He called it scar tissue but I don't remember if he said what caused it. I think he said mastitis. It comes from inside the quarter but part of it bulges out a little bit. I was able to feel it and give it a squeeze. She didn't show any sensitivity at all. The rest of her udder felt fine. This happened while she was loose in the feedlot. She's a real gentle cow.

As Carla said , at the bigger dairies they don`t have cows around that long. And just because they are 5-6 years old that means nothing. I have some really great cows that are 5-6 years old. You don`t have anymore problems witha cow at that age as you would any younger. They are just like people, some last longer and have better health than others. I have an old cow that I would put up against a heifer anyday. Small farms are a good place to get good cows, they have more hands on time, Mine do anyway. > Thnaks Marc

#2 isn't dry yet - she's about ready to be dried up. She will dry up about the time BWF's cow freshens....so she really works well in BWFs barn.....cute as she is. I love a spotted jersey!

I brought home number 3. The ugly gray one. Not so sure why I thought she was ugly now....she's darn cute. And that calf belly is especially attractive. I promise to get picture tomorrow though she in a shelter and it will be darker than Iw ould like for pictures. My steer had to be put in cow-jail for escaping 4 times today.

I am not sure farmer john knew what caused the lump. He said possibly mastitis but that she hadn't been bothered by mastitis in the last 2 lactations. Seems like it would have been a heck of a case of mastitis to cause that kind of lump. It is a worry and I think he ought to dock her price for it. She won't bring that much at the sale barn being so small. The last cow I bought had supposedly no sign of any trouble, a nice soft udder and still freshened with mastitis that ended up being caused by pseudomonas. I ended up battling that for 4 months before drying that quarter off. You never know. She will probably end up being a great little cow and I will wish I had her cute little self here - along with my cow, of course.

I like an experienced cow. I just don't have the nerves yet to try to train one to milk. It's amazing what an experienced cow taught me in just a few months. If I can get a great deal on a 5 year old cow, why not take it over a more expensive 3 yr old one? We'd all love to have a young cow. 5 years sounds young to ME! It's to my advantage that a dairy deems a 5-gallon a day milker that's 5-6 years old as not good enough for them.

is she part brown swiss?

What is she bred to?

No, she's all jersey. I am supposed to call to get the bull she's bred to.....just gotta get over the flu enough to want to do it! LOL!! Picture coming in a bit. I'm going to try to move her to the barn so I can get more friendly with her rather than out in the cow shelter.

Callie, you have the flu ? sorry to hear that but didn`t you know that a real dairy person doesn`t let a little bit of flu keep them down. Waiting for the pictures. > Thanks Marc

Marc...Oh how well I know that a good dairy man doesn't let the flu stop them. But I am really, really thankful that I don't have to milk a cow right now!!!!

The picture is a bit fuzzy. My steer wouldn't stay out of the way and I ended up holding the camera beside him and just snapping several times to get a shot.

http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/a...et/pepper2.jpg

She has really bagged up today. Hopefully tomorrow I will have the oomph to get her into the barn so we can start getting friendly. My little steer kept getting out to try to find his mom....so they have to stay in jail together until they are friends.

I'll take her! ;)

She's beautiful! I love the darker Jerseys! AND, I love that nice bag!

Thanks! I don't know why I didn't like her when I first saw her. Her hips are definately BIG...but we can't hold that against her. I love her color now. It's a light brown. Why did I think it was gray?

Carla....you are just too funny.....she's bagging right up now so if she kicks me, you can come and get her...

I like the color just wait till spring when she sheds...she will be cute

I just found out she is due to calve the 15th. Guess I'd best step up the getting to know each other routine! YIKES!! She can calve any time. Better get those inflations switched.

I'm sorry, but a lump the size of a baseball on the udder sounds like breast cancer to me. I'd pass. If I absolutely had to have her, I would not purchase without a biopsy. But, no point in that, because I'd pass.

The cow you got is gorgeous except she is FAT.

I like the sturdiness of her and the balanced strong frame.

