suckling heifer
This morning I found one of my 11month heifers suckling off her mother who is not due to calve until the 16th of May.The heifers were weaned in January and put out with the cows last month.The cow has been developing a big udder but I didn't realise she had milk yet.As our other field is shut off for silage I will have to bring in the heifer.Any suggestions on how I can stop her suckling and will she do this after the cow calves?Ros
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Duncan MacIntyre
- Posts: 2372
- Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2004 12:38 am
- Location: Isle of Bute, Scotland, UK
You really need to stop her now. The cow needs to develop proper colostrum for the next calf. The year old heifer will steal all this if left to it. Often calves left on the dam will automatically wean themselves, but this one going back to suckle so close to the next calving is probably not going to do it.
You can physically separate them if you have somewhere else to put the heifer, or if they have to be together put a "milk sucking preventer" in the heifers nose. These are jaggy things which obviously annoy the cow and she will not allow the heifer to suckle, and if she should try to move to an auntie it will stop that too. If you use a modern plastic one they are annoying to the cow but will not cause any damage. Most vets or animal health shops should have one.
Duncan
You can physically separate them if you have somewhere else to put the heifer, or if they have to be together put a "milk sucking preventer" in the heifers nose. These are jaggy things which obviously annoy the cow and she will not allow the heifer to suckle, and if she should try to move to an auntie it will stop that too. If you use a modern plastic one they are annoying to the cow but will not cause any damage. Most vets or animal health shops should have one.
Duncan
Duncan MacIntyre
Burnside Dexters 00316
Burnside
Ascog
Isle of Bute
Burnside Dexters 00316
Burnside
Ascog
Isle of Bute