Jersey Milk Cow

rhfarm · #1 08/21/13, 09:27 AM

Good morning. I have a question that I hope someone can help me with. I bought a Jersey Milk cow July 12 that I was told was about 8/9 months pregnant "due anytime". She had calf's on her when I got her and was full of milk. She has not been milked or had a calve on her since about a week after I got her. She still has not had a calves but is still full of milk. Just not sure if she was bred or if I was mislead. How long does a cow keep milk if she is not milked, would she be breed and time of breeding is off. She has enough milk that she leaks when she walks but she is not hurting. Very confused. Why does she still have milk if she is not bred. Thanks for the help.

CJBegins · #2 08/21/13, 09:38 AM

It takes a while for them to register that they need to stop making milk and they do get full and leak some. She may never "dry up" completely if she really is due any day.

Her body will be changing getting prepared for delivery if she is in fact due to deliver soon. Her vulva will get soft, enlongated and puffy over time.

You might consider posting pictures of her from the side and rear view and there are many here that can give you a good idea of when she is due.

rhfarm · #3 08/21/13, 09:49 AM

CJBegins,

Thanks for you help. I will try to get some pictures tonight. She was huge and looked like she dropped a couple weeks ago but nothing yet. She looks like she has also lost some weight. I don't understand. Thought about taking her to the vet and having blood taken to see if she is pregnant. Just thought that she would have had it by now or would have dried up if she is not bred. Confused.

jwal10 · #4 08/21/13, 10:02 AM

Is she carrying low on the right side? Some times you can see the calf move. You can take your fist and "bump the calf. Short, quick stab right in the bulge. If as you say she looks thinner, she may be getting ready to calve. The calf turns and rises before birth. A vet can preg check a cow with a sleeve through the poop chute and tell you if carrying and how many months along. Should have been done at time of purchase so you would have known better. Hard to say at this time with the description. Hope she doesn't get mastitis. I have milked a cow straight through to calving....James

Miss Kay · #5 08/21/13, 07:51 PM

If she is pregnant, she may be filling up getting ready to calve. What does her pin bones and tail head look like, is her vulva "springy" as they say?

rhfarm · #6 08/22/13, 08:48 AM

I have attached (I hope correctly) a photo of Minnie.

65284 · #7 08/22/13, 11:33 AM

Nice pic, pretty cow, but not very helpful. We need to see the "business" end, with her tail out of the way if possible.

springvalley · #8 08/22/13, 10:41 PM

Yes, very hard to tell anything from this picture. She sure doesn`t look like she is very full in the udder. And very hard to tell if she is bred, unless you get a rear view and right side from the back angle. And trying to bump the calf to see if she is bred is very easy to do in their last couple months. > Thanks Marc

cathleenc · #9 08/25/13, 06:21 PM

she is gorgeous!

CJBegins · #10 08/25/13, 06:31 PM

She is a pretty girl. Her tail set is very high. I am curious about the other picture views.

Miss Kay · #11 08/30/13, 08:11 PM

Do we have a calf yet?

rhfarm · #12 09/04/13, 03:11 PM

Sadly she has not had a calf. I do not think that she is breed, just mislead by the person that we got her from. We have her in with a bull now, she is a very nice cow, just disappointed that we were told she was breed "Due anytime". Have a wonderful afternoon.

G. Seddon · #13 09/04/13, 03:20 PM

Have a vet check her, then you'll know for sure...or send in a blood sample to Biopryn.