When should I dry her off?

BlackWillowFarm · #1 06/05/10, 01:40 PM

I have a Jersey cow who calved Aug, '09. She's currently ten months into this lactation. She was AI'd 20 days ago for a Feb/March '11 calf. Let's assume she's pregnant. If I keep milking her through this pregnancy and dry her off two months before she calves, she will have been in milk for 17 months.

She's giving me between 7-8 gallons a day right now, ten months in. When should I dry her off?

I would consider buying a second milk cow as an option, if this one needs to be dried off for several months before calving.

**gone-a-milkin** · #2 06/05/10, 03:53 PM

That is entirely your call. If she is giving a lot of milk and still in good condition, I would keep milking her til around 2 months before calving. I certainly would want to know for a fact that she is bred back, before drying her off. I would gauge the dryoff time more on her condition and milk quantity than on a calender date.

Eunice · #3 06/05/10, 03:54 PM

Your cow needs about a 60 day rest before calving. So keep milking through Christmas.

jerzeygurl · #4 06/05/10, 04:29 PM

yes 60 days, a month to be dry and a month to start building back up

MARYDVM · #5 06/05/10, 10:46 PM

Jerseys have a lot more problems with extended dry periods than they do with extended lactations. Milk on.

springvalley · #6 06/06/10, 08:24 AM

Yes by all means keep milking your cow, cows will keep milking weather bred or not, and it`s better to milk than let her be dry and get fat. Why did you wait so long to breed her? Or is it she just did not get bred. Alot of cows that don`t get bred by A.I. will breeed to a bull. So if your cow isn`t bred , find somebody with a bull (any bull). Alot of good cows go to slaughter because people won`t take the time to give them a chance with a bull. >Thanks Marc

BlackWillowFarm · #7 06/06/10, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by springvalley

Yes by all means keep milking your cow, cows will keep milking weather bred or not, and it`s better to milk than let her be dry and get fat. Why did you wait so long to breed her? Or is it she just did not get bred. Alot of cows that don`t get bred by A.I. will breeed to a bull. So if your cow isn`t bred , find somebody with a bull (any bull). Alot of good cows go to slaughter because people won`t take the time to give them a chance with a bull. >Thanks Marc

Okay, I'll keep milking her.

I've read other posts about long lactations and how the milk changes flavor or they drop in production. It would be okay with me if she dropped so I could go to once a day, but she's giving so much right now, it's not possible. She could use a little more condition, but she makes more milk instead of putting on fat.

I had her AI'd last November but she didn't take. I didn't want a winter calf so waited until this spring to try again. May was the first attempt. I figured I had May through September to get her bred and still get a calf when the weather would be decent.

She's due to come back into heat right now. The heifers are showing some interest by sniffing, but no mounting behavior yet. I'm keeping a close eye on her. She's bred to a bull called Jace. "Windy Willow Montana Jace" JE535. A Select Sires bull. Anyone know anything about him?

springvalley · #8 06/06/10, 03:12 PM

I have milked a few cows that had a long lactations and the milk never changed flavor. What is your cow getting for feed right now? If your cow is only getting pasture, she sure is a great milker. Just keep milking away, she will slack off sometime. >Thanks Marc

BlackWillowFarm · #9 06/06/10, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by springvalley

I have milked a few cows that had a long lactations and the milk never changed flavor. What is your cow getting for feed right now? If your cow is only getting pasture, she sure is a great milker. Just keep milking away, she will slack off sometime. >Thanks Marc

She's on pasture right now and she gets a couple scoops of a custom 16% dairy mix at milking time.

Once she went from hay to pasture, her production went up from 5-6 gals a day to 7-8. I'm swimming in milk.

I have a six month old steer who drinks the excess milk. Plus I give the chickens, cats, dogs and pigs (when we have 'em) extra milk. Nobody's going hungry around here.

Jerseys are wonderful cows, that's for sure!

springvalley · #10 06/06/10, 05:21 PM

She just wants to earn her keep, you are very lucky. keep that cow and get her bred if she isn`t. The day will come when you will say, I sure miss that fresh milk. hang in there. >Thanks Marc