NewMoo
Well-known member
I love your directness! It is refreshing.I haven't seen her with other cows, but I will concur with your brother. A cow that starts to use her horns is a bully. And she will get worse. I had a cow that had horns and for 2 lactations, 4 + years, was fine. Then she started using them and became a real b#@*h with them. I caught her hooking calves and so that winter when it got cool, she got her come-uppence and we took them off. She sure got a surprise the first time she went to use them and "nothing happened" because there were no horns. In a group of all having horns, there are few bullies. But when there is one with horns, they become insufferable. She will hurt someone.....
I assume that you are up for the daily milking since you don't think she will take calves. If she does not get milked out then she will get mastitis and you will lose a quarter or 2 at the least.... It takes some dedication so you really need to get the mindset of milking. The less grain you give her will help to keep her production down, but they are bred to milk, so what ever her genetic potential is, her system will try to reach it. Less grain will keep it a smaller amount, but they will milk the fat off their back in the beginning..... alot of hay will help but she will lose weight.
When I asked my vet about dehorning her and whether it was painful, his country boy reply was, "God GOD, yes!" That put me off, but I saw her go after a 400 lb calf yesterday right in the ribs. I will not have that! So, I guess a makeover is in her future when it cools off down here in Alabama.
Good news! I found her former owner and got some history on her:
I called the sale barn! They gave me a phone number for the former owner. This was after spending frustrating time trying to find a database to search with her AIN. (840) Is there a searchable database?? I found a Charolais one.
Audrey's momma was killed when a tree limb fell on her, so they pretty much raised her. The former owner raises beef cattle but got a couple of jerseys to teach his grandkids the old ways. She raised one calf. Didn't have any trouble with calving. He did mention the bullying part. Said she would be about 4 years old.
Here's the interesting part— she is bred to a brangus bull. Here I was with dreams of a doe-eyed, buckskin calf! Black will do. Will bring more money if it's a bull. Im keeping a heifer!
Plus, I am rethinking the milking part. Maybe I'll try an extra calf on her. Either way, I'll be up bottle feeding or milking! Actually both if she refuses it.