What does it mean when a dairy cow is "burned out"?

[Terri]

I have heard many times that dairy cows "burn out" in just a few years.

This means?????

[JeffNY]

Generally it means they simply cant produce much anymore, due to them being pushed for a lot of milk. Many that burn out end up with F&L problems. Generally an animal that doesn't burn out, is shipped because her udders ligaments have become weak, and the udder starts sagging. But you generally will see burned out animals at a dairy that uses BST heavily, and pushes their animals to produce unnatural amounts of milk. The F&L problems generally are swollen hocks, from the BST.



Jeff

[Terri]

How does BST make for foot and leg problems, and would a long rest set things right?

I am not set up for cattle, but if I were, the idea of buying a potentially good cow at beef prices would be very tempting!

[JeffNY]

I forget why it makes the legs swell, but it does make their hocks swell up. Someone told me the other day why it does, but I forget why, sorry about that.



Jeff

[AnnaS]

I've heard stories from my relief milker and my neighbor dairy (non BST) about BST cows spontaneously breaking legs and pelvises from osteoporosis. The BST makes the cows produce past their ability and they can't replenish their calcium.
Also heard BST is why heifers are so expensive. The big dairies that use BST can't raise enough replacements to replace cull cows.

[ozark_jewels]

I would be a little leary of buying a burned out BST dairy cow as I have a friend whos daughter tried the BST for two years....when she decided to no longer use it, her cows would hardly produce any milk without it....these were mostly holstiens.