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welshboy454
Joined: 21 May 2009
Posts: 92
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 Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 6:16 pm Post subject: Dexter calved no milk ? |
 
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We bought a dexter in calf cow just over 6 weeks ago.
When she arrived her udder looked full and I think she had just been taken away from her previous calf which had still been suckling.
She has calved now nearly a week ago but her udder is empty continuously and as the calf seemed hungry we have been feeding it some milk substitute. The instructions on the bag say 1.5 litres twice a day is adequate for a 40kg calf. Reduce it pro rata to the weight of the calf.
Well this little dexter calf will drink 1.5 litres and then try and suckle mum as well ! A healthy little blighter.
I would have expected her to have come into milk by now but her udder is always empty.
I am wondering if she has a calcium deficiency -
The cow is in good condition and receiving a concentrate supplement but still no effect.
Any suggestions ? |
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Rob R
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 16822
Location: York
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| Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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Have you tried taking the calf away overnight and milking er out the next morning?
A healthy calf would not stay healthy very long if it didn't receive its share of colostrum so it sounds like you just have a healthy calf with a good appetite. |
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Nat S
Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 3635
Location: York
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| Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds to me like you have a normal cow and calf - the calf would be very sick by now if it had not got some colostrum. The udder is empty because the calf is emptying it! Like Rob says, make sure by separating them for a few hours and seeing if the milk builds up. If you leave them overnight though, you'd need to milk out the cow a bit before letting the calf drink though, otherwise you'd overload it and very young calves can't take drastic dietary changes like that. A week in, her udder won't be that big as the calf won't be drinking much (especially if you are feeding it aswell!!). The dexter I'm milking now built up to 1.5-2ltrs per quarter after about three weeks or so - you might see a bigger udder then. |
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welshboy454
Joined: 21 May 2009
Posts: 92
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| Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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RobR
No I have not tried that. I think the calf is getting some milk but not enough.
I don't know anything about dexters really but I used to milk friesians and they always had much more milk than the calf could cope with.
I have read reports of dexters giving up to 12 litres a day but I very much doubt she is giving 2 litres otherwise the calf would be scouring as it is already getting a normal 40kg ration as well as whatever mum is giving.
A real puzzle.
The cow does not show any advanced signs of milkfever though and her appetite seems ok- she gobbles down the concentrates. |
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Nat S
Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 3635
Location: York
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| Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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Friesians are a totally different proposition - a specialised dairy animal. Dexters do give up to 14ltrs and trust me, the calf won't be scouring on that - I take 1.5ltrs from one quarter once a day and leave the rest for the calf - it must be getting 10ltrs altogether and is a fraction of the size of the ayrshire I'm rearing who gets 6! No scouring or ill-health at all. One of our dexters reared a holsteinXlimi beautifully from grass this summer but her udder is still nowhere near friesian sized. |
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welshboy454
Joined: 21 May 2009
Posts: 92
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| Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Ixy that has put my mind at rest.
How old is your dexter calf drinking 10 litres ? |
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 13800
Location: w yorks /earth
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| Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 8:27 pm Post subject: |
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im a bit more comfortable as well |
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Nat S
Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 3635
Location: York
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| Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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It's about a month old by now, but she was up to full production by 3weeks. |
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 13800
Location: w yorks /earth
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| Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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i see the potenial handling benefits but becoming a calf is hardcore
having spare capacity in the herd is normal
train them all to be tame might be good |
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Rob R
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 16822
Location: York
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| Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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| welshboy454 wrote: |
RobR
No I have not tried that. I think the calf is getting some milk but not enough.
I don't know anything about dexters really but I used to milk friesians and they always had much more milk than the calf could cope with.
I have read reports of dexters giving up to 12 litres a day but I very much doubt she is giving 2 litres otherwise the calf would be scouring as it is already getting a normal 40kg ration as well as whatever mum is giving.
A real puzzle.
The cow does not show any advanced signs of milkfever though and her appetite seems ok- she gobbles down the concentrates. |
I've never had a problem with milk fever in my dexters and neither have I fed them concentrates for a long time. They are pretty low maintenance with good results.
In case you weren't aware, Ixy is my better half. |
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welshboy454
Joined: 21 May 2009
Posts: 92
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| Posted: Mon Nov 02, 09 9:59 pm Post subject: |
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Rob/Ixy Thanks very much for the replies. |
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welshboy454
Joined: 21 May 2009
Posts: 92
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| Posted: Tue Nov 03, 09 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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Pleased to say that the calf only drank 1.25 litres tonight and refused the remainder. The cows udder looks fuller too so just slow coming into milk I think. |
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Nat S
Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 3635
Location: York
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| Posted: Tue Nov 03, 09 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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she'll have produced the smaller amount a newborn needs - now it'll go up a bit - totally normal. But if the calf's refusing milk and the udder looks full - I wouldn't feed any extra milk from now on. Ditto concentrates for the cow - she'll quickly get too fat to get in calf again. |
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welshboy454
Joined: 21 May 2009
Posts: 92
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 09 12:09 pm Post subject: |
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Looks ok now reduced feed this morning- a gradual stop.
Thanks to you both Rob/Ixy
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Nat S
Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 3635
Location: York
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| Posted: Wed Nov 04, 09 12:14 pm Post subject: |
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they both look fine - calf could be a twin to ours!  |
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