First Jersey/calf arrived today

cjb · #1 11/05/07, 12:29 AM

Not sure if I can consider them arrived as they are still in the stock trailer.

It was 9:00pm by the time we got home and a friend advised that I just feed them in the stock trailer and let them bed down for the night. I know it will be a mess to clean up tomorrow! ;-)

I definitely got cold feet when we picked her up and I hope it works out. I knew that she had not had a halter on her for the last two years but thought she would be more tame. She was definitely ok with the owner going in, petting her, messing with her udders and even messing with her calf but she was very much afraid of me. She did not get aggressive with me, even when I handled her calf but she wasn't happy about it.

The trailer couldn't back all the way to the barn door so the seller tied the calf in the back of the trailer and let her out. We lined up on either side so she would have to walk straight into the trailer but - no go. She found a hole between us and took off. She kept coming back to her calf but it took 1.5 hours to get her in the trailer. Also, she is much bigger then I thought she would be. She's a big mama cow!

So, tomorrow morning will be interesting. I am in a major quandry about where to put her. I can put her out in the pasture but wonder if I shouldn't put her in a 12x12 stall for a few days and let her settle down and get used to us? I'm afraid that if I put her in the pasture, she'll never come to me again ;-) The good thing is, she has an adopted 4 week old calf on her so its not critical that I milk her right away.

Our barn is a walk (without fence) from the pasture. I was hoping that she would easily walk up there to be fed/milked with her calf as bait but I'm not sure how easy he'll be to catch etc. either.

Any suggestions will be appreciated. I'm sure she'll be sweet to us like she was to her family but she does not like me much right now ;-)

Is this typical?

topside1 · #2 11/05/07, 06:10 AM

CJB how about some more up to date photos? Congrats

ozark_jewels · #3 11/05/07, 06:28 AM

Even our extremely friendly, hand milked cows don't go into a trailer easily. They are just not accustomed to it. And yes, a cow being nervous around a new person, especially if she has a calf, is normal. She may be a royal pain in the rear for the next few weeks, but she should get used to the routine in time, with plenty of patience from you.

When we first got our Ginger from the dairy(18 years ago), she was enough to almost make us change our minds about getting a cow. But when she settled in, she was a good old gal. We are now milking her great-great-grandaughters. The homegrown milkers are extrememly easy to handle.

Teacupliz · #4 11/05/07, 06:53 AM

She will tame- take my first advice on the other thread- tie her and handle her a lot for the next few wks. Our first cow Clover was a wild women. Rolled in the trailer. but after a few wks and then we were there for her calving- she is our favorite now- Liz

bumpus · #5 11/05/07, 07:07 AM

.
I would keep her in the barn for a while.

If you let her out now and she get out she could run to Mexico.

Try to use a quite and calm voice and try not to stair her directly at her face for long time because it becomes a threat, and you are a stranger to her.

Get some corn and put it in a bucket and make a little noise with it so she gets use to being fed by you and relating it to the noise of the rattle in the bucket.
Poor it in another pan or feed box and stand back so she feels ok to eat.
This is good if she ever gets out of pasture, and she will come running to you.

Don't get between her and the calf that spells danger.

Read up on cows and calves on HT and have fun.
Many people here can help.

Is it a bull or heifer calf ?
Post a Picture or two.

bumpus
.

Jennifer L. · #6 11/05/07, 07:47 AM

Keep her inside for awhile until she calms down and starts to get used to you. Talk to her all the time you are around her and touch her a lot. She sounds like a normal cow to me and I doubt you'll have any trouble with her in a week, probably less.

Jennifer

cjb · #7 11/05/07, 09:06 AM

Ok thanks guys. I'm going to do my level best to get her into the barn today. Wish me luck! I will tie her calf up in there so I know she's unlikely to go very far. I do wish she was halter trained!

I will keep her in for awhile and grain her by hand etc. Hopefully, that will win her over. If I can get a halter on her, maybe she'll get used to that too.

cindy04 · #8 11/05/07, 09:31 AM

Please be careful tying the calf up and leaving it. We just had a lady over on real-food (family cow) that tied a calf with a figure 8 calf halter. Calf laid down and the air was cut off at the muzzle and it was dead by the time she walked back out to the barn.

