New Jersey milk cow seems stressed

chelnea · #1 10/17/14, 03:39 PM

I bought a five year old jersey milk cow two days ago. The man I bought her from said she had her calf three months ago and it was sold. She'd been giving 5 gallons of milk a day. Since I've gotten her she will not eat. I've offered her different things to no avail. She drinks frequently. When I milked her the first day , the milk was salty and limited. Her utter does not feel any warmer than her body. Her stools are looser than I'd expect but not watery. She seems stressed . The man that sold her to me said she'd been at the vet for three days waiting for the tb test results and then in a trailer for a day bring delivered to me. I don't know how to help her... I'm pretty successful with bottle calves but this milk cow is a new adventure for out budding homestead, any insight I would sure appreciate.

G. Seddon · #2 10/17/14, 04:23 PM

I'd guess that the change in location is stressful, but not milking any cows here, so I'm not sure what really affects them. Aside from the location being different, here are some other things that might be happening: did she have other cattle as companions before, does she have any now, was she milked regularly during the four days of TB testing and travel to your place (if not, that could be a major problem), was her calf sold very recently, was she tested for anything other than TB, did her diet change (or did the seller provide you with what he had been feeding her to transition her to new feed slowly). In other words, you need to think of everything that has changed for this cow and figure out whether or not it has affected her.

I would take her temperature (if 103 or higher, she's got a problem), contact the seller with your concerns, and get in touch with your vet so that you have a professional opinion in the event of a major problem.

mrs whodunit · #3 10/17/14, 04:38 PM

Did the cow know you before you brought her home?

I have found that if the cow knows me I can move her to a new place with no issues.

Awnry Abe · #4 10/17/14, 08:38 PM

Trailer trip to the vet because she was sick. 3 days at the vet. Another day of travel. That is the hard knock life, for sure. She will like getting to an established routine. Any other cows around to help her settle in?

On the loose stool issue, we have a Jersey that came from a large commercial dairy that according to the seller fed mostly grains and would have a tough time transitioning to grass. Watery stools that shot out like a green water hose. It was a tough time, indeed, but she is pretty normal now. She is why I went to free choice hay in the summer, even though the grass was brisket high. It did the other cows good, too, especially when the grass was washy.

chelnea · #5 10/17/14, 08:50 PM

Thanks for the replies:-) I did not know her before they brought her here. I followed the advice so far and turned her out with my bottle babies that are now a year old. She seems to have perked up some. I called the man who sold her to me and he said she was milking fine and I may not be milking her correctly. There is just not much there and what is there extremely watery.

**gone-a-milkin** · #6 10/17/14, 08:54 PM

If her milk is watery and salty, she most likely has mastitis.
That would not be surprising considering all she has been through lately.

DJ in WA · #7 10/18/14, 12:13 AM

Another "five year old jersey milk cow" story. I went through that phase years ago. Found out that is about the age many develop problems, and are sold. Mine had chronic mastitis they could not clear up, but blamed it on something else.

I no longer trust people selling such cows. What story did they come up with as to why they were selling her?

Hope you're lucky and its a temporary problem.

This is why I recommend getting a heifer which is less likely to have problems yet, or get a couple beef heifers and breed to jersey. Keep one that has a heifer calf, and practice milking her until her calf grows up to be milked.

Pure jerseys prone to more problems, not to mention more milk than most can use.

G. Seddon · #8 10/18/14, 08:45 AM

A lot of questions, but very few answers, so it is difficult to help you.

I hope the cow recovers.

1shotwade · #9 10/18/14, 12:09 PM

LOL ! I read your thread title and thought"Yah,New Jersey does that to me too! LOL !

Wade

chelnea · #10 10/18/14, 12:37 PM

Lol you're so right Wade,thanks I needed a chuckle this morning. :-) we've actually started her on a round of antibiotics. The weather has been really odd lately , very cold at night and hot days. Couple that with all the stress and I think she was getting pneumonia, she had all the signs . She is already acting better. I made a cream with some essential oils to promote blood flow in her udder. She is so sweet . Im really hopeful that she will be okay. It seems like each new adventure on the homestead is a fight. I was feeling very defeated but I'm digging my heels in deeper.