I posted a message yesterday about my holstein heifer freshing. I need some more advice today. Yesterday I tried milking her twice. The first time I only milked 2 and 1/2 quarters and got almost three gallons of milk. Late yesterday evening, I milked again and got about a gallon of milk. This morning, I milked 3 quarters (because the calf was nursing on the right front) and only got 2 gallons. Could the drop in the amount be due to the calf nursing or should I worry about mastitis? Also, the milk is still colored. Looks almost like chocolate milk. (how long before the milk is clear and usable?) I did not see any lumps in the milk and her udder is not hot, but it does feel warm. Also, when I press my finger into it, it leaves a dent. She has also developed what feels like a fluid pocket between her udder and her navel. Is this normal or do I panic? Comparing her udder to my jerseys udder, there is a difference. My jersey's udder felt tight when full of milk, but after being milked, felt loose. The holsteins quarters feel tight, even after milking all I can get out of them. Should I treat for mastitis? If I do, and it isn't mastitis, will that harm her or the calf? Any help will greatly be appreciated.

-- Tim (tsduck@bellsouth.net), June 10, 2001

Answers

Response to Help, again. Does she have mastitis?

Normal milk is never chocolate brown. What you describe is definitely mastitis, and the infection is taking your cow's udder at the very least, if not her life. Call your veterinarian now.

-- Julia (charmer24@juno.com), June 10, 2001.

Response to Help, again. Does she have mastitis?

Hi, Tim~ I think your heifer sounds normal to me. The "chocolate" milk look is bloody milk caused by capillaries breaking in the udder. This is not serious at all, and you see it now and then in fresh cows. The edema in her udder (the dent you left in with your finger) is also normal, and while it can be a problem if it doesn't go down too fast (say, a week) it normally is not, and I wouldn't worry about it. It does NOT mean mastitis. The fluid towards the heifers's navel is more indication that it is just edema. This will be the only time in her life that you see it on the belly: the next time she freshens, the fluid extending like that won't occur. It's quite normal in high producing Holsteins for the udder to have that edema when they freshen the first time. Later lactations will not develop the amount of edema you are seeing in her udder now. Now, having said that I don't think it's a problem, if she DID develop mastitis, it would be harder to treat with the congested udder. But don't worry about it if the milk stays ok. Sounds like you know what mastitis milk looks liks, anyway. When she is in milk for awhile, her udder will be just like your Jersey's--soft after milking. Her milk should clear pretty good in a week's time. The drop in production is probably not really a drop in production at all. She was producing milk for several days before she freshened, so there was a lot of milk when you milked her the first time. Now, she's back to zero at each milking, and it gives the appearance that production has backed off, but it really hasn't. One thing that you can do to relieve the edema is massage the udder well each milking. Grease your hands up with Bag Balm or what have you and go at it for awhile when you've finished milking her. If it bugs you too much, you can get diuretics from your vet that will relieve the edema, too. I'm a dairy farmer and I rarely use them, but for the occasional first calf heifer that really blows up like a balloon, it can be helpful (I don't think your's falls into this category--she sounds normal to me). As far as your question if you do treat for mastitis and she doesn't need it, it won't hurt her or the calf. Most calves in commercial dairies eat their share of "treated" milk and it doesn't hurt them. Hope that helps.

Jennifer L.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@imcnet.net), June 10, 2001.

Response to Help, again. Does she have mastitis?

Thanks to all who responded. I spoke to a vet via email and she told me that her milk was normal. She said she had an edema and it should clear up in about a week. I also spoke to the dairyman that I bought her from when she was 3 days old. He told me the same thing that the vet said. So, maybe I'll rest better tonight! Also, the vet mentioned that the edema was a sign that she'd be a heavy milker...oh boy!! Again, thanks to all who responded! Tim

-- Tim (tsduck@bellsouth.net), June 11, 2001.

I agree with the above advice. I don't own a dairy but I have worked on several and had my own milk cows for years now. What you describe is normal. Lots of massaging after and during milking will help. I know you are a guy but ask your wife or mom how their 'udders' felt for the first week after they gave birth....talk about swollen and tender! If it concerns you a good bit you might consider milking 3 times a day for 2-3 weeks....that should really help her. I always use warm-very warm water to wash my cows udder with. The warm water helps encourage them to let their milk down(at least in my opinion) and if they are swollen the warm water is relaxing and therapeutic...I hold the warm cloth like a compress. One thing you may experience (especially if the calf is running loose with her) is that she may not let her milk down for you. If this happens you can normally just pen up the calf and only let him suck when you are milking her for a day or two and she will get the hint. Oh by the way the thick collostrum milk should go away in 4-5 days. Most dairies I've worked at start using the milk the evening of the 3rd day or the morning of the 4th day.....I personally prefer to wait about 6 days before I start using the milk. You might want to wait about 2 weeks before making butter...always seems to be a bit odd till after that point. Good luck...God bless.

-- Amanda in TX (mrsgunsmyth@hotmail.com), June 12, 2001.