NO MILK

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Hi, I have a jersey cow that has just started milking fo the first time ,and she seems not to have much milk all of the sudden ,I let the calves nurse in the morning and in the evning I milk about a half of a gallon and then let the calves finnish ,It was going go for about a week and then the other day she seemed to be drying off ,I feed her about 2 to 3 flakes of hay and about 8 lbs of grain a day ,we do not have good pasture ,but she does get a lot of grass clippings .She had twins and her after birth did not fall off for all most a week so the vet got mast of it out and gave her a shot, He said that it would keep her from geting sick .Do you think that it could be from the shot? Sorry if I do not explain very well Thanks

-- mary jane (Dove@epix.net), May 02, 2002

Answers

The antibiotics are not causing her to dry off. My guess is that she is not getting enough to eat. 8 lbs of grain and 2-3 flakes of hay is probably not enough. A good rule of thumb is a pound of grain per pound of milk for goats and they are more efficient than cattle. Feeding more than one calf and milking her for a half a gallon--- it is hard to tell just how much milk she is giving but I guess more than a gallon. Give her more hay and ease up on her grain and see what happens---- don't suddenly or you will upset her system. Good Luck!

-- Tana Mc (mcfarm@totelcsi.net), May 02, 2002.

2-3 flakes of hay definitely isn't enough. Is she gant looking? We feed our cows about 30-40lbs of hay a day or 1/2 of a big square bale with very little grain.

-- beckie (none@this.time), May 02, 2002.

Certainly not enough hay, how much depends on type but 20-40 pounds. What type of "grain"? Has she got free choice water, salt, and mineral?

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), May 02, 2002.

Please dont be offended but where I come from grass clippings kill cows,goats and horses.Are they dried ????Others should know so they dont repeat this thinking it is okay. blessings teri

-- teri (dnsmacbeth@aol.com), May 02, 2002.

As others said, more hay. It takes a least 16# hay aday to just maintain a jersey type cow, much more with lactation. The figure most often heard is 25# aday. We use quality alfalfa hay also, don't just feed any old hay. We keep hay in front of her most all the time, anything left after fussing through it we feed to other livestock. What is the % protein in your concentrate, depends on the amount to feed, also good alfalfa will cut down on the need for concentrate also. Her milk production should climb these first weeks up to around between the 5th & 8th week, then level out. But with calves on her, it will be hard for you to determine how much she is giving, because they can drink enormous amounts of milk, because their drinking when they feel the need to.

-- Suzanne (weir@frontiernet.net), May 02, 2002.


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