Cindy

Teacupliz · #9 11/05/07, 11:10 AM

We tie all our calves- She is going to have a baby soo right? Be there then and let her lick you instead of her calf works like a charm.

cjb · #10 11/05/07, 01:47 PM

Well she did pretty well. I tied the calf up in the barn stall (with lots of slack) and was able to slip a halter on her with a chain under the chin. She hasn't been on halter for two years so she was less then pleased. However, she went out of the trailer and, through a major tug of war and some cajoling with apples, she went up and into the barn with her calf.

I was surprised by how calm she was in the stall. I fed her, watered her, stood next to her and patted her side. While she's eating, she lets be touch her udder/teats without a problem at all. She also lets me mess with junior and doesn't seem to mind. I think she'll be ok.

I'll need some pointers on halter training. For now, I've left the halter on her and will continue to kinda pull on it when I'm in there.

I can't believe we bought a cow - its ALL you guys' fault!!! ;-)

HazyDay · #11 11/05/07, 01:55 PM

Be very cafeful, even if she doesn't care if you mess with baby, she may have a bad day and that will be a very bad day for you! I don't even like going and looking at cows who have just claved. I just won't trust them.

cjb · #12 11/05/07, 02:12 PM

This calf is adopted and he's 5 weeks old. However, she is obviously very attached.

Is there anything I should bring in with me into the stall then when I mess with her? I'm thinking of separating him from her at night and milking in the morning. Is it actually dangerous for me to be messing with the baby? Not sure how people do it otherwise...

She is not a small Jersey cow so she is a little intimidating. I don't know cow language so you guys will have to help me out. When I mess with Junior, she does lower her head and look at me. Would she warn or just charge? When I'm in the stall, there is nothing I could do.

I can pretty well push my horses around so I'm used to having that influence. I can already see that she is totally different in how she responds.

Lots and lots of help please!!!

Teacupliz · #13 11/05/07, 04:00 PM

i CAN DEAL WITH COWS NOW HORSES--they scare me.. Even my favorite cow can be in a mood and ive me or try to kick me at times. My tiny jersey did not like the way I cleaned her teat one day and she kick me right in the chest- size does not determine pain- smile. It sounds like you are doing great- It sounds like you are HOOKED...
Liz

cjb · #14 11/05/07, 04:38 PM

I prob am hooked but the insanity has to stop - NO MORE species ;-) I have now have 2 horses, a cow, a calf, 5 goats, ducks and chickens all on 5.5 acres. I'm really going to have to read up on managing on small property here!!

BlueHeronFarm · #15 11/05/07, 04:58 PM

Wait-- you don't have guineas yet???

HazyDay · #16 11/05/07, 06:53 PM

When a cow puts it`s head down doesn`t the mean she is warning you??
We you do separate them make sure they can see each other or she will go crazy and yell all night! Plus she may break out. Take it from Liz and me cows can be clam one min and then crazy the next. I washed a cow off and was just about to jump across the gutter when she booted me! Man did it hurt. All I did was leave! So be very careful.

cjb · #17 11/05/07, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueHeronFarm

Wait-- you don't have guineas yet???

STOP!!!!! NO guineas!!!

Of course, I also said "no roosters, no cows, no geese. I have them all.

cjb · #18 11/05/07, 07:46 PM

What do you do if a cow shows aggression? I know I can't exactly flip her on her back like a dog ;-)

Do you back off or swat her? So far, I've not seen that at all. The seller said that she has never shown people aggression in the least. When we lined up to force her into the trailer, he used his very small children to stand in line and she respected them. Hopefully, this is an indication that she is not aggressive but I will be careful.

My 12 year old son is going to do the milkings in the morning so I need to set up some kind of stanchion so he can be safe.

HazyDay · #19 11/06/07, 07:21 AM

BIG STICK AND A GOOD SMACK! That will show who is the boss here!

cjb · #20 11/06/07, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HazyDay

BIG STICK AND A GOOD SMACK! That will show who is the boss here!

But when do you do that? She lowers her head and looks at me but I have ignored it, patted her on the back, messed with the baby and milked her a bit and she hasn't followed through with anything. She almost looks like an old lady, looking at me over her bifocals. I don't know cow body language so just wondered.