How To Dry Off A Cow - No Mastitis, No Milk Fever!

[@deanna4814]

I have my first dairy heifer due in September we have always milked our bottle fed beef cows ( they give about a gallon a day) but with five kids we needed more milk so we're stepping into dairy. Could you do a beginning to week two video on how to safely freshen a cow(what to feed her and when, any supplements or medications to keep her comfortable, and what to look for)? Step by step what to do as soon as the calf hits the ground. Nobody seems to have a good video on what to do. I'm a visual learner I do have that book you recommended but I just want to see it for myself.

[@morethanfarmers]

Sounds good! Yeah, I was planning to do a video of that once my cow freshens in June. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@lornapenn-chester6867]

Such a lovely, playful and friendly cow ❤

[@roxannecarson2814]

I had exactly what some of your viewers have said, I was afraid to do things wrong. I waited to long to get her stanchion done. Funny though, I was training her to hear the bucket, washing her udder, and brushing her without a stand or anything and she never kicked or moved much. Now she has weaned her calf and is drying up. I am worried about starting to milk at this time so she doesn’t get an infection. I believe she is bred, but I will be doing a preg test soon. I look forward to a good winter and another strong calf. This will be her first time being AI’d. My AI guy used a Jersey straw and she is a red Dexter. My son & husband think I obsessed. You give great info and I love how clear your info is. Thank you. 🙏 God Bless.

[@morethanfarmers]

From what you told me it sounds like you should be milking. Milking her won’t give her an infection. You should be milking up until about 2 months before she has her next calf.

[@heelerridgefarm2366]

Did she have her calf? How did it go?

[@thecrookeddoorfarm]

This video came at just the right time! I dried my Opal off using your advice. She was milking under a gallon per day on OAD milking. I last milked her Sunday morning and I have been so nervous. This is my first dairy cow, so I am learning! She will calf in July. I just bought a new girl who is due in June. Thanks for sharing! Your guernsey is absolutely beautiful, that breed may be my next milk cow!

[@morethanfarmers]

That’s awesome! You’re very welcome. I understand what it’s like to be nervous with all the new cow stuff! Even though some of that still hasn’t completely gone away, the big part of it does. You’ll get there 😉 Good luck!

[@Arash_Zare_Vet]

Such a helpful video. Thank you! As a small animal practitioner, I refreshed my mind with your video on Drying off a cow.

[@morethanfarmers]

That’s great! You’re very welcome 😊

[@EmilyGS31]

I know this video is somewhat old but it was VERY helpful- thank you!

[@sheilamclaughlin963]

We took a couple of weeks to dry a cow up, when u wean beef cows u just pull the calves off and hopefully haul to a distant place on a full moon neither one will bawl more than about 3 days, if they can see or hear each other a little longer, beef cows give less milk

[@donnadelevieleuse9564]

Matty is a beautiful cow. Loved it when she wanted you to pet her.

[@WonbyGrace2]

Well done video. Nice cow Great information

[@amaryllis8974]

The hair loss might be from winter mange- which sounds bad but it's pretty common during late winter/spring. Hair loss is usually seen on the neck, tailhead and legs. If the cow is healthy it'll clear up on its own with warm weather, but some might want to treat it on a milk cow. Your girl looks like she's in great condition to be drying off, can't hardly see a rib!!👍

[@morethanfarmers]

Yeah pretty sure that’s what it is. It happens every year, but seems to clear up on its own. I tried putting stuff on before and it didn’t seem to go any faster.

[@racheljohnson2892]

What is the best way to reintroduce grain and Alfalfa back after she freshens?

[@morethanfarmers]

Alfalfa you can start feeding right away. It's a good thing for em since they're needing more calcium. If you have a really high producer, and her udder is crazy full, you might wanna wait a bit since alfalfa boosts production. I only feed a little grain at milking so I just start feeding her grain when I start milking. It wouldn't be a bad idea to start feeding her maybe like 1/4-1/2 ration a couple weeks before freshening just to ease her digestion back into it.

[@ShannonSonriseFamilyFarm]

I start with maybe a quart mixed with a bit of bicarb and then just slowly work up from there :)

[@ShannonSonriseFamilyFarm]

Made the mistake of giving too much right off the hop once 😵‍💫🙈

[@katariinakuusk3501]

❤❤❤

[@jerex112]

milk cows are too complicated

[@morethanfarmers]

Haha...It's just like everything else though, once you get the hang of it, it becomes easy and second nature.

[@sozod2000]

Yes, there is always a learning curve to doing new things. For instance, when we started milking our one cow, it took 45 minutes. But we got it down to 25!🙌🏼 Great video! We freshened our cow several weeks ago, and according to you, we did it right! 😆

[@jerex112]

yea but its a live animal... i dont enjoy risking thousands on something i might kill@@morethanfarmers