Best way to dy up my cow

[Homeschoolmom]

My Jersey is due to calf October 16th so I need to start dying her up. She is currently giving us 2 gallons a day. What is the best way to dry her up? Should I go to milking only once a day?

Thanks!

Rebecca
Homeschoolmom to 6 blessings with #7 due in January 09

[Chixarecute]

cut back to milking 1x per day, for maybe 2-4 days, then 1x every day and a half, then 1x every 2 days...you should be able to get her dry in two weeks or so. Eliminate any grain/treats you are feeding to help her cut back. If she doesn't peak very high in milk production, she will probably do well with just 6 weeks dry.

[Homeschoolmom]

I am not sure what would be considered peaking very high in milk production. She gave us 6 gallons a day when she freshened last time. Is that high?

Sorry for so many questions.

[Ronney]

Your cow is a reasonably high producing cow but I had to convert gallons back to litres and use imperial rather than US gallons.

What a cow produces is based on what it taken away from her so a gradual reduction in milking will see a decline in production. I usually go to once a day milking for several days, then once a day every second day for several days and a couple of once every three days although that will often depend on which cow it is. Nor do I milk them right out. For most cows, a week will see them at a point where they don't need milked. Then you can turn them out and breath a sigh of relief because your free of milking for a month or two - unless, like me, you milk all year round

Cheers,
Ronnie

[Jennifer L.]

A cow starts to stop production after 24 hours of non-milking. If you keep milking them once a day you are just prolonging things and not really helping the cow out. The amount of milk she's giving right now is negligible, so whenever you are ready to dry her off, simply stop milking.

Jennifer

[michiganfarmer]

Id milke her once a day for a week, then just stop milking her