Handling Dairy Heifers

[Tango]

I've two Jersey cows that are wonderful. They both lead, stand, and load, just like horses. They stand for the vet. They are personable and easy to manage with a bit of attitude that remains light-hearted. Now I have a Guernsey heifer calf also and I have bottle fed her for the past 2.5 weeks though she certainly doesn't need it. She's old enough to wean - about 5 months old. I've gotten her used to me brushing her and working all around her and under her (so to speak). I know I need a halter but TSC hasbeen out of heifer halters. What else can I be doing her to prepare her for her future milking position? What might have dairy people done with my wonderful two Jerseys that I can do for the heifer to help her be wonderful too?

[Up North]

Just be consistent. As long as the interaction with you is what she has come to expect from you, all will go well. I expect she will Blossom under your tutelage.

[Tango]

That will be easy to do Thanks :baby04:

[jerzeygurl]

you know i have never haltered my milkers, just the handling and such makes them want to be arround me.

[JeffNY]

Some of ours were haltered only for a picture or two, mostly when I was changing papers, so I could remove the yellow ear tags. But handling them by walking them back from the parlor by the collar, have actually broken them in some. Just handle them, they will come around.


Jeff

[Marjorie Dickso]

Tango..the best thing for you to do with what will be a large cow, and for your safety.......is to sell that heifer to me!!!

This year, 2 heifers calved. Neither were tamed. One heifer lost her calf, the other had her calf..Anyway, I put them in a stanchion and milked them. They stood just fine, even the one we call Crazy. Good Luck.

[jerzeygurl]

lol i milk a crazy too, she was a wild child, and now shes a mammas girl...

[JulieLou42]

My 3/4 Guernsey is a sweetheart. Never mean at all. I haltered her as soon as she came here to my place. She's been tethered a lot, and that's better done with halters than collars.

She never has kicked at me...only flies. She stands well for milking. Comes when I call her...likes to be handled, combed. Just an all around fine cow.

Not pregnant this year, tho' till hopefully late Aug/early Sept. for next June calving.

She's real close to 1500# though.

Just keep up what you're doin' and she'll probably be just wonderful to work with.

[Tango]

Thank you for the advice Marjorie, I happened across her by coincidence after I had given up looking. I hope you find yours soon.