Recent content by MrsKK

  1. M

    Suggestions for an underweight calf

    She really needs to be getting good grassy hay, rather than alfalfa. Please post pictures so people who know dairy cattle can tell you whether she is too thin or not. Comparing her with any beef breed and thinking she should be as filled out as they are is likely to end up in trouble farther...
  2. M

    My new heifer, Pictures!

    Very healthy looking heifer with a glossy coat. She's going to be a beautiful cow.
  3. M

    Is this cross would make a good family cow?

    Congratulations! Everyone looks very healthy and happy. The colostrum should clear out in about 4-5 days, then you'll have lots of good milk to drink. Uneventful births are the best
  4. M

    fly control

    DE being fed through also helps reduce the flies because the flies lay their eggs in the manure. When the larvae hatch, they are cut by the DE and die.
  5. M

    fly control

    It doesn't get rid of all of them, but diatomaceous earth (DE) does a good job of reducing the fly population around here. I put a tablespoon in the grain ration for each head of cattle, the horse, the pig feed and the chicken feed. Plus we keep an old spice jar full of it and sprinkle it on...
  6. M

    Putting weight on a heifer

    My cow nearly killed me by jumping me when she was in heat. It was her first after calving and I simply wasn't ready. If I hadn't turned right when I did, it probably would have broken my neck. She weighs about 1,000 lbs. Not the way I want to go. when I scratch my cow's tail head, she wags...
  7. M

    Jerseys for beef cows?

    Interesting posts. We raise Jersey for beef since twelve years ago when we couldn't find any Holstein calves. In comparison, every other meat we've eaten has been dry, tough, and flavorless. We feed about 6 lbs of sweet feed and 2 quarts of soaked beet pulp per day to each steer once they are...
  8. M

    For our war vets, and those that have buried a hero........

    Thank you for that eloquent homage to our veterans, active service, and military families, Redtail! We were honored to have our nephew visit with us yesterday. He's newly home from Iraq and wanted to spend time with my husband, a Vietnam vet. We retired the flags we gathered off the...
  9. M

    Hello! totally new to large animals, (but not to small!)

    Doxies are very useful as heating pads! We have three of them and they definitely keep me warm. Not so attractive in the summertime, though! Our neighbor had some Scottish Highlander cattle and I was tempted to try brush out some undercoat and use the fibers in my basket making, but I was...
  10. M

    Vulva mucus coming too early

    My guess would be a vaginal infection rather than birthing discharge. Definitely a job for the vet.
  11. M

    Vulva mucus coming too early

    My cow has some discharge off and on throughout her pregnancies. Unless it is opaque white and/or smelly, I don't think you have anything to worry about. It is probably just normal pregnancy mucus. Hormones have a lot to do with it, too, not necessarily a sign that something "got in there".
  12. M

    Putting weight on a heifer

    She is absolutely beautiful and I'm so glad for her that she found you! She's coming along nicely - just increase her grain a bit at a time, otherwise you can overwhelm her rumen. I would put on a bit more weight, as you are wanting to bred her this summer. She's still young enough to have a...
  13. M

    using a pasteurizer to make cheese

    I honestly don't know anything about pasturizers, but I typically "cook" my cheese in a sink full of hot water. I use a utility sink with my big kettle of milk in the sink and just add hot water to warm the milk. If it starts warming too rapidly or needs to be cooled off, I can just let some...
  14. M

    Scouring calf? New at raising calf, need help

    I'm glad that calf came back for you. Once they start going downhill it can be a lot of work to get them turned around. You may want to get a jar of powdered probiotics and add them to his bottle, following label directions. It will help get the flora in his stomach going, which will help him...
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