Dairy calf/cow question

Happyfarmwife · #1 12/11/08, 09:50 PM

We recently have bought a 6 year old registered Jersey cow. We had her A.I. to a registered Jersey bull the end of October and she is due to calf around August 8th.

My plan was to let the calf stay on her all day and at night seperate them. Then in the morning I could milk her and get my share of milk. I thought this would be a wonderful idea. I wouldn't have to bottle feed, or milk twice a day, or worry about having too much milk to deal with every day.

Now today, my dear mother has informed me that you can't do that with a dairy cow. That the calf will drink too much milk and get the runs...........that only beef cows can keep their calves on them.

Has anyone had this problem? Truthfully I don't see the calf drinking more than it needs.

Oh and for the record, we are keeping the calf. If it is a heifer we are going to raise it for a second milk cow, and if it is a bull we will be making a steer of it and raising it for beef.

francismilker · #2 12/12/08, 10:12 AM

Lots of folks share milk with the calves. Most I'd say let the calf run with mama during the day and lock them up at night. The cow's production will be based upon her intake. So, if you don't feed her like a production dairy cow she shouldn't be making 70lbs. per day. As far as the calf getting the scours, I haven't had too many problems with this. The major problem is that mama figures out that as soon as you're through getting yours in the morning that she gets to feed the calf so she'll hold her milk up sometimes and try to trick you out of getting your share. It's a process you have to go through with a cow to get an arrangement made that you both can live with, but it works great for those who don't want to milk twice a day.

matt_man · #3 12/12/08, 11:19 AM

It has worked for many people but I would still be prepared to milk 2X a day for the first few weeks while Momma is really engorged.

Happyfarmwife · #4 12/12/08, 12:50 PM

Thanks for replying to my question. I guess that would be something I need to do at first is to milk twice a day.

Maybe I shouldn't seperate the calf from her at night at first either. I don't want her to get mastitis.

I was mostly wanting to know if anyone had problems with dairy calves getting scours becuase they drink too much milk? If they get the colostrum they should be fine I would think............

Judith · #5 12/12/08, 01:08 PM

Milk her twice a day at least in the beginning. You will see why after she calves. Mommas are so engorged even with a baby on them it is painful to look at! We milk thrice a day and bottle feed the calves much easier on everyone

sammyd · #6 12/12/08, 06:17 PM

I've never done it but my neighbor runs holstein steers for beef. Got a free martin in who wasn't really a free martin, got bred before he castrated the bulls.
He separated her out and ran a few calves on her over the summer. They all turned out quite well.

BlackWillowFarm · #7 12/13/08, 10:03 AM

We bought our first cow in September. She's a Jersey and was giving about 3 gallons a day. We also bought a calf to graft onto her. The calf was three weeks old. I always separated them at night. Still do.

At first I was milking TAD, but after the calf got bigger, I wasn't getting enough milk in the evening to bother milking so dropped to OAD. The calf is strong and healthy and growing like a weed. I get almost two gallons in the morning when I milk. I don't know how much milk the calf takes throughout the day, but I'm guessing she's taking another two gallons.

What I'm trying to say is, when the calf is new, you will still have to milk TAD. When the calf gets bigger and you aren't getting enough milk from the cow on the second milking, then you could go to OAD.

So far this is working out great for us.

Happyfarmwife · #8 12/13/08, 11:05 AM

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences with me. This is what makes this forum so great! A bunch of generous folks who are willing to help out where ever they can. I appreciate each of the posts.

I grew up on commercial dairies, but never have had my own cow until now. My Dad lives here on our place and gives some good advice too, but taking care of a family milk cow is a bit different than a herd of commercial cows. Part of that due to me wanting to go along with nature as much as possible.

Trisha in WA · #9 12/13/08, 12:14 PM

The calf will self regulate. I think it is when the calf gets too much milk at one feeding that tends to be the problem. I'm not sure.
We let our Jersey raise her last calf and he never got scours. We did once a day milking too. Worked great! When we got tired of dealing with the calf in with mom (he was 4 months old by then), we separated them. At 4 months old he was becoming quite the pest...and not in a cute way. When we separated them, I went to twice a day milking.
Trisha

Happyfarmwife · #10 12/13/08, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trisha in WA

The calf will self regulate. I think it is when the calf gets too much milk at one feeding that tends to be the problem. I'm not sure.
We let our Jersey raise her last calf and he never got scours. We did once a day milking too. Worked great! When we got tired of dealing with the calf in with mom (he was 4 months old by then), we separated them. At 4 months old he was becoming quite the pest...and not in a cute way. When we separated them, I went to twice a day milking.
Trisha

Thanks Trisha! This is what I expected to hear as far as the calf and the scours question. I will probably milk twice a day at first, as I know this cow gives 6 gallons a day at first, so I know a little calf isn't going to be able to eat that much.