bought the milk cow - more help!

Callieslamb · #1 05/26/10, 05:49 AM

I bought a jersey milk cow yesterday. I mentioned her in a thread last week. I am thrilled with her.

However: Blackwillowfarms (Hi, Carla) says she is FAT. She is due to calve in late June. I don't want my cow to get milk fever. So...the question. I need to give her some kind of something to get her familiar with her new situation. I want to get her trained to come into the barn, etc. She is NOT the kind of cow that is coming over for hugs and scratches, but she is not wild either. I had hoped to give her a few alfalfa cubes in her manger....but..that's out. Can I give her a handful of oats or something?

She is currently on silage/haylage/brewer's offings. She will be on grass pasture here. There is a little alfalfa but not much. Should I be worried about the transfer to grass?

silly question: I want to brush her when she comes in...what do you brush a cow with? Dog brush? horse curry comb?

Thanks!

francismilker · #2 05/26/10, 07:21 AM

A handful of about any kind of grain should eventually lure her in without any problems. As far as the brush type: I use a rice root brush. Here's a link to it.

http://www.google.com/products/catal...CAcQ8wIwADgA#p

Bret4207 · #3 05/26/10, 07:39 AM

Any brush will work fine. If she's FAT why are you keeping her on a high cal diet? I've had issues with over conditioned animals at freshening.

linn · #4 05/26/10, 07:41 AM

I would get her some high-mag mineral to prevent grass tetany. There is a lot to think about with the first cow, but you and your cow will soon be good friends and you will know what to look for. You can order calcium paste from Jeffers Livestock Supply. It is good to have some on hand and doesn't hurt to give them a tube of that after calving. Good luck with your new girl.

springvalley · #5 05/26/10, 08:06 AM

Callieslamb, Congrats on your new cow, you are now a member of the cow club. Is your cow a Jersey? NO ALFALFA for your cow, dry cows particularly jersey`s do not need the high calcium, high protien while dry. Now when your cow has a calf you can feed her the alfalfaas soon as she births. As Linn suggested have a tube of calcium around to give your cow either right before or soon after she births. Remember if she acts slugish, check her, cold ears and a dry nose, she needs calcium, NOW. That is why so many people have trouble with Jersey cows with milk fever, they try killing their cows with kindness. I don`t even give alfalfa after birth, I give a good grass timothy hay, very high in calcium, and I havn`t (knock on wood) had a case of milk fever in almost two years. And a tube or two of calcium was all it took. And by all means play with your cow, they love attention, brush her with any type soft brush, and curry combs are ok on the body but not legs. You can`t mess with a cow to much, unless she is one that hates it alltogeather. Good luck, I wish you nothing but the best. >Thanks Marc

Callieslamb · #6 05/26/10, 11:54 AM

thanks all! We are going to need the good wishes! Yes, she's a 3 yr old jersey - ready for her 2nd calf. I actually have a jersey cross heifer that was just bred a couple weeks ago too - we didn't want to wait for her to have the calf before we enjoyed the raw milk.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bret4207

If she's FAT why are you keeping her on a high cal diet?

I guess I thought my question kind of was what kind of diet to keep her on? Sorry for the confusion. She is over conditioned - which is why I am asking. I am not sure I can get her to lose weight right now- or that I should with a calf on the way. I feel more like just holding her where she is in condition and dealing with that AFTER she calves. Is pasture a high cal diet? I just wanted some kind of treat that wasn't high calore that I could give her to entice her into the barn without-adding to the fat issue. I don't think I will feed her alfalfa hay at all unless she falls into poor condition after freshening a while such as during the winter.

I will find some tubes of calcium paste. The only cows of my dad's that ever got milk fever were Jerseys. I am a bit nervous about it now.....EEKS!!!

springvalley · #7 05/26/10, 12:52 PM

If you want to feed your cow a few oats to get her in the barn, they won`t add much in the way of calories. Don`t worry alot about the milk fever, she may not get it. > Thanks Marc

desertshi · #8 05/26/10, 03:39 PM

PICTURES!!!We wanna see your new baby!

Callieslamb · #9 05/26/10, 05:01 PM

How about this cow

Here's part of her!

Bret4207 · #10 05/27/10, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callieslamb

I guess I thought my question kind of was what kind of diet to keep her on?

I'd cut out any hi cal stuff and give her plenty of pasture if I could. Dry hay won't hurt her any either. The big thing is to get her calf what it needs. I get the impression she close to calving. If so making sure she has plenty of roughage will help "clean her out". Some pasture can get her too runny, so you might want to watch that closely. A fairly mature pasture might be best.

Callieslamb · #11 05/27/10, 03:24 PM

Oh my pasture is mature.....There is one area tha has a touch of alfalfa...but I think divided between 4 cows she won't get much. I mostly wanted something that wouldn't add a lot of calories, that she would like to eat to entice her to get trained to coming into the barn for me. Not as an entire feed. Just a little treat that she will love.