Blossom Calved a Heifer, Nursing Question

jlgoinggreen · #1 02/19/10, 08:15 PM

Blossom, our first milk cow (Jersey) just calved a beautiful heifer this afternoon. How often should baby be nursing right now. I've only seen her nursing once about an hour after birth. My son stated he saw her eating one more time after that. They are both laying down right now. The vet told me she can only absorb the colostrum in the first 24 hours. Should we milk a little and bottle feed her? How much should she be drinking if I do this? Should I just leave them alone and let nature take it's course? ???

darbyfamily · #2 02/19/10, 08:42 PM

Congratulations on the new heifer!! thats awesome! No clue on the calf though, but if she will let you milk some, it wouldn't hurt to have some in the freezer

topside1 · #3 02/19/10, 09:13 PM

Great news, also let nature do it's thing...

francismilker · #4 02/19/10, 10:08 PM

If you've seen the calf nursing on it's own, I'm with Topside. Nature will take care of itself. Mammals having been making it in the wild for a long time without human intervention.

**gone-a-milkin** · #5 02/19/10, 10:38 PM

Yay! congratulations on your heifer calf.
Now the fun is going to begin!
For Blossom's sake, you may want to get her milked out
(at least some) tomorrow . I agree about freezing it.

wally · #6 02/19/10, 11:36 PM

Congrats, I agree let nature take her course