on feb. 4 i put out that my holstein has milk coming out only on one side. that is still the case and we are not having any problems out of her yet.we are getting 3 gallons out of her aday which for a holstein is much but can,t complain at least we're getting milk.will it hurt her to keep milking her with the right side not producing. i also wanted to thank everyone for thier help before. thanks larry

-- larry dunn (sld5825@comteck.com), March 16, 2002

Answers

As long as the other side isn't hot or swollen she's probably had mastitis in the past & that side won't produce. If it's hot or swollen then you need to treat her for whatever infection may be in those teats. Does she seem upset/uncomfortable having the producing side milked? Does anything come from the other side or is it completely dry? If it's dry, I myself wouldn't try to milk that side, just do a check every few days in case she's late in that side coming in. As for milking the two that are producing, you should milk that side out otherwise she'll get mastitis on that side unless there's a calf nursing,if she's infected you will want to treat her & we pitched the milk while we were treating any mastitis, but that's up to you & your vet & depends on the treatment used. We had one Jersey who was a 'three teat' wonder, she'd had mastitis during her first lactation before we bought her. We milked her twice every day and she did great.

-- Kathy Aldridge (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), March 16, 2002.

It will hurt her if you stop! The one half is not producing? Sounds like a cull from a dairy herd. She should be fine but do keep an eye on the dead side and keep her good side milked out well.

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), March 16, 2002.