Jersey off her grain

[Rockfish]

I am handmilking our Jersey, freshened in April. We give her free choice hay and feed her grain ration during milking. This morning she just nosed around her grain, and tonight the same. I even tried getting the ration from a new bag in case there was something wrong with the first batch. (We haven't switched grain ration or supplier.)

She hasn't stopped eating hay (today, as she didn't eat her grain, I gave her some peanut hay from our harvest, and she ate that.)

Her milk production hasn't gone down, but I expect it to tomorrow.

No clots in the milk and her udder doens't feel warm or hot.

She stood quietly for both milkings.

Any ideas before I call the vet?

Thanks.

[Chixarecute]

Is she bred back yet, or possibly coming into a heat? Is there something else in her pasture that she may be eating - a late flush of greens, perhaps? Has her poop consistency changed? What is her temp (rectal)? Is she quiet or listless? Any other changes in behavior?

[Farm 36]

Take her temp. If you have a Cmt to test the milk .If she didnt want grain and nothing has changed something is wrong . Eating hay and the good start on her lactation leaves a low chance for a DA. If a temp a start of mastis or an infection . If she calved in April she should be bred back . Cows in heat usually don't turn down grain and if she is sluffing the calf she could go a little off but not stop on grain .

[agf0518]

My Jersey cow is doing the same thing! Calved in April, we hand milk her. not interested in her grain, BUT . . . she will eat it out of the scoop or our hands. Just not out of the bucket. Also has some diarrhea. The not eating started when she was in heat (her milk production was down some, too), but she's been out of heat over a week and still won't eat her grain. Probably gonna have the vet come take a look at her.

[agmantoo]

Try a different grain supplement from a different company. Bagged feed is made in large batches and an entire truck load of feed could be of molded grain or contaiminated.

[Farm 36]

I did forget one thing that can happen in the fall. A winter dientary (sp) the cow gets loose and goes a little off feed for a day or two . In a 60 cow herd this would last 4 or 5 days and then all back to normal and a big dip in the tank .

[Jay]

Look up Milk Fever and Ketosis. See if any of the symptoms match.

[francismilker]

Put her on dry grass hay for a day or two and let her rumen start chuggin right again. She's probably got bellyache, bloat, or some form of ketosis that's got her not interested in grain. Sometimes we don't handmilk fast enough and they stand at the stanchion and get too much grain. Mobfeeding them like this is pretty hard on their belly. I built a feeder to sit in front of my stanchion that I can put feed in the bottom pan and it has a hay manger in the top to give them something to keep them busy once they've mopped up all the grain.

[DJ in WA]

I would agree with Francismilker. She might have a bit of indigestion. Cow's rumens need a good balance of the right bacteria and other microbes to digest hay. If much change in diet, can throw off the balance. Even if you keep the feed the same, you don't know what the cow might have gotten into somewhere.

As long as she's eating something, she can't be too bad.

I just had my cow reject grain the other morning, then a half hour later she went for it. Sometimes I think they just like alittle drama.

Ketosis or milk fever happen soon after calving or in early lactation, so doesn't fit your situation. Feel free to call a vet, but I didn't even take my kids to the doctor each time they lost appetite.