|
|
Post by willowgirl on Dec 7, 2016 5:03:32 GMT
We dried off Marianne the week of Thanksgiving! We had been talking about quitting as soon as the weather turned nasty. We had been milking for 15 months and were ready for a break.  Today, I got her final Individual Cow Record from the DHI. In her current (418-day) lactation, she made 22,543 pounds of milk, 1,009 pounds of butterfat and 722 pounds of protein. Her averages were 4.4% for fat and 3.3% for protein. Her lifetime tally over three lactations (1,483 days in milk) was 81,437 pounds of milk, 3,192 pounds of fat and 2,582 pounds of protein. That is around 10,000 gallons of milk, or enough to fill a family swimming pool twice! It is really astounding how much milk a modern Holstein can produce. Incidentally, she just turned 6 last month, and hopefully will be able to enjoy many years of retirement in our backyard. |
|
|
|
Post by shellymay on Dec 7, 2016 12:34:36 GMT
willowgirl, thanks for the education, I for one had no clue about the production a cow gives, very interesting and enjoy your break
|
|
|
|
Post by barefootfarmer on Dec 7, 2016 15:47:18 GMT
Wow-good girl, Marianne! Last December my Holstein, Nelly calved- my first Holstein and Nelly's first calf. She had some unexpected complications and we were fortunate to pull her through. I was expecting swimming pools of milk, too. But we ended up with her peaking at 5 gallons a day. She's due again at the end of this month. She's my cheese cow I've noticed that Nelly never actually looks like she's pregnant, compared to my Jersey cows who walk around like they are going to explode for the last two months of their gestation. Do you find that to be true of most Holsteins? |
|
|
|
Post by willowgirl on Dec 7, 2016 17:58:33 GMT
I dunno; most Holsteins seem to pod out a bit, although sometimes they're just fat, LOL. We've dried off a few cows who turned out to be not pregnant ... (false-positive test or an early undetected abortion). Of course we've also dried off a few who were on the skinny side and I wondered if they were actually pregnant, yet they calved just fine. Ya just never know! My favorite cow at work, Henrietta, just calved yesterday afternoon. My boss didn't get a chance to bring her over from the dry cow barn last night before it got dark, so she got to spend the night with her calf. I'm not even sure if she had a bull or a heifer (hopefully another heifer!). I went out there after milking but it was dark and I didn't want to disturb the girls. Henny was up on her feet, though, which is a good sign. This is her fourth calf and she's never had any difficulties so I'm hoping for a good outcome! She has been one of my favorites since she came in as a heifer and I'm planning to buy her whenever her time comes to leave the herd. She reminds me a lot of Bitey, the cow in my avatar whom I lost last summer. Like Bitey, she is sweet but kind of has a mind of her own, LOL. |
|
|
|
Post by willowgirl on Dec 8, 2016 14:25:17 GMT
Annnnd ... Henrietta did the splits yesterday and dislocated her hip.  Trying to get vet out today. Keep a good thought for her, OK? |
|
|
|
Post by shellymay on Dec 8, 2016 16:06:52 GMT
Oh NO, sorry to hear this and will saying a prayer for her.....
|
|
|
|
Post by PNP Katahdins on Dec 8, 2016 16:35:58 GMT
Prayers for Henrietta, her recovery and a bright future at Willow and Numb's Retirement Home for Wayward Holsteins.
