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

[lakeportfarms]

You sure have a lot of perserverance Susan... About the stuff Marsha uses, it sounds interesting and I might want to try it on the apple trees we have to keep some of our goats off of it. But you may want to be careful if you're putting it on Siobhan's udder as perhaps it would attract flies?

[rudi9396]

Wow, what a journey! Have you tried a horse cribbing muzzle? It has holes in it big enough for grass to get into so she can still graze, however, she wouldn't be able to grab her teat.

[zephyrhillsusan]

My parents called it stubbornness, Hans! I'm not going to try Plankskyyd now because she's due to calve on May 20, but if she goes early it would be too much of a risk to be able to get it all off in time for the calf to nurse. I might use it when drying her off next time. I hadn't thought of flies, but that would be a good test to run before putting it on her!

Rudi9396, that's a good idea and I had thought of it, but I'm afraid that would be the same problem as a horse grazing muzzle, and I have two of those. A cow has to be able to get her tongue out to whisk it around the grass and yank it off. If her tongue can get out to pull grass in, it could probably get out to pull a teat in. Also, it gets pretty hot here in the summer, and my horses didn't tolerate those grazing muzzles well; I think they felt suffocated.

I'm about to head for Ace Hardware . . . again . . . to exchange the murderously long screws for some shorter machine screws with flat tips to put on the halter--except the middle one which rubbed on her nose, which I'm removing altogether. This is mainly for the future when I have her in with other cows, but I might as well get it perfected as much as possible now.

[dexterlady]

Hello Marsha, just got home from taking taxes in,, grocery shopping and taking Carl out to eat...I am bushed after not sleeping last night....I have had three hours sleep since yesterday...I feel Blahhh!.....It is not Sunshine , she is the self sucker....It is Sassy, the one you and hubby was petting in the first pen, remember?....My little sweetheart...I can almost do anything with her...I just love her to bits.....I am going out to check her after I write this....Been gone most of the afternoon....I will check for that stuff you mentioned, next time I go to town...I have to take two cows in to vet tomorrow for preg, checks...If already preg...Then they will go to lease land, if not they get the shot for the AI route....We got some rain ( about 1/2 inch) but it is enough to be able to burn...Have sssooooo much to burn...Carl HATES to burn!...Could never understand that with him...Even before the Alzheimers , he never like burning brush...Well now that he CAN'T make a decision, I am GOING TO BURN BRUSH!!!...LOL Just bought new lighters and matches for the ordeal....Better get out there and check Sassy before bed....Surley Marsha , by the time Sunshine gets bred and has her calf, that stuff will wear off?...I am going to talk to the vet tomorrow about it....Talk to you soon.....Donna

[dexterlady]

Just an update...Went out to check Sassy and she was sleeping until she saw me...She got up to get scratched and followed me all over...So I put her in a pen with some hay, she kept biting & licking her sides...She let me check her udder and it is full for a first-timer, but not" strutting"....Her vulva is real floppy, as floppy as can be for a first-timer....I am getting so nervous now, but excited too!...She is due Friday!....I am just hoping she doesn't wind up being a self sucker like her mother!....Well, I am drinking some "sleepy-time tea"....I hope it works....See ya'll tomorrow....Donna

[zephyrhillsusan]

Donna, you have so much on your plate. You are an amazing lady to take care of cattle and your husband like that. Hats off to you! I hope the burning went well. Good luck with Sassy. I do hope you get some sleep tonight. That all-nighter hangover is truly a horrible feeling! And keep us posted on Sunshine, will you?

[Fran]

Donna, your Sassy sounds an awful lot like mine - I can do anything to her and she could care less! I've even leaned over her and put a good bit of my weight on her and she doesn't care. She's a major stinker!! I hope your Sassy's not a self-sucker! I honestly don't know how Susan managed to keep at it like she has. I haven't seen any of mine self-suck, but I do have a heifer that will suck on anyone that will let her and another heifer that will let anyone suck on her (hope that comes out right). Both of these heifers are now bred (hopefully) and due in Sept/Oct/Nov timeframe, so I guess we'll see then.... Each of them will be 2 years old in July.
Fran

[zephyrhillsusan]

Funny, Fran, I was just reading your update on your heifers' genotypes. All I can say is, be very suspicious! Don't take anything for granted with those girls. If you ever have a fleeting question, not even an outright suspicion, check it out!

I finally got hold of my new vet this morning after leaving messages Saturday and yesterday. I hated to bother him, but finally called the cell today and he was just about to call me. Very laid-back, nice guy. I had gotten a few tiny clumps while milking on Fri. Couldn't tell for sure if they were cream or clots. It occurred to me during a nearly sleepless night that since the affected quarter had max production of a Tbsp., perhaps the Ab didn't get cleared out during the withdrawal phase, and that when I sent the sample for a re-test, there was an Ab residue that inhibited growth--not a cure. also her production has dropped so much that it seemed there was nothing being accomplished by continuing to milk as far as clearing her high SCC, especially in that quarter.

