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Newbie Question - Jersey & HoJo heifer milk production
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<blockquote data-quote="farmerjan" data-source="post: 1545056" data-attributes="member: 25884"><p>If the heifer is bagging up already, then it is very likely she will have more milk than her calf can use. As others have said, best time is to get a calf on her ASAP AFTER she has her own. I let the new calf get colostrum, then take the cow away. Bring her back to the calf, with another calf in the pen with the new one. Let her calf on one side, try the new one on the other side. Sometimes they will do better both on one side as the cow will smell her own calf and accept the extra next to it. Sometimes I will have a calf go on the back when the cows own calf goes on the side. You are going to have to have a way to contain the cow, head catch or halter tied up or something. A first calf heifer is trying to learn so much and can easily get confused and upset.</p><p>I do not suggest a month or 2 month old calf as the cows own calf might not get as much milk as it needs. They should be fairly close to the same age. Get a calf and bottle feed for a few days or a week or 2 before the cow calves. Then put it on her after her own calf has had a good feeding or two of colostrum. </p><p></p><p>If you were not planning to use these as nurse cows, or milk for yourself, why get the dairy cross heifers? The jer/hol crosses usually are very prolific producers and will definitely need one or even 2 more calves per cow. And a dairy cross will have a hard time keeping her body weight up while milking as it is just the nature of the animal to put all her feed/ and her condition, into producing milk. So if you do not supplement her with grain, she will lose weight. Eventually she will drop production back, and start to gain. But in the meantime, she often will not cycle and come into heat. </p><p>Jer/Hol crosses are known for greater production than straight jerseys. They also often have more edema and swelling, before calving. </p><p></p><p>Darcelina has very good advice. I have several nurse cows and they raise several calves each. They take work and feed to keep them healthy and productive.</p><p>A 1/2 hol/ 1/2 angus often has more milk than a calf can first use, but they will often slow down production to match what the calf is drinking after awhile. They still will lose some weight... it is literally "milking the fat off their back" as their body pulls from their own body reserves to provide the production. We have some and they really feel the pull down in the winter if they calve in the fall. I try to only calve my dairy/beef cross cows in the spring so it is easier on their body reserves, if I am not going to supplement them with grain. </p><p></p><p>Find a dairy near you and see if they sell any bull calves direct. I do not buy sale barn calves anymore. They are way too exposed to every germ under the sun at a sale barn.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="farmerjan, post: 1545056, member: 25884"] If the heifer is bagging up already, then it is very likely she will have more milk than her calf can use. As others have said, best time is to get a calf on her ASAP AFTER she has her own. I let the new calf get colostrum, then take the cow away. Bring her back to the calf, with another calf in the pen with the new one. Let her calf on one side, try the new one on the other side. Sometimes they will do better both on one side as the cow will smell her own calf and accept the extra next to it. Sometimes I will have a calf go on the back when the cows own calf goes on the side. You are going to have to have a way to contain the cow, head catch or halter tied up or something. A first calf heifer is trying to learn so much and can easily get confused and upset. I do not suggest a month or 2 month old calf as the cows own calf might not get as much milk as it needs. They should be fairly close to the same age. Get a calf and bottle feed for a few days or a week or 2 before the cow calves. Then put it on her after her own calf has had a good feeding or two of colostrum. If you were not planning to use these as nurse cows, or milk for yourself, why get the dairy cross heifers? The jer/hol crosses usually are very prolific producers and will definitely need one or even 2 more calves per cow. And a dairy cross will have a hard time keeping her body weight up while milking as it is just the nature of the animal to put all her feed/ and her condition, into producing milk. So if you do not supplement her with grain, she will lose weight. Eventually she will drop production back, and start to gain. But in the meantime, she often will not cycle and come into heat. Jer/Hol crosses are known for greater production than straight jerseys. They also often have more edema and swelling, before calving. Darcelina has very good advice. I have several nurse cows and they raise several calves each. They take work and feed to keep them healthy and productive. A 1/2 hol/ 1/2 angus often has more milk than a calf can first use, but they will often slow down production to match what the calf is drinking after awhile. They still will lose some weight... it is literally "milking the fat off their back" as their body pulls from their own body reserves to provide the production. We have some and they really feel the pull down in the winter if they calve in the fall. I try to only calve my dairy/beef cross cows in the spring so it is easier on their body reserves, if I am not going to supplement them with grain. Find a dairy near you and see if they sell any bull calves direct. I do not buy sale barn calves anymore. They are way too exposed to every germ under the sun at a sale barn. [/QUOTE]
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