Peg
|
|
|
|
Post by barefootfarmer on Dec 8, 2016 16:55:09 GMT
Oh no! I hope her pelvis is ok.
|
|
|
|
Post by dustawaits on Dec 8, 2016 22:52:50 GMT
Had a beef heifer do that we put some kind of brace that kept her hips together and all
Was soon right. She never showed anymore problems in later years.
|
|
|
|
Post by countrymom22 on Dec 9, 2016 2:56:19 GMT
Prayers for poor Henny. Let us know what happens with the vet.
|
|
|
|
Post by willowgirl on Dec 10, 2016 5:11:53 GMT
She couldn't stand and the prognosis was very poor so the decision was made to euthanize. I am heartbroken. She was the prettiest cow I've ever seen and a real sweetheart too. She was my pet through three lactations ... she never made a whole lot of milk but my boss kept her around to keep me happy, lol. I would have bought her sooner but she always settled on the first breeding and I really didn't want a calf. When we dried her off a couple of months ago, I had asked my boss if it would be OK if we didn't breed her back next time and I'd buy her when her milk production slacked off in upcoming lactation. He was amenable. She was this close to being able to run around in my woods and nibble grass with her old buddy Snowy ... Well, some we win and some we lose. I looked out for her for years and saw her out of this world peacefully. Sometimes that's all ya can do. |
|
|
|
Post by PNP Katahdins on Dec 10, 2016 6:49:38 GMT
Hugs to you and Numb. You tried your best for her.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2016 7:17:11 GMT
I'm so sorry to hear about Henrietta, willowgirl. That's very sad, and I know how much you'll miss her. She sounds like a really special girl. |
|
|
|
Post by shellymay on Dec 10, 2016 13:54:49 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by willowgirl on Dec 10, 2016 15:51:14 GMT
Thanks you guys.
Numb says he couldn't do my job. Heck, some days I can barely do my job! But like I told my boss last night, if I didn't care about the cows, it wouldn't be any fun.
|
|
|
|
Post by countrymom22 on Dec 13, 2016 2:33:55 GMT
So sorry for your loss! She does sound like she was a special girl. Then again, so are you willowgirl. Sounds like your boss is a pretty OK guy too. What you do for these cows is wonderful! But loving an animal that much does open us up to the pain of losing them. But life just wouldn't be the same without them! |
|
|
|
Post by willowgirl on Dec 13, 2016 14:25:36 GMT
Thanks CM. Yeah, my boss is a really cool guy. He hates to cull almost as bad as I do. It's one of the reasons why I like working there -- he gives the girls every chance. |
|
|
|
Post by barefootfarmer on Dec 13, 2016 16:01:22 GMT
I'm so sorry, willowgirl, I even got choked up to hear about Henrietta. I just hate it when things like that happen. Especially for what I call no good reasons. Just bad luck. All we can do is love those girls and do our best for them. Sounds like that's just what you did. You just have to pick up your heavy heart and keep going. Hugs to you. |
|
|
|
Post by paquebot on Dec 16, 2016 14:56:02 GMT
Seemed like it always happened to the cows with the biggest udders, too. Never saw it actually happen but was told that it was usually when two cows started fighting on icy ground. No trying to save them, straight to the butcher knife.
Martin
|
|
|
|
Post by solargeek on Dec 16, 2016 18:17:53 GMT
Very sorry for your loss. Hard at this time of year.
|
|
|
|
Post by Woodpecker on Dec 16, 2016 22:04:29 GMT
So,sorry willowgirl for your loss...it's obvious just how much you loved her. I pray for peace for you.
|
|
|
|
Post by comfortablynumb on Dec 16, 2016 22:17:35 GMT
Seemed like it always happened to the cows with the biggest udders, too. Never saw it actually happen but was told that it was usually when two cows started fighting on icy ground. No trying to save them, straight to the butcher knife. Martin Actually this seems to happen when they are humping each other while in heat, You get one randy big girl tries to mount a little wee cow like henny and there ago.... broken cow. The slippy cement adds to the problems. When MaryAnnne is in heat I have to carry a hot shot with me or risk being bum rushed by a grunting moo mountain bent on committing a grievous sin upon my persons. I tell Willow the dairy is like womens prison.... don't be the petite little cute one and if you are, learn to run. |
|
|
|
Post by willowgirl on Dec 19, 2016 13:56:28 GMT
She wants ya, Babe. All the girls do!  |
|
