Cows drinking milk

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:49 am

I have a 14 year old cow and what was her first calf which was born in 1996. They have been seperated by two fences either side of a farm track for about 2 months, but have in the main been able to see each other for most of the time and been able to get within 12 or 14 feet. I had a shift around last week and these particular cows where put back together again. The younger actually suckled from her mother (who is in calf), It may just be a bonding thing for these two as they have always run together, but I was surprised to say the least as I have never seen this happen between them before.

Martin. Medway Valley Dexters.

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Thu May 01, 2008 9:08 am

Clive,
you test your soil and haylage, this will give you an indication if your calcium levels are naturally on the low side. Also presumably they have some sort of lick. The calcium levels will alter in this too,

Cows that suckle/go for the udder when introduced together after being apart for a while, is a dominance thing and will stop as soon as they are settled. Long term sucklers often seem to be poorer conditioned cows in my experience. I once saw it on a group of cows who were being wintered inside. On closer inspection, their water drinkers were absolutely filthy. The water was black with debris. Problem solved.

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Thu May 01, 2008 10:09 am

Cheers Penny, I was beginning to wonder whether it was on this occasion more of a social thing because both the two cows that are doing the suckling are dominant (and in different groups). One is a stroppy-dominant and the other is a sweety who controls everyone by kindness, but still in charge though. So I've separated the stroppy-dominant one with her calf and put a nose plate on the other.

Edited By Broomcroft on 1209633031

Minnie · Post by **Minnie** » Sun May 18, 2008 2:37 am

Hi Helen,

She has the alpacas for company at the moment, but I am sure it is not the same as bovine company.

We put our first weaning steer in with the chooks, he certainly would rather bovine company, or maybe we should have put the alpacas in with him, he'd probably prefer them to chooks... :D

Poor C1 he really doesn't like the chooks but it's a big paddock, he's had plenty of room and the herd can talk through the fence. He's off tomorrow to my mother's and will be by himself until in about six weeks time when the other three (C2, C3, and Cinnamon) go out there with him.

Weaning for us - we separate into the 'chook' paddock they can see Mum and the herd and she can see they're alright. After a few weeks when they're over each other, it's out to Mum and then steer head to the abattoir at their time and heifers return when they're ready for the bull... hoping this works well for us.

Vicki

Rutherford · Post by **Rutherford** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:38 pm

Clive, how did you get on with the plate anti- sucking device? What do you think of the chances of that little bull being able to hook his tongue round it, as he dod the ring?

Rutherford · Post by **Rutherford** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:40 pm

Correction 'did the ring'
Beryl (Woodmagic)

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 8:22 pm

The plate worked well. It doesn't have spikes and the cow who was pinching milk off other cows, seems completely unbothered by it and she has now calved as well. I will remove the plate when I can get hold of her.

Edited By Broomcroft on 1212434667

Rutherford · Post by **Rutherford** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:39 am

Many thanks. Glad it was so successful. Interesting to know she achieved the calving successfully with it in place.
Beryl (Woodmagic