so this is only a stab at an answer; it shouldn't be that different, and he's certainly eating it.
Do you think he'll start nursing again? Or am I on TAD milking?
I would sure love to hear anyone's input if you've ever had something like this happen or have any ideas what's going on.