Callie, You better be getting that maternity ward ready, Hope that heifer calf comes with no problem. Good luck with your new girl. > Marc

Funny, Mark - fine minds are surely working alike! I was thinking about that very thing all night. Hopefully, DH will be back on his feet today -he's been sick all week and had a much harder time with it than I have had. Maybe together we can get her in the barn. I don't look for trouble with her, I am just too weak to get the door open! LOL!!!

Thanks! I hope most of the fat is calf! She is sturdy - must be from good GermanDutch stock - like most of the people around here.

I think she's gorgeous!

She's lovely. Once she starts milking she'll lose weight. Hope you feel better soon.

We are better today. We found the oomph to get the sheep outof the barn and install the cow and steer. It took some persuading to get her inside, but we did it. We both had to sit down and rest afterwards. I got more pictures, but the sunlight was so bright on the snow, they didn't come out right. Tonight I got her to move from the stall to the milking station. She had to stop and check out the chickens, the calves and finally made it to the manger. I gave her a good brushing. And even put some lotion on her teats since they looked a little dry. I'd like to think she enjoyed it as much as I did. I still don't have a name for her.

ooohhh I love her! I would name her Lovely

I'd really like to get a good picture of her. Lovely....hum.....? Not sure DH could do that one. LOL!!! He wanted to name her Rex.

You mean to tell me that poor ole cow didn`t have a name allready???? It is a known fact that cows that have names give more milk, some days my cows have all kinds of names. HeHe > Thanks Marc

My dad's favorites were 'bonehead' 'knucklehead' and,' justplainstupid'. None of those seem to fit this cow. It's really just a decision I need to get over with.....in someways, it's worse that naming my own kids! LOL!!

She is a beautiful cow. I would name her "Star".

Good idea! That's the name of the first calf I ever raised by myself. She was a jersey I was 5.

She does have a really nice star on her doesn't she. I too, think she is just lovely. She has that nice Bessie the family cow look about her. My favorite look. My Clover looks similar to #2 just a lot younger. She will be 12 months end of April. I love the spotted Jersey's. She was a nice surprise, glad I was able to keep her.
Regarding names I like the following
Star, Bessie, Taffy, Anna, and any flower name...we have had a Daisy and now a Clover ( I know Clover not really a flower but she had one stuck on her nose when she was born)
Lily, Violet, Rosie, Daffy, Peony, Poppy...sigh...did I say I like flower names for cows??? Ok, done rambling on. Your cow has a sweet face and I hope she does well for you. A little fat but hey, that can all change shortly. Pictures when the calf is born please!

Every first milk cow should be named ELISE

Thanks friends! Now I have more names than ever to pick from.... It's the thought of DH saying her name that stumps me.....those sweetie names just don't roll off his tongue....

Callie, what does your husband think her name should be? It's easier for me to name the little calves and yes, we usually name them "cutsie" names.LOL

She's due the 15th.......yikes! that's only a few days away.

DH says it's up to me.....But I know he would hate a name like 'kissey'. I'll ask her tonight and make her commit....LOL!!! I tried feeding her oatmeal cookies, apples, cupcakes and bread for a treat. So far, she's resisting my overtures.

Elise the borden cow we old people grew up with

Roxi
 

I would name her Roxi, short for Roxanna, because you originally thought she was silver or grey coloured. Plus I like the name. Tylenol and Campells Chicken Noodle soup, and then pictures of mom and calf, Please!

Okay... we agreed on "Cookie" as her name. Not that I can get her to eat a cookie or anything....but I like the name. As soon as she has her calf, I will post a picture.

Oh, and I was all set with a list of names too. We want pictures! Lots and lots of pictures. :)

We had a mama sheep once we called cookie, her lamb the next year we called crumb. hehe > Thanks Marc

My barn is too dark for good pictures.....l want to let them out today in the nicer weather....but...what if I can't get her back! LOL!!! I think I just like to worry.

When in doubt, don't let her out! Better safe than sorry. I know the snow has messed with your fences. Best not to chance it if you're not sure.

I kept her in. It was too much to worry about getting her BACK inside. She didn't seem to mind once I cleaned her stall and gave her a good brushing. I think the fences will keep her in - it's the steer that I am worried about. He's the one that decided to just take off after his mom. GRRR.