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Post by bluegranitefarm on Feb 15, 2013 7:27:50 GMT -5
So Olivia and Jean had an adventurous year. They both delivered their first calves, learned how to be hand milked, and were bred back! Olivia is due in March and Jean is due possibly April or May. I finally decided it was time to give up the delicious milk in favor of pregnancy development. Since we were sharing with the calves, this meant weaning and drying off at the same time. First attempt lasted 24 hours - then the wily steer with his thick winter coat went through the electric fence. The steer is 8 months old. After making more secure arrangements, they have been successfully separated for two weeks now. Well, actually, the heifer got back with the herd when someone  left a gate open. She was just over a year old and I haven't seen her nurse since she got back in. So all the desperate mooing has quieted down. Jean's udder feels flaccid, but it hasn't disappeared yet. So two questions. How should the udder feel when she is totally dried off? And at what point can the steer safely go back in with mom and not try to nurse? Thanks in advance. Bernie |
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Post by kansasdexters on Feb 15, 2013 7:46:38 GMT -5
Hi Bernie,
The weanling calves should be kept separated until after the mama cows have their new calves. Because the cows' bodies are now getting ready to resume lactation, their weanlings should not be allowed to have any access to them at all.
A pregnant cow's udder, in the last trimester, will begin to fill out again and feel full. As the cow approaches her delivery date, the udder will become very firm and the teats will strut.
If the udder feels "floppy", then the weanling calf is probably suckling her again. You'll need to separate them completely from their calves as soon as possible.
Patti
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Post by bluegranitefarm on Feb 15, 2013 8:04:52 GMT -5
Wow, spring seems a lot farther off now. Is it to prevent any possibility of nursing? Will the calves keep trying until the new calf is on the ground?
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Post by kansasdexters on Feb 15, 2013 8:18:56 GMT -5
Yes, the old calves will keep nursing as long as their dams allow them to. If the cow's udder is floppy, then you'll know that the old calf is still suckling. If you do nothing, and don't separate the weanlings from their dams, then their new calves may not get enough colostrum.
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Post by ctownson on Feb 15, 2013 8:36:38 GMT -5
I would just echo what Patti has said. Once we separate at weaning, we keep the calves away from mom for many months (at least a year). After mom has dried up, you don't want her calf to try to nurse on her again.
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Post by bluegranitefarm on Feb 15, 2013 9:20:42 GMT -5
Great thanks for the info. The cow with the "floppy" udder has had no contact with the calf for two weeks. How long will it take her udder to get back to " normal"? What does "normal" look like prior to bagging up pre-delivery?
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Post by kansasdexters on Feb 15, 2013 9:32:53 GMT -5
The weanlings can be pretty sneaky. Some of them will try to nurse off of any cow that will let them. So don't assume that just because you separated the mama from her own calf, that another calf isn't nursing on her during the weaning period. There should not be any calves in with the cows that you are trying to dry off.
Check the Photo Gallery, I'm pretty sure there are some photos of what an udder looks like just prior to calving.
Patti
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left a gate open. She was just over a year old and I haven't seen her nurse since she got back in. So all the desperate mooing has quieted down. Jean's udder feels flaccid, but it hasn't disappeared yet. So two questions. How should the udder feel when she is totally dried off? And at what point can the steer safely go back in with mom and not try to nurse? Thanks in advance.
