New calf and udder question

6e · #1 05/10/11, 03:41 PM

Our Jersey cow had her first calf last night, a little heifer calf. Never saw it nurse last night or this morning, so when I got off work, went out and a friend and I got her to suck off one teat. This cow's nipples are really short and the calf has a hard time getting a hold of them. She did nurse off the front right quarter. The back quarters were just dripping. But we can't hardly get a few drops out of the left front quarter. Her udder is very full and tight. We tried to get the calf to suck off that left front quarter, but I guess she's not getting anything either. Any ideas on getting the milk out of that quarter? It doesn't feel like scar tissue inside or any injury. Perhaps the plug still hasnt' come out? And she must have very tiny orifices as you can milk for a long time and not get much out of her. Suggestions. :-)

thequeensblessing · #2 05/10/11, 03:45 PM

Our Jersey has a blind quarter (no hole at all). It developed along with the rest of her udder, but it never really fills with milk like the other 3 quarters do.

6e · #3 05/10/11, 03:48 PM

I don't believe this is blind quarter. There is a hole and it had a plug and I've gotten a few drops out of it, but that's it. With goats, I know after birth they get a lot of congestion in the udder and it's hard to get any milk out, is it that way with cows too? In goats it usually clears up after a couple of weeks and makes the udder softer and easier to work with. The calf is still weak and wobbly and just not real strong. We've been helping her nurse.

matt_man · #4 05/10/11, 05:21 PM

It could still be blind if you are only able to get out a few squirts. The calf should be able to nurse even on the short teats but if she has a lot of edema that can also make it harder for the calf to latch on to them and once that swelling goes down and the engorgement is over it will be easier.

If the calf is weak I would milk some colostrum out and make sure you bottle feed it to her ASAP.

6e · #5 05/10/11, 06:15 PM

Thank you. I wondered about congestion in the udder and it making it so hard. She standing out there with milk just running out the back teats and I still couldn't get more than a squirt out of that one front teat and then couldn't get any more out of it. I'll probably have to milk her tonight to relieve some of that pressure and make sure the calf nurses again.

springvalley · #6 05/10/11, 09:21 PM

As several have said before, I would milk her and bottle the calf to make sure she is getting what she needs. A pint a feeding would do for the first few days, at least two or three times the first few days anyway. > Thanks Marc

6e · #7 05/10/11, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by springvalley

As several have said before, I would milk her and bottle the calf to make sure she is getting what she needs. A pint a feeding would do for the first few days, at least two or three times the first few days anyway. > Thanks Marc

Thank you Marc, but at the moment I'm lucky to get a half a cup out of her. She won't let her milk down, hardly any milk comes out, her teats are super short so hard to get a hand on there, and she's kicky and fidgety. So, we just have all sorts of things going on, but I do stand there and make sure the calf nurses at least the one teat she can get on. The other teats are so short and tight the calf can't get on them. I'm working out a little, but it is SLOW going. Thinking an EZ milker might be in order.

springvalley · #8 05/10/11, 11:03 PM

Don`t get an EZ milker, not worth it. Go to the vet and get some plastic suringe needles and insert them in the teat canal (make sure you sterilize the teat end first) while the calf is nursing to relieve some of the preasure she has on her udder. edema in the udder is one of the worse things in some cows, and I have yet to find anything that works real good to relieve it. I have been where you are and it is not fun when you have a cow like yours. I hate short teats on a cow, till they get old then I say I hate saggy long big teats on old cows. can`t win I guess, Thanks > Marc

6e · #9 05/10/11, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by springvalley

Don`t get an EZ milker, not worth it. Go to the vet and get some plastic suringe needles and insert them in the teat canal (make sure you sterilize the teat end first) while the calf is nursing to relieve some of the preasure she has on her udder. edema in the udder is one of the worse things in some cows, and I have yet to find anything that works real good to relieve it. I have been where you are and it is not fun when you have a cow like yours. I hate short teats on a cow, till they get old then I say I hate saggy long big teats on old cows. can`t win I guess, Thanks > Marc

Will that edema ease up? I'm suspecting she's sore too from the pressure in her udder. In goats, when they get a lot of congestion in their udder which makes them super hard to milk, it clears up in about 2 weeks. Is it the same for cows? someone suggested parsley to me to help clear up the congestion. I'm just worried about mastitis mostly.

springvalley · #10 05/10/11, 11:22 PM

It will get better, but you need to try and get some of that milk out if you can. I have used a menthal salve sometimes it works , sometimes it won`t. > Marc

6e · #11 05/10/11, 11:28 PM

I'll keep working with her.

Thank you for the help! I appreciate it. I was a little disappointed things didn't go a little smoother, but I guess I'll take whatever gets thrown my way.

But what I wouldn't give for a milking machine about now!!! LOL

springvalley · #12 05/11/11, 08:24 AM

Come on over, I`ll loan you one, have one out on loan allready, whats another one. > Thanks Marc

6e · #13 05/11/11, 11:58 AM

Too bad you're not closer. I'd take you up on that offer.