I have a 4 month old calf who was bottle fed exclusively and weaned 2 months ago. My problem is if I let him run with the other cows he nurses on his mom and she lets him. I tried a nylon weaner that went in his nose(not through), somehow he managed to nurse anyway. So now he is a lonely little guy because he can't go out with the others. Any ideas other than the ring through his nose with the spikes? Thanks in advance! cara moomaine@hotmail.com

-- cara lewis (moomaine@hotmail.com), October 30, 2001

Answers

Please don't get upset by my question, I'm just trying to learn but the calf is only 4 months old? So it was weaned at 2 months? Why did you wean it so early? Could it be that it still needs milk?

-- Trisha-MN (tank@linkup.net), October 30, 2001.

I guess I am having trouble understanding why this calf was bottle fed to begin with and why it is a problem to let him nurse now? We don't wean calves off of the mothers until about 6-7 mos old.

If you bottle fed him to be a show calf, then he shouldn't be with the rest of the herd anyway.

-- beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), October 30, 2001.

Let me explain, his mother is my family dairy cow, I use that milk for my family for cheese, butter and so on. If he/she were beef cows I would have let him nurse until she weaned him. Also at 2 1/2 months he was eating alot of grain and hay and was growing very well so I weaned him. He is about 400 pounds right now and doesn't look like he needs milk whatsoever. A friend of mine who is a dairy farmer told me to wean him at 12 weeks, and it was give or take a week that he was. My problem is that if I do let him out with his mother he will drink about 3 gallons at a pop, with no milk left for us. Any ideas?

-- cara lewis (moomaine@hotmail.com), October 30, 2001.

I know some people with dairy goats will seperate them at night, milk the mom out in the morning and then let them run throughout the day. This at least gives you half of the milk.

-- Leslie in Western WA (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), October 30, 2001.

Oh- I understand now... although I still feel he is pretty young for not getting any milk. What we did with our milk cow is allow the seperated them for during the day (we milked at night) and then made sure we left a bit in the udder for him to drink when we were done milking. That way he still got milk but we got some too. If we were going to be gone for the day or weekend we also just left him out with mom and that way we didn't have to worry about finding someone to milk.

-- Trisha-MN (tank@linkup.net), October 30, 2001.

you need a weaning halter. it has pokey things that goose the mom in the udder when he tries to nurse. she doesn't like that and makes him stop.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), October 30, 2001.

I don't know how stupid a suggestion this is for calves;), but for the kid goats we have successfully used teat tape to discourage nursing. Unfortunately, it will sometimes give the dam sore teats after awhile, you gotta keep an eye on it. The suggestion to separate at night will at least get you all the morning milk.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), October 30, 2001.

Do you have a separate pen next to momma's? This will keep him away from momma (unless she comes over just to let him nurse through the fence, but a hot wire will help prevent this) while still keeping him near the other cattle so he won't be lonely. If you don't have a second pen, (if you have some extra panels, fence, or hot wire) you might put up a portable pen in the same pasture. Many times (usually as long as the mother can get releaf from the presure in her udder, like you milking on a regular basis) if the mother has been away from the calf for a while (ie. early weaning), she might be more contented to graze then pay attention to the calf. Especially if the calf can't chase after her to nurse. (Remember a hot wire should (but not always) keep them from getting close enough for nurseing.)

Hope this helps

animalfarms (IN)

-- animalfarms (jawjlewis@netzero.net), October 30, 2001.

Can you make up a 'cow bra' which would enclose the udder and be kept on with straps over her back?

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), October 31, 2001.

Ken, how would I go about making a cow bra? Sounds like it could work. Thanks, Cara

-- cara lewis (moomaine@hotmail.com), October 31, 2001.

Cara:

Actually, these are sold commercially, although I couldn't find a source. Thought they were in the NASCO catalog, but can't find them. There are used on dairy cows with udders so large they drag on the ground, thus picking up manure, etc. requiring extra cleaning before milking.

I would think you could make something like a slingshot, with a bag at the end of four straps. Put the udder in the bag and tie the straps over the back - a two-person operation maybe. To milk, loosen the straps and move the bag it to the side.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), October 31, 2001.

Cara, when I wean my goats I use a soft "fabric feel" tape on their teats. Instead of taping around the teat, put in on down one side and up the other so that it doesn't restrict the teat as it fills with milk. I use a people tape that isn't too sticky and it has never injured their teats.

-- Julie (julieamc@eagleslair.net), October 31, 2001.

Wiggins sells the udder support for cows and goats at $42.00 each. Their number is 1-800-600-0716

-- miller (smillers@snowcrest.net), October 31, 2001.