Leaving calf on Holstein cow

rancher1913 · #1 05/09/13, 07:01 AM

We have a Holstein that just calved. She is our family milk cow - but this is our first experience. I know I'm gonna get a LOT of milk, and I am wondering about leaving the calf on her. Have any of you tried this? Should I leave one quarter (teat) for the calf? I don't want to set her up for mastitis. I think milking only once a day would be too much milk for the calf.

Moldy

topside1 · #2 05/09/13, 07:23 AM

Lots of unknowns in your posted question. However if I were you I'd have the calf on the mama 24/7 and only temporarily separate at milking time. Tie the calf close to the mama during milking so she can touch or at a minimum see her calf. Milk all four quarters equally at least once a day, twice would be best until the calf drinks more as it grows. Leaving one qtr. full is a bad idea, milk all four....Topside

rancher1913 · #3 05/09/13, 12:37 PM

Thanks. Milked for the first time this am - let's just say it's a steep learning curve!

CJBegins · #4 05/09/13, 07:35 PM

Rancher, the learning curve is certainly there but give you a couple of weeks and you will be a pro. I would definitely follow Topside's advise about milking twice a day until the calf is taking most of the milk. Once it is taking most of the milk, then you can separate over night and milk in the mornings. Then put them back together for the day.

Goodluck!

mrlabes · #5 05/09/13, 10:48 PM

We have a holstein and a jersey purchased both cows last April (2012)--the Jersey we purchased as just bred and only about a year old. The Holstein we purchased a few days later had just become fresh with a new calf. We found out over the past year with each cow having a calf that we do best after a couple days by taking the calf off at night and then milking momma in the morning and letting the calf on all day. If the calf gets too much milk it will get diarrhea. It is great for us because we just milk in the morning and we get plenty of milk and we don't have to milk in the evening! (which works MUCH better with our busy schedule since both my husband and I work outside the farm and still have other animal chores to do as well)
Good luck and let us know how it all goes for you!

topside1 · #6 05/10/13, 07:26 AM

Other scenarios work, the key factor to cow milk management is the production level of the animal and the milk demand of the calf. Let us know how your hands are holding up or holding on....Topside