High cell count

[tlance]

Here I am again with more questions. We found a jersey cow from an organic dairy. She is in her second lactation and should be pregnant. Here's the problem. Two of her quarters have high cell count never mastitis. So those two quarters are dried up now. They are asking $550 for her. They told us that the milking machines are a lot of times what cause the high cell count. Amish buy these cows from them and after hand milking for a while it fixes the problem. I thought maybe we could milk her good quarters and leave the bad ones for the calf. They also told us that the cow would produce about the same amount regardless. The good quarters compensate for the bad ones. Is she worth buying?
Thanks,
Tracy

[Trisha in WA]

A high cell count IS mastitis just not a full blown clumps in the milk case. I would have the milk tested to determine what is causing the high cell count and go from there. The milk can be sent to a lab for testing and it is VERY inexpensive...like less than $10.
The price is fair if that is her only issue, but I would want to know what I am dealing with before buying her personally.

[DaleK]

How are those two quarters "dried up"? Depending what happened or was done to them they may or may not ever have milk in them again.

High SCCs usually mean some form of mastitis but not always. You could also have prototheca which causes high SCCs with no other symptoms of mastitis, although I doubt it would happen in just two quarters. You could culture the quarters and see what kind of organisms grow out but reallistically, no two-quartered Jersey is ever worth $550. She's worth cull price, no more. Most places that's likely well under $400 now.

[gone-a-milkin]

I agree w/ Dale that she is probably only worth cull price. That said, since it is an organic dairy, they probably did not do anything to dry her up 'permanently'. BUT, a cow who has untreated mastitis in her front quarters..those quarters have been damaged and are full of scar tissue, likely. You cannot depend on them to give good milk for the calf.

I wouldn't buy a 2 teated cow, especially one this young. If she has these problems now, how many years could you expect to get from her? No, I wouldn't do it.

[sammyd]

They told us that the milking machines are a lot of times what cause the high cell count. Amish buy these cows from them and after hand milking for a while it fixes the problem.

That's a prety good story, I'll have to remember that one.
Wouldn't touch this cow or this farm with a 10 foot pole.

[willow_girl]

Yeah, the one about the remaining quarters making up for the lost milk production is pretty good, too.

If you buy this girl, treat her as a rescue, period.

Have her vet-checked to make sure she's pregnant. With any luck, she'll give you a nice heifer calf, which will make her worth your investment.

If the dried-off quarters are still normal-sized, not shriveled, and especially if they're still producing any milk, they may be OK in future lactations.

Use a good antibiotic, such as Tomorrow, on all 4 quarters at dry-off and keep your fingers crossed!

Oh, find out what Jersey culls are selling for at the local auction and offer the cull price. They'll save the cost of transportation and the sale barn fee.