Lots of dairy cow questions *Update*

[hcammack]

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I am in the UVM run dairy program and we have "overconditioned" jerseys basically they are really fat because the TMR is to rich. They don't look like beef cows they just have a lot of fat on their bellies and on their chests. We have a lot of really good show cows in that herd a lot of 90+ Excellent rated cows and they get rated lower for being over conditioned.

Henry

 

[hcammack]

I worked on a farm where we hand milked Jerseys for a summer it was a great experience and taught me to move around cows and how to milk. Now I am at University of Vermont studying agriculture and I get to work in the CREAM program milking a herd of Jerseys and Holsteins. Bluebell looks great and so does honey very nice Jersey's! Hope milking goes well they will be fidgety when going from a milker to hand milking at first but will adjust I am sure.

Here is the CREAM website http://www.uvm.edu/~creamer/


Henry

 

[Hound]

I know it was her first time in a pasture, and I don't think that helped. I did promise her it was still going to be there in the morning.

Even the butt rope didn't work with the calves

They wouldn't move until i'd almost pulled them over, and then the steering would go off course! I'll see how it works today with them staying in the barn (the red calf is scouring worse than the blue one, he just looks and acts healthier). Maybe in a few days when they feel better and they have more sense about who momma is and staying with her i'll let them out again. They've only been on her since Saturday. She might refuse to go out without them though.

 

[Hound]

Henry that looks like a neat program. It would certainly beat staying in a classroom too!

 

[hcammack]

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I hope it works maybe you could get her a friend who wouldn't try and nurse. I think cows work better in groups but thats just my opinion. I guess you could start halter training the bull calves now. Bottle feeding although a pain makes calves easier to work with I think.

Henry

 

[hcammack]

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Thats for sure we have some amazing cows and Jersey's are my favorites by far! Here are some pictures of our good cows.

Here is UVM CREAM Syrup she is a nice show heifer she should calve next fall.

Here is UVM CREAM Sierra she isn't standing right but she is a great cow I think the is rate 91EX

I will try and dig up some more good photos of them also their sires aren't in their names because I can't remember them off the top of my head. I know we have used a lot of Itola and Legion. I believe that Syrup is out of Legion and Sierra might be an Itola.

Henry

 

[Hound]

I just polished off the most delicious bowl of cereal of my life.

Bluebell couldn't have behaved better to milk. I didn't have anywhere to tie her so I looped her leadrope over some pipe and set her food in front of her. She didn't so much as move an inch, and I got a gallon from her front two teats. I called it good so that we could end on a good note. I'm beginning to think I got really lucky.

 

[Katy]

Sounds great!

 

[amity3520]

Henry, I am actually in UNH's CREAM program! Funny running into you on here!

 

[Cowgirl71]

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Congrats!!!