Not to put you on the spot Danil54grl, but will you share your on going experience on buying and raising your new milk cow? If you don’t want to or are too busy, no worries.
Did you get your new baby?
Did you get your new baby?
Right now I am leaning towards Clara Belle. When we got to the dairy, he had 2 to chose from. One the 2 week old and then this one that was 6 weeks old. I felt that the 6 week old could handle the stress of being moved a little better than the younger and this one seemed to have warmed up to me pretty fast. She was sniffing and licking me from the get go. A large goat halter ended up being a perfect fit for her and we tied her into the back of the truck. We had put the headache rack on the back and also some boards to hold her in and not fall out. Lose enough that she could lay down if she wanted to and we also put some fresh hay down for her to lay on and she did end up eating some on the way home too. She calmed down rather quickly and was basically up and down on the 150 miles home.
Once here, I put her in a smaller pen I use as my sick barn. I wanted her in a contained area where she and I can bond and she gets down the bottle feeding first. I spent the first hour and a half out with her and after a lot of coaxing she downed 2 quarts of milk replacer. I did end up putting my goat Sissy over with her so she doesn't get to lonely when I'm not out there, but in all honesty Sissy didn't seem impressed.
Next milk feeding should be at 5 AM but she also has hay out there to eat on and fresh water to drink. I just needed to come inside to eat since I hadn't yet today. . . . I was getting a headache so that had to get taken care of. I'll be heading back out soon.
Aww we, what a pretty. Steak!Well she is finally home!View attachment 11148
She is my soon to be milk cow. She will be working for her pay eventually. Lord knows I have enough beef on the hoof running around here already.Aww we, what a pretty. Steak!
Ha HaVEAL, YUM!
We have had them start nibbling grass and hay after just before or after 3 weeks. I will be bottle feeding her at least 2 month. It all depends on her. Our beef cow Big Mom will let her calf still suck on her at a year old. . . She learned how to be a momma from my Jersey and they tend to be great mommas. . . Sometimes even too well and try stealing other calves to nurse.
My grandmother had a small dairy farm. Milked twice daily, 7 days a week.
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