So anyway, we talked today and he agrees that it's time to dry her off, no purpose to milking such small amounts. He's ordering Spectramast, the dry treatment of choice for Staph A. He will bring it Friday and come do immunizations for my girls. I want him to look at her udder at that time and talk to me about what I feel when I massage. Each quarter is different, and I want to know what's normal and what's not. I'm sure I've just had a very unusual situation, but I no longer take normal for granted! Maybe they're all normal and she just has an equal opportunity udder with lots of diversity. . I'm just so glad he's coming! Hands-on and eyes-on are worth a lot! Also want him to see my Ebby who is starting springing, due Apr. 13 by AI. She had a wee bit of trouble with her first calf, so he said he'll be on call for this one, and I always think it's helpful if he's seen her before and knows how to get here.

[Fran]

Yes, I don't blame you one bit. Thank The Lord, all of mine have had easy unassisted births!

[libertyfarm]

Susan, just in case you didn't already know...one way to tell if it's clumps or cream is to rub the clump between your fingers or run hot water thru the filter...if they melt away then they're cream!

You definitely win the award for perseverance!! Here's hoping when she freshens again all will be clear!

Rya

[northstar]

After being at Donna's and loving on Sassy, I seriously thought about selling my cow, and buying another that was friendlier with other people, A2A2, and smaller. But, since there aren't any Sassys that I'm aware of in Alaska, I thought about all the positives about L.C.. She gives lots of milk, never had any mastitis, or any other illness, has a good udder, she's a good mama, and I love her.
I hope Sassy has her calf soon, so you can get some sleep, Donna. I'll be starting the every two hour check in another two weeks. I tried a cow cam, but it didn't work through the metal barn.
Marsha

[zephyrhillsusan]

Thanks, Rya! I knew about the finger-rubbing trick, but it was hard to tell if they melted or if I just mashed them because they were so tiny. I didn't know about the hot water, though, I'll definitely try that!

Marsha, I'm just making a (freebie) Shutterfly book about raising and training Siobhan to be a milk cow. It took me back to her mama, who was not friendly at all, but she was a good mama, even though she tried to boss us around with her horns. She raised a great, healthy heifer--I couldn't believe as I looked back at the photos what a chunk Siobhan was! And guess what? Once she kept her baby to herself for three weeks, she let us make friends with her and handle her, and today I have a sweet, gentle milk cow. So there's a lot to be said for hanging onto your girl with her qualities (not the least of which is no mastitis!)

[dexterlady]

First of all Marsha, like Susan said, you better keep that cow, at least your not having any troubles with LC...I do wish we lived closer, maybe you could have two cows....I am going to perservere like Susan and either make Sunshine quit this awful habit or I will send her to freezer camp...Today I am looking for my TOM thumb bit and put that on her and see if it helps....I did see her calf , Savannah, nurse her yesterday until there was nothing left!....Savannah just had grain also ,and she is getting to be a chunky monkey....She will be 4 months on 4/10 so I may have to wean her soon...I wanted to keep Savannah nursing for at least five months but she is getting so chunky...
I checked Sassys' udder last night and her right side has less milk in it than the left side, which tells me she has probably been nursng herself...Of course it is raining here today so I can't get outside like I planned...I am just waiting for the rain to stop so I can look for my bit...I will put that on Sassy...Can't put the rigging on her because when she calves , she won't be able to reach her calf...So I will use the bit....You know after talking with some others , I bet this self-sucking is more common than we know...I just spoke with a lady who makes udder supports for cattle and goats...Her and her husband have had this business for years...She told me I could call the Nasco Co...They have these supports....I will be weaning Savannah.soon, so I may check into one...Although if Sassy learned to do this from Sunshine, then Savannah may have also...So I may better off weaning Savannah at four months....She is a big girl now for 3 1/2 months....
Susan, if you ever get your book done , I'd love to read it...Even if they aren't free..And I too agree with Liberty Farms, you get first place for perseverance...You are such one smart lady...Glad your vet is coming...It is always better and comforting to have a vet check them...
Fran, yes Sassy is a love, but I am so upset with HER doing this....She never nursed on any other cow when she was a baby....I do have a little heifer right now that is doing it....And she is not even near Sunshine!...Hopefully, she will out grow this....Well the rain has stopped fir awhile, think I'll go look for my bit and sircingle ....Talk to ya'll later...Thanks to all....Donna

[zephyrhillsusan]

Question, Donna, are you sure one side smaller than the other means self-sucking? Because when Siobhan began bagging up the first time, she didn't do it evenly. I'd try to monitor the progress of her udder a couple times a day, maybe even taking photos of both sides each time you check. And you could try the food coloring test since there's no calf in the picture yet. Just do the very tip of the teats, then check to see if the color gets smeared up and around them. You can probably distinguish from the color transfer by teats rubbing against each other from her mouth having been around the teats. And if you dab the color dry with a bit of paper towel--and put the color on while she's on her feet eating--you can reduce accidental transfer.

I'll see if I can send you a link to read the book when it's done.

[dexterlady]

Susan1, I'm sorry I am just now seeing this from you...No I am not really sure Sassy is doing this, I just found it strange that when I checked her , this was before I even thought of her self-sucking, her udder was full and even...Then a couple days later, I checked her again and the right side was much smaller....Her teats look like they have been stretched ( all of them), they are all about 1 1/2 inches long....Her teats look like she has already nursed and couple calves....And this is her first calf....And by the way, she is due tomorrow...But I am going to watch her closer now and see what she does....I will talk to you soon....Thanks for all your help....Donna