Dairy question?

[piglady]

1) If our two jersey/cross heifers give birth around the same time, can we put both calves on one and milk the other for us.

2)If so, once we wean the two calves, how hard will it be to teach the cow to milk since all she has known is being a mom? In other words, does it ruin a milk cow to let her raise a calf?

[Sunraven]

1- Probably. Depending on your setup you'll need to supplement her and the calves with grain, you might consider creating a creep feeder type contraption so the calves can get plenty to eat where the cow can't steal it.

2- I would still set up a routine and handle the cow with the calves on it regularly, pen the calves by themselves. Arrange the cow however you would if you were going to milk her- halter and tie her or put her in a stanchion, or whatever you choose. At least touch her udder and get a squirt of milk from each teat so she's accustomed to this. Have her stand while you milk the other cow then turn her back with the calves.

[Cat]

Were it me I'd milk the nurse cow out at least once a day anyway. You can give her her grain then, and it'll keep her accustomed to being touched & dealt with.

[DJ in WA]

I agree with Cat. Not sure what your heifers' milk production will be, but if they have much Jersey, two newborn calves might not take much of the milk. Sometimes they ignore a quarter, risking mastitis if you don't milk it out.

[jerzeygurl]

i did this quite often

i kept calves in a pen

milked one cow in stanchion

then put nurse cow in stanchion with feed just like milk cow and let the calves loose to nurse away,never had a problem with them not finishing her off, but since she is up in stanchion i could always check. the hardest part was always getting the calves back in thier pen.

but it did train them both to come up in turn and stand in stall to be milked

[Cat]

That's how I did it when I had my Holstein...her calf nursed at will and the other two calves which were feedlot calves were put on her while she was in the stanchion, they had access to her all day but she was a first-calf cow so I made sure that the little ones got at least two feedings per day. I also milked out the front two, easier quarters, and left the back two for her calf to nurse. I can't remember now if I milked her out at the night milking or TAD.

[francismilker]

This is pretty common around my place. When the cows come in to the stanchions, the calves "attack" the first available teat. The one left standing is the one that gets cleaned and milked for the house. This way, all the cows are used to dual purpose. (being hand milked and used as a nurse cow)

[jerzeygurl]

also you COULD milk BOTH in the morning, let the calves loose to run with them all day, then put the calves up at night so you can milk again in the morning

that way you are only milking once a day, and if you need to go someplace for the weekend you can just let the calves stay on all weekend ect....I have done this with good results, and a lot less bucket washings ect