Weight gaining advice to give?

francismilker · #1 04/25/12, 07:54 AM

I've got a friend that's new to jerseys and bought one the other day that's on the thin side. Actually, she's quite poor in condition. She's feeding a three month old calf and is a three teater.

My first advice for him was to get the calf off of her and graft it on to another cow. (He's got another cow that's good for this.)

He asked me what was the best way to get some fat back on her. Given this cow's very poor condition, I didn't really know what to tell him other than feed and time.

What type(s) of feed would you recommend?

myersfarm · #2 04/25/12, 08:00 AM

ADVICE FROM ME

WORM

12% feed 2 times a day any amount he feels like he wants to spend....as in the more he feeds the faster she will gain....but the longer it will take with smaller amounts

pull calf

time

we think the same

G. Seddon · #3 04/25/12, 08:34 AM

No Jersey experience on this end, so I bow to those of you know how to handle them. But I agree with Myersfarm, except maybe I would UP the protein to 16% or better, add free choice hay and minerals. I don't feed alfalfa, but would that be something to consider as well?

francismilker, maybe you will take photos and share before and after!

myersfarm · #4 04/25/12, 08:43 AM

why I said 12 % was I would not want her to eat it and it squrit out the other end to high a protien will do that..untill she gets use to the 12 % for a long time

Cliff · #5 04/25/12, 09:39 AM

Does she have the runs? She should be tested for Johne's before he puts a lot of time/money into trying to fix her. If she has it nothing he does will help.

G. Seddon · #6 04/25/12, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff

Does she have the runs? She should be tested for Johne's before he puts a lot of time/money into trying to fix her. If she has it nothing he does will help.

Very good suggestion. In fact, a CBC/Blood Chemistry wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Myersfarm, I understand and agree!

TroutRiver · #7 04/25/12, 10:57 AM

what is the protein percentage of the grain he is feeding right now? How much grain? What kind of hay?

Feeding a high protein grain will boost milk production, and will generally cause dairy animals to lose body condition. I would not up the protein if you want her to gain weight.

Why would you pull the calf? Assuming that she was purchased for dairy, and she is 3 months fresh, pulling the calf means you will have to start milking her. She is being milked either way, by you or by the calf. I don't see how that would make much difference in her body condition. Unless you are talking about pulling the calf and drying her off.

Photos would be helpful. Jerseys are notoriously hard to keep weight on, especially when they are very fresh.

I agree with a high quality free choice mineral, and deworming.

sammyd · #8 04/25/12, 01:33 PM

crack corn

bruce2288 · #9 04/25/12, 03:43 PM

I WOULD caution against starting this excellent feed program until you wean the calf. A 3 month fresh high milking cow in poor condition, dramatically improve the nutrition causeing increase in milk production, wean the calf, sure looks like you are asking for mastitis. If you wean and continue to milk ok, but if getting condition on this cow is #1 dry her off.

francismilker · #10 04/25/12, 04:02 PM

We think alike all. I have told him to definetly pull the calf. As far as feed, that's the problem. He's feeding something called "All stock" sweet feed pellets from TSC. There's little to no fat in in and it's 10% protein I think.

She's not a real good producing cow but would make a fine family cow due to the great handles she has and her medium to low production. If she were mine, I told him I'd pull the calf, dry her up gradually, and pour the feed to her.

Thanks for the suggestions on blood chemistry. I've never dealt with Johnnes or a cow this poor. Don't get me wrong I've had some skinny cows, but none like this.

She doesn't have the scours or runs. It appears the result of plenty of green grass if you know what I mean. He also said she's the most timid cow in the pasture which could account for a lot of it.

Allen W · #11 04/25/12, 09:47 PM

All Stock feed makes good bait and that's about it. Just straight corn chop would be better.

springvalley · #12 04/26/12, 07:58 AM

This cow must be walking bones, to me I would rather pass on the cow myself. Cows will gain eight while still milking, I wouldn`t want to wait that long for her to have a calf again, because I bet she isn`t bred. You pull the calf from this cow and she is going to miss this calf for awhile and get worse(short term hopefully). I think I would just give her all the hay(very good) and start giving her grain and keep uping it every week. Now by grain I would give a mix of ground corn, rolled oats or barley, some alfalfa meal, soybean meal and kelp, free choice salt and mineral. I just wouldn`t want a dry cow for another nine months, can`t make money on her at the price of feed now days. I may be all wrong on this, but thats My opinion. > Thanks Marc

francismilker · #13 04/27/12, 11:27 PM

Marc,
I'm not trying to buy her. Just trying to help a friend out. I cautioned him about it being possibly cheaper and a lot easier in the long run to just ship her and buy another cow. This is one of those "newby" situations that we've all been in before. It will end up being a very valuable lesson learned in the end for him I'm afraid. I explained to him that I'd been down this road with cows that were not in near as bad shape and it was costly and takes forever. He's still intent on trying so I'll help him all I can. This type of recovery is a little out of my expertise.

You are correct on her being a walking bag of bones. She is more poor than the worst grading on body score from OSU's website. I'm talking skin draped over bones here.

myersfarm · #14 04/28/12, 12:33 AM

if the cow is that poor I would agree and have her checked for Johnnes before I put much money in her

willow_girl · #15 04/29/12, 06:43 AM

Quote:

He's feeding something called "All stock" sweet feed pellets from TSC.

Look at the ingredients on the tag and you (or he) may wish to change to a different feed.

TSC uses animals fats in their formulation. He's making a cannibal of that poor cow ...

Cliff · #16 04/29/12, 05:16 PM

Does he know what Johne's is? Print him out something on it maybe. The horrible shape you said she is in and the fact that she recently freshened sure sounds suspicious for it.

So she does have loose stool but not scours? Any caked on her tail and hocks?

ETA: Make sure he knows how important it is for her to get tested for this - if she has it she is contaminating his property with it and it can live for over a year just in the soil. I had a good cow get it from bringing her here after I thought it had been long enough to be safe

And if she has it it's a death sentence and he's wasting every penny he's putting into her.

Lol if it sounds like I'm Johne's paranoid, I am. I lost a couple good Jerseys to it from just not knowing enough about it.

francismilker · #17 04/29/12, 09:05 PM

He's supposed to have the vet pull blood on her tomorrow. I'll try to keep up with this and give you all an update. Thanks for all the advice.

copperhead46 · #18 04/30/12, 01:38 PM

I've been getting good results by adding shredded beet pulp to my old cows feed. She and one old horse have really put on some weight with it, it's cheep and easy to feed and really adds the extra carbs, for weight gain.

G. Seddon · #19 04/30/12, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by francismilker

He's supposed to have the vet pull blood on her tomorrow. I'll try to keep up with this and give you all an update. Thanks for all the advice.

Yes, please do, francismilker. I think we're all interested in knowing what happens and, hopefully, it's not Johnes!

francismilker · #20 05/03/12, 09:44 PM

So far I haven't heard the results of the Johnes test. He did tell today that after pulling the calf she has started to dry up pretty easy and has a good appetiite. He's feeding her twice a day and she's perking up.

I helped him graft the calf onto a nurse cow and she's doing fine as well.