UPDATE: On mastitis and how I stopped my self-sucking cow

[zephyrhillsusan]

For anyone who wants information on this subject, please read my follow-up post.  A further test showed me that the "final solution" in the first post wasn't fool-proof, and I've spent the past two weeks perfecting a system that works.  Something simpler might work for other cows, but my girl proved quite determined!  Other than legendrockranch I bet I have the world's largest collection of anti-self-sucking devices!     I've also learned that Siobhan's and my saga shows up on the first page of Google if you google "self-sucking cow."  A friend who does a lot of business online was quite impressed.  He said he's known lots of people who paid to get on the first page of Google, but no one who got themselves there.  Believe me, it's a distinction I'd rather not have!  But if we can help someone else, it's worth it.  I think.     Thanks to all of you who've encouraged me through all of this.  You were such a help!

[carragheendexters]

Susan, I have to hand it to you, you are a champion in perseverance.
Many would have given up on her and you know what that would mean for her future. She is such a little horror, you have to wonder sometimes just what goes through their minds, and you really must feel like asking her if she needs an analyst or something LOL
I wonder if she will ever forget about it? Maybe you need to get a zoo animal behaviourist with ways of environmental enrichment on the job, to keep her mind busy LOL.

Just thought of a way of keeping her busy, hook her up to those harrows of yours and get her working the fields, she will be so tired afterwards all she'll want to do is lay down and have a rest LOL

regards Louise

[zephyrhillsusan]

That's not a bad idea, Louise! It has occurred to me that she seems to know that she shouldn't be doing it because I've never seen her! I've even wondered at times if I was crazy, but then the evidence was there. So yes, little horror!

[Fran]

I hope she knows how very lucky she is!!!!!!!

[midhilldexters]

Susan you have done a great job, and I must say you have way more patience than I would have with her.
Had you thought about getting a cow bra instead of using all those contraptions? I've seen pics of cows wearing them and it would seem that if she is not feeding a calf that the cow bra would work, remove for milking and put back on after. I have no experience or know anyone that has used one but maybe worth looking into?

Carol K

[zephyrhillsusan]

Carol K, I had thought of that and even tried my horse's crupper so I'd have something to fasten the bra to (it was too short and I'd have had to buy a new one), but she's due May 20 so I decided to focus on a solution that will let the calf nurse. I'm assuming this is a life-long habit. And I am trying to get her dried off, but want to be faithful to my new vet's instructions to milk for two more weeks and try to clear up the SCC. I'm going to do the CMT today to see where we are. However, maybe I need to make the cow bra just to complete my collection.

[marion]

Mar 21, 2014 10:46:41 GMT -5 zephyrhillsusan said:

However, maybe I need to make the cow bra just to complete my collection.

[kansasdexters]

Just for laughs, here's an Alaskan version of the cow bra:

videos.huffingtonpost.com/entertainment/alaska-the-last-frontier-creating-a-cow-bra-518010391

Icelandic cows wear them too: www.reallyiceland.com/icelandic-cows-wear-a-bra/

(so do Russian cows)

There's definitely an international market niche available for this product! You're on to something pretty special here.


Patti

[marion]

uddersupports.com/

Here you go!! This brand (Tamm) has been around for decades

[kansasdexters]

Here's a dairyman that uses cow bras in the United States: www.farmshow.com/a_article.php?aid=10792

His reason: They reduce mastitis problems in his cows. What a concept!


Patti

[hollydzie]

Wow Susan, I just read you newest blog post. I gotta hand it to you. I don't like any animal enough to go through what you did with her. I must agree with others she is one lucky cow! She would have been gone a long time ago if I owned her. You can ask my family and they will tell you, I am the grim reaper. Everyone calls me when they have a problem pet/animal and well lets just say I take care of it for them LOL
Holly

[zephyrhillsusan]

So now that you all have shown me I don't have to start from scratch to invent a cow bra, I think this could be a great idea for after the calf comes. I could leave her in her harness while she's with the calf so she doesn't try to poach any milk, but if I decide to milk her and I separate them overnight, I could put the cow bra on her instead to give her a break from the harness. I had even thought of making kind of a hula skirt for her, on the principle of rubber wheel guards on trucks. It would hang down in front of the udder so she couldn't reach it, but one of the ladies on KFC who had a self-sucking cow said it sounds like Siobhan was doing it laying down, so that wouldn't work.

Anyway, thanks for the laughs and the good ideas! Btw, her CMT looks much better, if not normal. I'll check again Monday. And I had already thought of naming the calf Polly if it's a heifer, but it took a while to realize it can be Paulie if it's a bull. Gotta memorialize all that POLY vinyl chloride mama's wearing! ;D

[midhilldexters]

Susan I am looking forward to you blog update on how you measured her for cup size.

Carol K

[legendrockranch]

Oh my, just finished reading your blog Susan, WOW! is all I can say! I hope everything you're doing for her pays off, in the long run.
Had to laugh at the pic of her wearing the spiked halter, I have seen other home made versions of them also.
Where there's a will there's a way, on both you and Siobhans part.

Barb

[zephyrhillsusan]

ROFL! You all are too funny! Ok, Carol K., I thought that since she's not built like a Jersey or Guernsey, I would just take all my old various-sized cast-offs out there and try them on for size!     Or I wonder if the Foundations lady from Belk makes house calls?

Barb, I was thinking of your antique spikes.  Yikes!  Please, please reassure me that I am more stubborn than her!  There could NOT be a way for her will to get around this unless she's made of black rubber!  I like to think of Dexters as "The Little Cow that Could," but enough is enough!