Hi, cousin of mine has a (pet) cow that had a calf 2 days ago, we had to give the calf Clostrum, (milk the cow out) because the teats were to big for the calf to nurse. Only 2 of the Quarters have milk in them. Will the cow produce enough milk for the calf to live on? With help the calf is sucking on the huge teats.
I think it's just a thistle. The flowers start out soft, then turn prickly.TC, what is that flower by your left foot, and in front of the cow's nose??????
Against my better judgment, I kept the only heifer from my fave. Currently on her 6th calf and a perfect udder - huge sigh of relief (don't discount the bulls contribution!).Probably mastitis caused half the bag to be non productive. She can raise the calf on half her udder. I had an older Suffolk ewe that freshened with only half an udder and raised twins on that one usable teat. She was a gift, but I culled her after she weaned her lambs.
If they won't cull the cow, then don't bother to breed her again. If she is a pet just keep her that way without breeding her. If they have to breed her, she should be culled. Too much work, unless they need the genetics or something. If it is a heifer and they want to milk out the cow and bottle raise the calf they can raise another pet.
Had a cow that bought as heifer, she had a bad udder had evidently had an udder infection as a calf and had an awful looking udder when she calved. Culled her out after a couple of calves. Reluctantly kept a heifer from her. Was not expecting much at all and to my surprise she has a real nice udder and has raised two good calves. She calved first at 21 months old and found her standing over her calf trying to fight off about 15 black buzzards. So she has earned my respect at this point. I credit the bull with being an udder improver and with passing on some protective instincts whether the latter being right or wrong.Against my better judgment, I kept the only heifer from my fave. Currently on her 6th calf and a perfect udder - huge sigh of relief (don't discount the bulls contribution!).
I did sell her when she was bred, which hurt because she was a great cow. Fortunately, it healed so well you really couldn't tell except she only had 3 teats and I didn't get docked.The picture @TCRanch showed looks like gangrene mastitis. It happens in dairy cattle occasionally. Once the quarter "blows out" and then dries/heals up, the cow will milk from the other quarters. The production will usually be less (not counting the lost quarter) but the udder normally does not recover well in the other quarters. Many farmers that have had this happen will keep the cow only because she is bred and close enough to going dry that they feel that she can go on and deliver the calf. It takes a few months for it to completely dry up and heal and none of the buyers will touch them at the stockyards with it looking so gross.
It is not something that they "pass on" to their offspring. Not considered genetic. It comes from an infection that for some reason just goes toxic and creates a major infection response....and it seems to only affect one quarter although I did see one that it affected both quarters on one side....never have I seen it happen in both front quarters or both back quarters.
Have never seen any of the dairy farmers that have kept heifers out of the few that get the gangrene mastitis, to say that they have seen a daughter have more of a tendency to have it happen to them.