cows not eatting

Callieslamb · #1 02/22/11, 08:56 PM

I have - had- a jersey milk cow and a 7 month old jersey steer. We loaded up the cow tonight so that's why it's "had". Neither of them ate anything today. They have been inside the barn for 2 weeks in stalls due to the cow being new and the steer not wanting to stay home. The milk cow ate her grain this morning, but had not drank any water all night. The water comes from a well that also provides water to the house. This morning, I milked and fed everyone and was gone all day. When I went out to do chores tonight - they hadn't eaten or drank ANYTHING. The milk cow might have ketosis. She tested 'trace' last week. I fed her some molasses water and about a cup of calf manna 3x over several hours and she tested negative for ketosis the next morning. She is giving 4-5 gallons of milk a day right now. Today, she refused molasses water as well as the calf manna. She did eat about 1/2 of her grain in the stanchion and nibbled at some hay. She drank deeply from the water trough outisde as we were getting ready to load her up. The steer nibbled at his grain and laid down.

I have good hay. It's grass-alfalfa mix. I wondered if it was moldy or something. Would I be able to smell ior see mold in it? I smelled it and it smells just like freshly mowed hay. Is there something else that could be in the hay that might be making them sick? The only symptom that I see is that they aren't eating. The cow was very thin - the steer doesn't seem to be.

Any ideas of what could be wrong? It bothers me that neither would eat. I wondered if being cooped up for so long would have anything to do with it? The cow was new to my place, she calved, the calf died a couple of days later. Could the molasses be bad? I put 1/2 bucket of molasses water left over from the cow into the steer's 3 gallon bucket last night. (I made my molasses water at - 1/4 cup molasses to 2 gallons of water.

The cow is gone tonight, but if there's something I can tell the new owners to watch for, I feel that I need to do that for them.

springvalley · #2 02/22/11, 09:18 PM

I think it could be she needs to get out and about, I hate to have cows locked up. Thats why my cows don`t stay in the barn all night like my father use to do. I think they get along so much better when they are out moving around. I don`t think your hay is the problem, my cows don`t always get the best of hay and it doesn`t bother them. I try not to feed anything moldy to my cows, but your cow may be differant. Sorry to hear you sold your cow, guess you know whats best for you. Good luck my dear friend. > Marc

Callieslamb · #3 02/22/11, 11:32 PM

I hope you're right, Marc. In trying to relieve some of the stress, I created more by selling her not at her best. I called her buyer to offer to send a vet out tomorrow and he said when he unloaded her, she tried to butt him around then went over to the other cows and started bossing them - then hit the hay feeder. Maybe she did just need some fresh air. I think she's going to be okay. I kicked the steer outside also. But he's alone now. I might have to run him with the sheep....LOL...that's where he was when he was a baby and he HATED them.

I hated having them inside too. DH wasn't home often enough to help me get her inside for milking and she wasn't going on her own. I hope to find a good milk share about 1 1/2 hours north of me.....I hear she's bringing home 2 cows tomorrow!! Weren't you the one that said find a cow share near you and let them do all the work? That's what I'm going to do.

susieM · #4 02/22/11, 11:49 PM

you drive an hour and a half to get milk?

Tad · #5 02/23/11, 05:56 AM

Our cows stay inside from nov-march and it doesn't effect them but the more I think of it if they are used to being outside and then they are penned inside in the winter time that can bring on respitory problems. Also dractic weather shifts can take cows for a loop, here it was near 60 one day and the low two nights later was 9 with a sub zero wind chill. Its weather like this that can really mess things up, start a run of disentary or something like that. Sorry to hear you sold your cow but if that was best for you I agree let someone else do the work, my father and I work together so we can each get a small break every now and then, I can see were haveing one of my own at the house would get a little old!

Callieslamb · #6 02/23/11, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susieM

you drive an hour and a half to get milk?

I haven't yet. It's a close friend's milk. We were cow milking buddies - meet for lunch a couple times a month. A frequent poster on this forum.

Callieslamb · #7 02/23/11, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tad

Our cows stay inside from nov-march and it doesn't effect them but the more I think of it if they are used to being outside and then they are penned inside in the winter time that can bring on respitory problems. Also dractic weather shifts can take cows for a loop, here it was near 60 one day and the low two nights later was 9 with a sub zero wind chill. Its weather like this that can really mess things up, start a run of disentary or something like that. Sorry to hear you sold your cow but if that was best for you I agree let someone else do the work, my father and I work together so we can each get a small break every now and then, I can see were haveing one of my own at the house would get a little old!

