How Do We Prepare for Blossom?

jlgoinggreen · #1 02/05/10, 10:47 PM

We got a phone call today telling us that they will try to deliver Blossom on Sunday (as long as the weather cooperates). I am so excited.

I am a little concerned about the weather though. The snow storm should be over by Saturday night, but it will be very cold on Sunday. Our barn has windows going all the way around that don't close. They are just open squares with bars. Will it be too cold for her? Should we cover them with plastic. The dairy cows in our area stay outside even in the snow, but they are Holsteins. I've heard Holsteins are more susceptible to the harsher cold weather. Would my Jersey be OK?

She's also due to calf. What do I need to do to prepare for her and her new baby? With our goats we had to help dry them up and then I ended up bringing in my house because it was just too cold. Do baby calves do better in the cold than goats?

It is a 2 hour drive to my house from where she is at. As of now my DH has a stall for her filled with hay for bedding to make her comfortable. We also have plenty of hay for her to eat and we will also supplement with grain. I'd like to give her some treats to get used to us when she arrives. What do cows like? I have carrots, apples, fig newtons. Sorry if I sound silly, but we have never had a cow before. Anything else we should know about?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

springvalley · #2 02/06/10, 04:48 AM

Well you will want a draft free area for your cow to have her calf. You may have to cover the openings for windows. Yes cows are more hardy than goats, calves are tough little buggers, but when they are born make sure they are kept dry, draft free,lots of bedding. Just keep an eye on them and make sure they get cleaned off well, nurse, and up and around. Moma will do the rest, you should not have to bring the calf in unless it is nasty cold and I don`t think it will be that bad , I hope not. Make sure the ears and tail get dried off as they may freeze if they don`t. Make sure the calf nurses, that is what keeps them warm and going. Are you leaving the calf with the cow or taking him away and milking? Share milking is an opption. Thanks Marc

tinknal · #3 02/06/10, 07:37 AM

A 2 hour trip isn't too bad but you still might want to get her a B-12 shot. Go easy on the grain at first and work her up slowly. Do not give her alfalfa hay until after she calves (to prevent milk fever). I wouldn't worry about the weather. Being dry she has probably been outside every day, most dairy farmers do not keep dry cows in the barn. Get a dry cow mineral and feed it to her until she calves, after that give her a lactation mineral. I don't know if you know about milk fever but it is VITAL to restrict calcium intake until she calves.

uncle Will in In. · #4 02/06/10, 07:50 AM

Be sure and plug the windows. A calf will get sick quicker in a drafty barn that they will outside in the open.

dairymon · #5 02/06/10, 10:24 AM

The guys covered it pretty good, the only thing else I would add is after she calves strip all 4 quarters checking for mastitis before letting the calf on her. She should be dripping milk resulting from calving. That first milk is critical for the calf!The calf will do the rest if warm and dry. Good Luck and have fun.

jlgoinggreen · #6 02/06/10, 10:54 AM

How do i strip and check for mastits? what are we looking for?

cathleenc · #7 02/06/10, 12:08 PM

have a plan on how to remove the soiled bedding and where to put it. How are you going to transport it? We have to muck out and move the soiled stuff to the compost pile within a short period of time or it freezes in place - making the trailer/wheel barrel useless till it defrosts and can be removed. Our cow is exclusively indoors at this point and we muck 2x a day.

Do you have loose minerals and salt? how are you going to give them to her? Have you made contact with a vet? I had our vet out to visit/check over our new family cow within a week of getting her - so that the vet was familiar with the animal in good health and could give proactive advise instead of reactive advise.

Does she have a halter or a collar? you'll want a collar for her at the minimum.

have fun!

jlgoinggreen · #8 02/06/10, 12:22 PM

Thanks Cathleen. This is great advice.

About the minerals....we give our goats loose minerals and baking soda. Both free choice. Could we give the cows the same one we give the goats? Do they also get baking soda? Do we give both free choice?

dairymon · #9 02/06/10, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlgoinggreen

How do i strip and check for mastits? what are we looking for?

You will just squirt some milk into palm of your hand. Your looking for watery fluid or chunks. Colostrum will be thicker/richer than normal milk & thats what the calf needs. You also want to make sure each quarter is letting down milk.

cathleenc, great points didn't even think of that side of the question.. :-)

jlgoinggreen · #10 02/06/10, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dairymon

You will just squirt some milk into palm of your hand. Your looking for watery fluid or chunks. Colostrum will be thicker/richer than normal milk & thats what the calf needs. You also want to make sure each quarter is letting down milk.

Thank you. I've read that before somewhere, but had a total mind blank. Now that you've explained it I remember it. Funny how your brain works when you are a nervous wreck. LOL :baby04:

I am so excited. We are almost done with the barn (sealing the windows and all) and preparing to start the 4X4 box for baby to snuggle in. Can't wait!

dairymon · #11 02/06/10, 05:37 PM

Jennifer, hope all goes well and just enjoy them. Some of the best cattle I ever owned were Jerseys.....we still miss having them around. Your name reminds me of our best Jersey we ever had..Jenny...she always gave us twin heifers with no problems. Enjoy!!