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Post by hdrockn on Jun 20, 2013 16:50:51 GMT -5
I have a 9 yr old shortie momma cow that calved a long legged heifer 6 months ago today. This afternoon I went out to check the water...it is very hot....and the heifer kept bellering. Her mom passed me and I noticed her udder was very large and wondered how long it had been since she was nursed. The heifer came up behind her to suckle from behind and the mom raised her tail and pooped. I thought it was a coincidence but then Holly tried to approach momma again and she walked off. This has been a very attentive momma and must have the richest milk as that little heifer has really put on size.....she is taller than her mom now. My question is....is this typically how they wean their calves? That huge honking udder has me a bit concerned....gotta be painful.
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Post by kansasdexters on Jun 20, 2013 18:16:45 GMT -5
Diane,
A "typical" lactation is about 9 months, and many cows will wean their calves around that age, by themselves. But it is unusual for a cow to self-wean a calf at only 6 months of age.
If your cow's udder is very enlarged (engorged), then it may be painful for her when the calf tries to nurse. So she is avoiding the calf. If it was my cow, I would milk her out and determine if there was mastitis in any of the quarters of the udder, or any injury to the udder (that would be making it painful for the cow to nurse her calf). I would also take the cow's temperature to see if she was running a fever (also an indication of an infection). You may want to have your vet take a look at her, if you suspect that there is an udder and/or teat issue developing.
Patti
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Post by ctownson on Jun 20, 2013 19:24:03 GMT -5
I agree with Patti - the momma is exhibiting symptoms of pain and therefore not letting the calf nurse.
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Post by rezzfullacres on Jun 20, 2013 21:22:10 GMT -5
if you can place your hand on the cows udder, feel the temp.......if it feels hot you have a problem.....if it is hard you have a problem......most likely a touch of mastitis, deal with it quickly or the results may be not be good.....
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Post by hdrockn on Jun 21, 2013 16:29:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice. This morning Petunia was still not letting her daughter nurse and was standing when I went out. She was still eating and drinking and the bossy boss cow she always is. We ran to town to get what we needed and then set up the medina gate so we could milk her out. For a touch me not 9 year old cow we bought a year ago she was really pretty easy to milk out. Her udder was not hot and the firmness did not seem really out of line for a full, un-nursed udder. We went ahead and infused all 4 teats....that was much easier than I anticipated. Things are very noisy here this afternoon since the directions state not to milk out the meds for 12 hours....don't know if she would let her daughter nurse now or not. I may have to let them back together before I go to bed or we may never sleep. I probably need to rethink a weaning area that is farther from the house for the future.
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