Drying Off, Gestation Nutrition for Jersey

[Tango]

Karma is due in July and I'm going to dry her off beginning of May. Her heifer calves are ready to be separated from her- actually one already is. She's been in milk for a year because her first breed back to a Jersey bull did not take and she's been nursing these heifer calves since late October. Can I just let her go cold turkey at this point or should I milk her out once a day for a while (how long?)

I've got a couple of books on the subject but wanted to ask about nutrition during her dry period and late gestation. Wondering also about CMPK paste immediately after she calves and how on Earth I'm going to be able to give it to her Are alfalfa cubes or pellets a good idea in late gestation and early lactation?

She's bred to my [former] Black Angus bull and this will be Karma's second calving she's just three years old. Thanks in advance for your advice.

[tyusclan]

I would personally dry her off cold turkey. Don't milk her unless it's absolutely necessary, and then no more than to relieve a little of the pressure. The more you milk her, the longer it will take her to dry off. Her udder will be very tight for a few days, and then you should notice it starting to become loose and shrink. I would make sure she has good quality minerals available free choice. That will help avoid a calcium deficiency at freshening. I would keep her on a maintenance feed until after calving. You don't want her gaining too much weight. As far as the CMPK, I would say use your own judgement there as to whether you think she needs it at calving or not.

[Up North]

Originally Posted by Tango

Karma is due in July and I'm going to dry her off beginning of May. Her heifer calves are ready to be separated from her- actually one already is. She's been in milk for a year because her first breed back to a Jersey bull did not take and she's been nursing these heifer calves since late October. Can I just let her go cold turkey at this point or should I milk her out once a day for a while (how long?)

I've got a couple of books on the subject but wanted to ask about nutrition during her dry period and late gestation. Wondering also about CMPK paste immediately after she calves and how on Earth I'm going to be able to give it to her Are alfalfa cubes or pellets a good idea in late gestation and early lactation?

She's bred to my [former] Black Angus bull and this will be Karma's second calving she's just three years old. Thanks in advance for your advice.

First thing is to remove all calves so cow does'nt continue to produce for their sake. If cow is giving 15 lbs. milk/ day or less, just go cold turkey. Else we would reduce her allotment of any hi-protien feeds like grain or alfalfa cubes to a maintanence level, for example 1 coffee can(3lb) grain day. Then we would milk once a day for 4-6 days, then dry off.Avoid excessive grain or hi-protein hay during dry period. 10-14% protien hay works for dry cows.starting 12 - 14 days B4 calving, we would gradually ramp up to lactating ration, i. e. high quality forages and 15-18 lbs grain/day depending on individual cow size and productiion. Best performance will be acheived if cow always has acces to long, grassy hay of a modest protien level(10-14%) this way cow can balance it's own diet and prevent illness. Proper mineralization should be maintained thruout. Inadequate calcium levels a major factor in cows developing milk fever post calving.
I am assuming you choose not to use antibiotics, if so make sure cow's environment ultra clean first ten days after dryoff to stave off mastitis infections. Duh, HUH, you knew that. Now I gotta go round up the cows and milk.

[Tango]

Alright, thank you tyusclan and Up North. I'm very worried about this part. So hard udder for a few days is okay? I don't think she's producing much at this point and the calf is only drinking a little. Once I get the calf separated my blood pressure will go up. I was able to buy Karma because she is not the high producer the dairy wanted in their herd but having had a goat that is prone to problems in gestation and lactation, I really worry about Karma. She wouldn't be as easy to knock down and drench What would be the proper amount of calcium she should be getting when dry and then when close to calving and having calved? I feed a dairy feed which is 16% and she has a mineral block. Will cut the dairy feed with corn to bring down to about 12%/ The hay is not rich and she's on green pasture now.

[Up North]

Good quality pasture, good alfalfa hay, and shelled corn should provide adequate levels of calcium. You may want to replace mineral block with a quality loose mineral mix fed in a box or trough free-choice for best performance. Mineral blocks are certainly better them nothing, but there are better products available.