skinny cow

myheaven · #1 11/21/14, 06:21 PM

Okay guys I have had this poor cow for almost 4 months. she came to me on death door. I know the farm her mom came from. I have know this cow from her moms ai to now. She is a very heavy producing cow. the previous owner sent her to their Amish neighbor to keep and milk as neither of the two owners were willing to milk her.and they could not find another calf to graft on her. The Amish neighbor milked her till the verge of death not to mention she picked up sore mouth there. They did not give her grain or alfalfa. only marginal pasture till it was gone. The neighbor dropped the cow back off when the owners were gone. Cow udder was gashes open at teat sometime and was a huge sore.
I have been testing her for everything with my vet. so far she has been negative for everything. she is still milking like 3-4 gallons a day still. at just fresh she was milking 80 lbs. Her bag is a work of art. she likes to put everything into the bucket. This is her second freshing.
I have her grain at about 20% protine. 15 lbs a day and 2-3 cut dairy alfalfa. I was adding oil to her feed too but it seem to make herpoo too loose so I'm top dressing with distillers grain. she has put on some weight but not what we want to see. I do have her calf on her as I can't milk her 2 or 3 times a day she has to be milked. if I go to once a day milking she ends up with mastitis. Her last lactation they dried her at 8 weeks due to dropping weight so fast.
what are other things I can give her to put on weight before I resort to drying her off. BTW she has not bred back. We did use a cDr and shot but she didn't take. oh I often give her loaves of bread when I get free bread and have lots of extra to give her.
I Would love advice. thanks.

nosqrls · #2 11/21/14, 08:02 PM

She may have a Uterine Infection going on. I have seen this 2 or 3 times only. They will not cycle properly till it is clear up. 2 were fine after that, 3rd was sterile after it.

kycrawler · #3 11/21/14, 09:04 PM

What is the desired end result here ? Trying to save the cow? Dry her off the feed your giving her she is putting in the milk bucket . Maybe after she puts some weight on she may breed back so best case your looking at a calf 9-12 months from now . You say this is her second lactation that she has dropped weight rapidly . Honest truth is this cow would probably be best served as a 1/4 pounder at mc'ds expensive to put weight on a cow in winter and she is a 2 time problem milker sell her for slaughter and buy a better cow life is too short to deal with problem animals

BlackWillowFarm · #4 11/21/14, 09:44 PM

You could try milking her just twice a day. Once for you and once for the calf. That should help if she doesn't have to produce so much. She should have free choice hay and if she can get the 2-3rd cut alfalfa you're feeding free choice that's great. She should be able to eat hay whenever she feels like it, even if it's just grass hay. She should have free choice loose dairy minerals. You could add beet pulp to her grain ration. It's really good for weight gain. If she's giving 3-4 gallons a day, she's not going to gain weight real fast. Slow and steady is what you're hoping for. Some cows put everything into the bucket and won't gain until they're dry. If she's not bred back, you probably want to keep her in milk until you can get her bred and confirmed pregnant.

If her life has been rough and she's real skinny, she may take awhile to get pregnant again. Have you wormed her? It wouldn't hurt and might help her gain weight.

billinwv · #5 11/21/14, 10:17 PM

These high production cows can be a problem. I had a small jersey that gave 90lbs per day. Milk her twice a day and feed her well. I hate to see a nice jersey cow with 4 calves on her. That will ruin her. Good grub and routine milking will keep her healthy.

myheaven · #6 11/21/14, 10:19 PM

she has been wormed and fecal tested to shown non worm load. we have her on great minerals. free feed hay. 15 lbs of 20% feed. bread as a treat. up to date on vaccinations. This cow is an amazing milker. fantastic disposition. She has never had an issue with breeding back. this is the first time. We did run a round of antibiotics to see if there was some underling issue.
She is a very valuable cow and I'm not going to look at freezer camp till she is useless. She has put on some weight with milking 3-4 gallons a day. I have gotten about 300 lbs on her. her last round of mastitis she did slim down. she has put that weight back on and then some.
I have beet pulp so will try some of that.
she has her winter coat so I have been thinking on making her a coat to help with her keeping warm. her last ultrasound she had a small cl. and vet wanting me to give her shots of gnrh every friday. I have failed to give the gnrh. her uterus looks great with the last ultrasound.
we have talked about drying her off to breed her back. But I need the milk.. the goats won't freshen for two more months. and the other cow isn't due till march. next cow is due april.

**gone-a-milkin** · #7 11/21/14, 10:27 PM

Sounds to me like you really like her.

Remember, it took a while for her to lose that much condition.
Sounds like you are doing your best for her and she IS gaining.
This is going to take some time.

I think a winter coat might be a nice thing for her, at least for the coldest nights.
Otherwise, keep doing what you are doing.
She will either turn it all the way around or not.
You are just going to pay for your winter's milk one way or another.

The best of luck with her.

myheaven · #8 11/21/14, 11:15 PM

I would prefer to have milk from my barn as I already have the money into this winter feed. When the goats freshen then we will look hard at drying her off.
I like her a lot. I know her genitics. This is why I'm going all out for her.

BlackWillowFarm · #9 11/22/14, 07:01 AM

It sounds like you're doing all the right stuff for her. I have one of those special cows too so I understand why you're doing what you're doing for her.

Madsaw · #10 11/23/14, 11:18 AM

You may need to worm debug her again. Ive had to repeat cydectin 3 times 2-3 weeks apart to get good results on extreme cases. Check her sugar leaves and maybe even run her on some low grade sulfa. Might have a touch of respitory infection. Sulfa will help add on weight

myheaven · #11 11/23/14, 02:34 PM

Hey Bob long time no see! I'm so very blessed to have my vet out almost weekly. We have checked sugars. Dang near everything even cancer. the vet gave me the feed mix. but her calf has put on 300 lbs and I have had more then ample milk.
we have already run a full course of strong antibiotics.

myheaven · #12 11/28/14, 05:38 PM

The cow has put 20 lbs on this week. we reduced her alfalfa hay by 10 lbs and added chopped oat straw. Her poops are more solid and she is absorbing more of her feed, boy has this been a while coming. I feel great relief we are going in the right direction. I did pick up a wool blanket to make her a coat.

myheaven · #13 12/06/14, 12:00 AM

double post

myheaven · #14 12/06/14, 12:01 AM

OK tonight she milked almoat 6 gallons and has put on 15 lbs. I feel so much better. a friend who shall not be named unless wishes, has sent me a wonderful cow coat. This girl is a million dollar cow. love my cows.

Madsaw · #15 12/09/14, 08:00 PM

I was going to say a rough hay would help put more weight on. Sometimes they need the roughage. One of the reasons we plant grass with our alfalfa.
Sure has been a odd winter so far. Had one ugly bug hit this last week. Lost a 2 yr old to it. But treated everyone showing signs sunday. Looking good now. Usally a fast turn around with treatment.

LOL Im glad you like the coat. Garage sale find this summer. The lady used to show cattle and was very happy someone could get some use from them.

myheaven · #16 12/29/14, 06:37 PM

well the cow put on enough weight. she has started to cycle on her own today and the ai guy came and inseminated her. we will see. if she keeps doing well and if she cycles again it will be my dd birthday. crossing my fingers.