Calf not nursing back quarters

[JD88]

Hi all we had a calf Monday and he seems to be doing good. Cow is always full of milk but I don't think he has touched the back teats she is super tight. Should I try milking her out in the back or just let nature take it course? Thanks

 

[GoWyo]

What I have seen happen is the calf doesn't nurse the backs at first, then the cow gets sore when the calf finally gets around to trying to and then the rear quarters eventually get mastitis or blow out.  If she is easy to get to, it may help to take some pressure off and hopefully get the calf to working them.

 

[mbigelow]

I agree if the cow is easy to get in them milk her rear out.  May want to consider saving the milk as it may have some colostrum in those quarters. Also see if your feed store sells teat dialators they make milking one out much easier.  I would watch the cow closely milk fever is not fun. 

 

[JD88]

She is not the easiest to get in but not the worst either. Tomorrow I will get her in and milk her out. I would rather be safe then sorry. Thank you guys for the help

 

[danieljeff]

let Mother nature take her course. As the calf gets older he will nurse from back quarters. if you milk the cow out now you will have to continue doing so until calf nurses from all 4 quarters.

 

[WinterSpringsFarm]

^^I agree. It will all work out. Not like this is a 100lbs a day Holstein we are talking about.

 

[SimFarmer]

We have had this happen almost every year on a couple of cows that produce a lot of milk. The calf just doesn't need the amount of milk the cow is producing. After about a week or so the calf will need more milk and start nursing the unused quarters. As Danieljeff said, let mother nature take its course.

 

[rtmcc]

A big thing this time of year is to make sure those quarters stay clean and milk them just enough to make sure they are opened up and no plug in them.  That way if the calf does try them they will find they work fine.  But if the quarters are full of mud they will probably shy away.

Ron
<cowboy>

 

[JD88]

Well I made up my mind last night. Went out to bring her in and milk her and all but one quarter was sucked down. So gave her one more day and she is all sucked down this morning. Thanks all for your help

 

[GoWyo]

Sometimes it's good when they aren't all that handy to get to. 

 

[justintime]

I have not milked a cow out in at least 40 years. As long as the teat is sealed, it is safe from getting infected. Once you open it and remove the waxy seal in it, that quarter can become a target for bacteria to enter. I have had far less mastitis as well as messed up udders since I made the decision to let nature tend to this. Once you start milking a cow out, you better be there to milk her out every day until the calf is able to take all the milk. If you have time to do this, you have far more time on your hands than I do!  If a cow's udder is damaged by not milking her out after she calves, she should have been replaced anyways, as you are just producing more daughters that will have similar issues. Another case where Mother Nature knows best!

 

[cowboy_nyk]

I have not milked a cow out in at least 40 years. As long as the teat is sealed, it is safe from getting infected. Once you open it and remove the waxy seal in it, that quarter can become a target for bacteria to enter. I have had far less mastitis as well as messed up udders since I made the decision to let nature tend to this. Once you start milking a cow out, you better be there to milk her out every day until the calf is able to take all the milk. If you have time to do this, you have far more time on your hands than I do!  If a cow's udder is damaged by not milking her out after she calves, she should have been replaced anyways, as you are just producing more daughters that will have similar issues. Another case where Mother Nature knows best!

Yup.  I agree wholeheartedly.