Well I'm pretty sure I screwed up! Used a metal milking straw/needle on a young cow. Having to collect milk for bottle to give to newborn till it figured out the nursing process. May be a dumb sucker. Looking brighter today until I go out to collect some milk in bucket, go to back left quarter and the milk is dark pink. Blood in the milk. So I call the vet and tell him and mention I was using a milking needle and he got upset and said NEVER on a healthy young cow. There are valves etc that can be damaged. Not wise to use them. I have been very gentle and only stuck them in about an inch. Vet said doesn't matter, they are bad. He was pretty upset and so now I'm upset. I've been working hard to help this calf and heifer and I feel awful if I have done something to mess up her udders permanently. The calf will only suck the back 2 quarters right now which is good because it wasnt at all before. Bad thing is one of those is the one with the blood in it. He said it wouldn't hurt the calf as long as the quarter wasn't swollen, hot etc. bag looks fine. for now!! May need to come do an infusion if it gets worse he said. So, has anyone used a straw to milk ? Have I ruined this cows teats? Feeling really bad. I had no idea, nor did my husband that this was something we should not be doing. Only time we had ever used one was for an old cow with a broken down bag, that was too large for calf to nurse. Thanks! Colleen
