Wouldn't know it's the same cow, would you? (pics)

[milkmaid]

Remember my nurse cow, same one that had a severe case of footrot, could barely walk, slipped her calf, wouldn't cycle, finally came into heat and I'm assuming is almost 60 days bred...'ol three-eleven?

She's now walking sound, I had her hooves trimmed up again yesterday, and I snapped a quick picture of her. In comparison...

Back in March...

...and taken this evening.

 

[eric]

Very nice...glad to see you get right back on the horse again and keeping your chin up!!

 

[Tod Dague]

Are you planning on becoming a vet? If so I hope you move to central Tx. You work hard for your animals.

 

[MikeC]

That cow might raise another calf too! When we were dairying we had some old broke down udder holsteins that would raise 3-4 calves.

You done good!

 

[bigbull338]

you done a great job. you got her over the footrot and she gained 200lbs. she looks great . an yes she will raise calves again. scott

 

[jt]

nice looking cow now... quite a turnaround.

hope she has you a fine calf.

good luck

jt

 

[sidney411]

What a difference - makes you feel good doesn't it! Glad this girl turned out for ya!

 

[milkmaid]

Thanks folks. It's amazing what a little TLC and some green grass can do, isn't it? :)

She's actually raising four calves for me right now; there's only one in the picture with her but she does have four 'foster' calves. Last time I milked her by hand she was giving an easy 6 gallons or more. The only reason I managed to get her in the first place was because of the footrot; if she hadn't been so lame my boss never would have considered selling her.

I'm seriously considering going the vet route. I'll be eighteen this fall, but graduating next spring, and then I'm looking into the Utah State dairy science major. They have a pre-vet program that looks really interesting to me.

 

[TheBullLady]

Fantastic job Milkmaid! You are to be commended!

Being a vet is a wonderful thing.. but just something I've noticed. You really have to almost "remove" yourself from the animal itself when you become a vet. I guess the risk is that you get too personally involved / attached to the patient. When we lived in Illinois, the local vet would hire on new vets out of school. One of the new ones, Tom, would occassionally take me on rounds, and I remember him lamenting one day about a dairy he routinely treated animals at. Said the last time he'd visited, the only place he could put his vet bag was on a dead calf. Hated that place, and got really depressed trying to work with the dairyman on his management practices.

I'm not trying to discourage you.. you'd no doubt make a wonderful vet! I just think it's really hard for someone with so much compassion, like you have.

 

[bigbull338]

if your going tobe a vet you have tobe tough hided. i know your a caring person. but that only goes so far when you make your living as a vet. scott

 

[Rustler9]

Great job with the cow. She sure looks good now. :)