Emma Jones wrote:Well I did have a bash at milking this morning, I managed to collect a whole one...cup. Yep, that's how good a milker I am : ( I will be persevering this week but we are also going to purchase a surge milker just in case my super powers aren't quite up to scratch. Of course I could always try dressing up in camouflage and hiding behind a bush
New to this forum, nice to hear your experience Emma. We have similar problem. I think I just caught our mini Jersey, Buttercup, nursing. We only found out 2 days before she delivered that she was pregnant so everything has been a rush learning. Her previous owners didn't know they sold us a pregnant heifer-they were just as surprised. Our one bull is too young to get her pregnant and we've only had her for 4 months. Yesterday Buttercup delivered her first calf like a pro, cleaned her, protected her... but wouldn't nurse. We tried to milk out colostrum for the calf. Our neighbor, who has a lifetime of taking care of cows came over to help. Said he's seen this many times before. He tried to help get the calf, Keshava, to latch on, we tried the bottle, we finally tried to syringe milk into its mouth. Then I found this thread. What a relief. Buttercup and Keshava both seem healthy. Buttercup is very protective of her new baby.
Yesterday, between my daughter and I, we milked out about a pint n a half twice, but today, only about a cup this morning. Her udders where defintily firm. Maybe Keshava nursed last night/this morning. I'm glad to hear your experience was similar, but how did it go after that? I see this is an older thread (?) but I would like to know your experience cause I'm new to this. I wasn't expecting this day for another year or so.
Our Jersey is 3/4 miniature and a 1/4 full size. I have no idea who she is mated to but will ask her previous owners what bulls they had at the time.
Thanks, Rebecca