The milking wasn't so bad...it was all the worry. Dh wasn't a big fan of the expense of the cow. Our kids didn't like us not being able to come see the grandkids. Added together, it wore me down.

Callieslamb · #8 02/23/11, 08:20 AM

My steer didn't disappear in the night. He was waiting for me at the back door of the barn for his grain. He has had his head stuck in his hay feeder for over an hour. I'd say he's going to be okay. I really need to find him a pasture buddy though. I think he will do better with a friend. I had counted on the neighbor's steer across the fence....but he must have been sold yesterday as he isn't there anymore. Of course.

springvalley · #9 02/23/11, 08:55 AM

Callie, that is the reason I don`t want to sell people ONE family cow. Cows are herd animals, and like to have other cows around. Some cows don`t seem to mind as that is how they were raised. But cows like mine have always been with other cows, I think they do get home sick. Did you take your cow back where you got her? Or someplace else? Or to Carla`s . I wish you the best, and I have people drive 2 hours to get milk from me. > Thanks Marc

thequeensblessing · #10 02/23/11, 10:38 AM

Our cows are in the barn from Early Dec. until late March. They are always very excited to get outside in the spring, but we never notice any decrease in their feed consumption or interest in feed. They actually put on a bit more weight over the winter due to the inactivity.
Having to milk sure can be restrictive, I know! We time visits to the kids/grandkids when our cow is dry (she's dry for 3 months out of the year) and when we're milking, the kids/grandkids come to see us.

mamahen · #11 02/23/11, 11:22 AM

One day 2 weeks ago no one ate their hay or drank their water during the night at our place.

3 cows & the mule both had just pulled it out of the manger & spread it around. I smelled it, it smelled & looked fine to me. The temps were low (below zero) for the first time. So I thought it was being in the barn & being cold. I took what little hay was left in the manger & shook it out for bedding. THEN I noticed mouse poo in the bottom of the manger. I know it wasn't there before I put the hay in, so it must've had a nest in the bale. Smelled fine to me?

ANyway - the next bale they dug into.

Ours are also in the barn from Dec. - March. I would rather have them out, but the deer wreak havoc on our fences during that time & I DO NOT want to wake up and find every one gone!

They get out 2X a day to drink out of the spring, if they want & play. And on weekends, are out during the day, if it's not too extreme (mud, cold, etc.)

6e · #12 02/23/11, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thequeensblessing

Our cows are in the barn from Early Dec. until late March. They are always very excited to get outside in the spring, but we never notice any decrease in their feed consumption or interest in feed. They actually put on a bit more weight over the winter due to the inactivity.
Having to milk sure can be restrictive, I know! We time visits to the kids/grandkids when our cow is dry (she's dry for 3 months out of the year) and when we're milking, the kids/grandkids come to see us.

Milking definitely puts a HUGE damper in any sort of vacation plans. Once you take on dairy animals you better make sure you're a real home body. LOL

Callieslamb · #13 02/23/11, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by springvalley

Callie, that is the reason I don`t want to sell people ONE family cow. Cows are herd animals, and like to have other cows around. Some cows don`t seem to mind as that is how they were raised. But cows like mine have always been with other cows, I think they do get home sick. Did you take your cow back where you got her? Or someplace else? Or to Carla`s . I wish you the best, and I have people drive 2 hours to get milk from me. > Thanks Marc

I sold her to a family for a milk cow. They already have 2 others so she will be much happier there. Carla wanted her but she has her hands full with a new cow today (this will make 3 milk cows for her). We should petition her for pictures - she brought that cute cow home today. I was there when they unloaded. She is REALLY cute! sigh.....

Callieslamb · #14 02/23/11, 03:57 PM

I have kids (and grandkids) in Utah, Idaho, Texas, Kentucky. It's almost impossible to cover all those miles in one vacation. I quit milking mostly due to all the stresses -external and self-inflicted. I am keeping my machine and hopefully we will pick it up again someday. Maybe. When Carla's milk gets too expensive.....