farmerjan
Herd Master
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Looking at the udder I would say a couple more weeks. She probably settled to a 3 week later breeding than they thought? Vulva not swollen or close looking.
The calf sharing is strictly a personal decision. If she allows you to milk her from the start, then I would do the sharing from the start. If she wants to be difficult, then taking the calf away, and then you can put the calf in with the cow on her left, and you can sit and milk on the right side... I have done that many times.
In the early stages, she is going to make more milk than the calf can use so you are going to have to milk her out at least once a day. Often, if a cow is good about coming in to eat, I will leave the calf with them, and then once a day she comes in for grain, gets put in a head catch or halter tied, and then I have milked her completely out. In a scenario like that, the enticement of coming in for the grain will be enough to get her to let her milk down. It may take a few days before she is comfortable with you milking her instead of her baby...
Honestly, you are going to have to figure out what the cow is comfortable with. For the first few days, I would not get too worried as she becomes used to being a new mother... you can milk out some of the colostrum and freeze it for future use in case someone doesn't have enough or you buy a calf or something. I keep about a gallon or more in the freezer... in 1 qt jugs.... so they are easier to thaw.
There is no right way. See what you are most comfortable with, and what the cow herself seems to tolerate and accept. Some of the nicest friendliest ones can be a royal B#@*H in the barn after they calve, some are not so friendly and yet like the grain enough to be perfectly easy to work with. Having the calf right there where she can see/smell it is often a calming effect on a cow. But whatever you do, make sure her head is secured in a stanchion or head catch or at least a halter and lead rope tied to where she is eating so she does not have much "wiggle room"... you want her to stand in one spot and stay still. If you have a stanchion or head catch, start putting her in it NOW and having her get used to be contained/tied up... so it is again, no big deal after she comes fresh.
The calf sharing is strictly a personal decision. If she allows you to milk her from the start, then I would do the sharing from the start. If she wants to be difficult, then taking the calf away, and then you can put the calf in with the cow on her left, and you can sit and milk on the right side... I have done that many times.
In the early stages, she is going to make more milk than the calf can use so you are going to have to milk her out at least once a day. Often, if a cow is good about coming in to eat, I will leave the calf with them, and then once a day she comes in for grain, gets put in a head catch or halter tied, and then I have milked her completely out. In a scenario like that, the enticement of coming in for the grain will be enough to get her to let her milk down. It may take a few days before she is comfortable with you milking her instead of her baby...
Honestly, you are going to have to figure out what the cow is comfortable with. For the first few days, I would not get too worried as she becomes used to being a new mother... you can milk out some of the colostrum and freeze it for future use in case someone doesn't have enough or you buy a calf or something. I keep about a gallon or more in the freezer... in 1 qt jugs.... so they are easier to thaw.
There is no right way. See what you are most comfortable with, and what the cow herself seems to tolerate and accept. Some of the nicest friendliest ones can be a royal B#@*H in the barn after they calve, some are not so friendly and yet like the grain enough to be perfectly easy to work with. Having the calf right there where she can see/smell it is often a calming effect on a cow. But whatever you do, make sure her head is secured in a stanchion or head catch or at least a halter and lead rope tied to where she is eating so she does not have much "wiggle room"... you want her to stand in one spot and stay still. If you have a stanchion or head catch, start putting her in it NOW and having her get used to be contained/tied up... so it is again, no big deal after she comes fresh.