Question on calving and milking

[jamshundred]

Help!

A Dexter friend has a cow that had her first calf on Sunday and the calf froze.   I have someone in another state looking for a cow to milk, so this would be a win-win.  However, it is Wednesday - -- and I cannot pull this together before the weekend.     I really don't want to go get that cow and have to milk her myself, ( never handled - and getting to a location where I can pen her is a problem with the ground conditions).    HOW LONG can I prolong milking this cow and then bring her back into milk?  Do I need to do this immediately or just forget it and let the owner dry her off?

Sorry to be missing around here.  I am over-my-neck in work and projects!  Weather isn't too bad here, but winter is so much extra work no matter what!

Judy

[lonecowhand]

How sad, Judy. I guess you folks have some Real Cold out there.

[Donlin Stud]

Judy while we dont milk ourselves, my thoughts are based on what we have heard from others, and also watching one of our seasoned Dexter mums after losing her premmie calf last year;


- Wednesday to the Saturday could be a little bit of a push because of the emotional distress that mum would be under.

- To travel, move from routine and comfort zone while stressed could dry up even the most productive milker/mother.

- In my personal opinion only – I would leave mum where she is to recover from her loss and try to locate an emotionally stable mum/milker elsewhere.

Sorry I couldnt be of more help.