How long to dry up?Is this a good thing?

[dk_40207]

We are set to go look at a Jersey who had a calf on her(only) until last monday. What should i expect or look for in her bag? I will milk her when I go, but we weren't sure if she would be dry, or nearly, or what....

We are told she was bought just for her lovely calf, which they just sold, and have no need of her. The previous owner milked her by hand daily...
We were figurin' at this price she is worth it even if shes not a good producer this year. We would have no way of knowing what she normally gives, though.
Whada think?
Oh, and hurry, we are going tonight! Love how these things just pop up out of nowhere!

[michiganfarmer]

When I had the dairy farm we would try to get the cow bred by 60 days after freshening. then when she was 7 months pregnent we would milk stop milkin gher twice a dat, and onlu milk her once a day for a week then just stop milking her.

[dcross]

If she's been dry for a week, it's a bad idea to milk her. Handle her, feel her udder and ask lots of questions, but don't milk her. It opens the udder to infection.

[JulieLou42]

Good advice from two previous posters. Buy her if her bag's in good shape, and she's a well-behaved milker. Find out which number calf that last one is. Do breed her back by the time the calf's two months old. Does she have good legs, among other things?

[dk_40207]

I havn't seen her yet. I just need to be prepared. We are going tonight. I have heard of people mimlking a cow after a week of no milking...so I was wondering if we milked her regular from here on out....would everything be okay?
We want a cow in milk, and if we purchase and keep her dry...well it will be awhile before she is givin' anything
This will be her 2nd calf, I'm told she has a nice bag, no mastitis or other health issues, very gentle, bred 2 months ago to black bull, AND still has milk in her...
I don't want to milk her if we won't be taking her...but if I take her and milk her religiously until it's time to dry.....will that be okay?
Thanks!

[MullersLaneFarm]

Is IN a TB and/or Buceslosis free state? If not, make sure she has been vaccinated. Check for Johnne's Disease too. Johnne's Disease usually starts showing up at 2 - 3 yo. If she has any watery diarrhea, I'd be very skeptical and ask for a test.

Bred back to a 'black bull'?? A black angus or a black jersey?? See if they know. Ask for preg test or at least some sort of guarantee that if she isn't bred that she can be returned or some of your money refunded. Legitimate breeders / sellers will stand behind their sale and won't balk at this.

How well do you know the sellers?? Where did this cow/calf pair come from? I'd be suspicious, but that's just me

[dk_40207]

suspicious or not....we brought her home. For better or worse now She is a handful!(to say the least)

[Ronney]

By the time I first read the thread you would have already been on your way. I'm glad your brought her home, everything else nothwithstanding, I have a feeling this is going to be a good cow, don't ask me why, she just sounded right.

If the "black bull" is an Angus, the cross makes for a very good beef calf.

Don't expect too much out of her for the next day or so as she is going to be upset and disorientated. Been there and done that with bought-in cows (the whole two of them - everything else I've bred myself) but in both cases they were cracker-jack cows.

If she's only been weaned for a week and was still producing reasonably well, there will be no harm in restarting the milking procedure. However, if she was coming to the end of her lactation it might pay to leave well alone and wait until she calves.

Good luck and I hope she gives you years of enjoyment.

Cheers,
Ronnie

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by MullersLaneFarm

Ask for preg test or at least some sort of guarantee that if she isn't bred that she can be returned or some of your money refunded. Legitimate breeders / sellers will stand behind their sale and won't balk at this.

"Bred at time of sale" guarentee I will do. But after the cow leaves my property anything can happen and I will not guarentee anything. Guarentees stop after she steps off my property onto their trailer. I don't have any control over what happens then.

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by dk_40207

suspicious or not....we brought her home. For better or worse now She is a handful!(to say the least)

Great, she sounds like she should be a good deal. Keep us updated!

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by Ronney

If the "black bull" is an Angus, the cross makes for a very good beef calf.

Or if you get a heifer, she can still make someone a really good family milk cow.

[dk_40207]

Here's Stella

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...wandetc077.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...wandetc080.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...wandetc080.jpg
:baby04:

[ozark_jewels]

Is she *for sure* all Jersey?? She sure does look like a touch of Guernsey in there. That head and long lanky build........
She is a beautiful color and her eyes are gentle. Looks kinda thin and her eyes are tearing so I would say she needs a good worming and some good food to put some weight on her. Her coat looks healthy and if she is staying in those short panels and not jumping.....I'd say you don't have a jumper! Has she let you milk her yet??

[dk_40207]

Yep..milked out both rightside quarters tonight. I was a bit jumpy..but she only tried to kick me twice. I was on alert the whole time. It is humbling to be squating down next to such a big beast! I'm used to goats!

I was told she was wormed two months ago, but plan to do it again.
We are feeding her our goat grain(oats w/ BOSS cracked corn alfalfa pellets beet pulp.) She gets timothy all day and alfalfa hay at milking(or thats the plan so far).
I was told she came out of a Jersey herd...so her heritage I'm unsure of. She is thin. I was also told that the guy who had her before had no pasture, and didn't feed her enough so she has actually filled out a bit over the past few months..hmmm. I will feed her well, and hopefully put a little meat on her
She respects those little panels. We tied her to a post to help break her this evening, and she had a fit but gave up pretty quickly. We're just doing the best we can with her.

[ozark_jewels]

Proper feeding and worming can do such wonders. Here is one of our success stories.....Prissie just needed food and worming!

The month we brought her home:



And six-eight months later:



Great to hear your getting along so well with your Stella.

[dk_40207]

What is your feed ratios and amounts? We are shooting in the dark w/ ours...

[Ronney]

She looks to be all that I thought she would be and I think your going to end up with a gentle little cow with personality. I didn't think her condition was too bad at all - don't forget she's reared a calf and is still producing. Dairy's don't put it on their backs and in their udders. I can't help with the feeding regime as I am almost 100% grass fed with hay over the winter.

It's early days yet but your off to a good start and it won't be long before you feel confident and comfortable with Stella. I know it's hard to begin with, but take a deep breath and try and relax with her - she will be picking up on your nervousness which will in turn make her toey. I always rest my head against their flank - it's warm in winter , they seem to be more comfortable with it, and, as you get more experienced with her, you will be able to feel that slight tensioning of muscle which is a brief warning that they are going to move - or kick - and gives you a chance to rescue your bucket.

Prissie is a job well done - always nice to see.

Cheers,
Ronnie

[Up North]

Looks like a really nice little cow. I wouldn't worry about her condition too much. Considering she had a calf on her plus her breeding. Jersey's from my experience will look boney even when they are fat. Ronnie is right on with her advice. Cows pick up very easily when a milker is nervous. Sometimes when I am milking a new heifer or kicker I have to stop and take a break. Walk away from the cow and regain my wits and collect my courage again. I don't want to show any signs of being nervous. Your girl doesn't sound too bad though. She'll calm down real fast. We feed our cows a 16% protien dairy ration that we have made up at the feedmill. We give our small cows about 15 lbs a day. You can really play around with this though. If you have good pasture you can cut back.

Heather