sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts
Posted - Mar 24 2011 : 08:04:12 AM
today is not a good day for belle. i am worried once again. we are going to chop her hay today again. another kind. she is not tolerating ANY hay so how do you feed her without it. go figure what a dilemaa. so gotta go feed the girl her concentrates. they are what is keeping her alive. normally she would eat 30 to 40 pounds hay a day. she is eating about 10 if i am lucky and cudding it back up , choking it out of her mouth. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm farm girl #1014
rksmith
True Blue Farmgirl
858 Posts
Rachel
Clayton
GA
USA
858 Posts
Posted - Mar 24 2011 : 5:26:10 PM
Try adding some hay-extender maybe?
Rachel Farmgirl Sister #2753
Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps, if you are not willing to move your feet--Dr. Kioni
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts
Posted - Mar 25 2011 : 06:00:38 AM
well one more day. she is still not well. i do think she is better. i was gone yesterday, that was hard. i have been checking her and feeding her 3 times a day. oat hay was suggested for her to try. i will look for some. she has such a sweet easy spirit. i do think she will make it now. i think its a matter of continuing the food. wow expensive for all the concentrates. sure hoping she can go back to hay soon. the cud on the barn floor is less now. so i am thinking we are on the up side. i sure hope so. thanks for all the help girls. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm farm girl #1014
That's good news, Sherrye. I can't even imagine doing all that. Do you think you will always have to feed her like this? Or will her jaw improve some? And why can't she eat grass? Just wondering. I hope you have a great day.
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts
Posted - Mar 25 2011 : 06:58:24 AM
well kris i sure hope not. it is SO expensive. her swelling has gone down. i think it will always hurt some. if i can get her stable i will let her just grow calves. i found another cow on cl. closer than idaho so i will call about her today too. we shall see how it all goes. she had bumped it on the tractor bucket. so i am hoping it will settle down. i sent my pigs to butcher. yipee happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm farm girl #1014
My pigs are going the 11th of April. I am counting down the days. I will not be sorry to see them leave at all. I am already getting tired of feeding them. But it has not been as bad as the last 4 I had. These are really good pigs. The electric fence isn't even working and they stay right where I can see them. they are tearing up the goat yard bad but they are happy pigs. And it will grow back soon enough. I'd like to put them up front to eat all the clover before they go.
I am so glad Belle is somewhat better. I guess it will be a slow road for her. Poor girl. SHe has had a rough life til you got her. I hope she does get better.
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts
Posted - Mar 25 2011 : 07:37:41 AM
thanks so much kris. she is a sweet old girl. i will feel honored the day i can turn her to pasture. she has not seen grass for awhile. she was not even digesting that. well when she is dried off i am going to turn her out to pasture. it will be her rebirth day. i will never milk her. i will let her just be a mommy. she is such a good mommy cow. i am going to bump the hog thread up today. happy days sherrrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm farm girl #1014
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts
Posted - Mar 25 2011 : 11:45:51 AM
he did not think it would. he suggested putting her down. so this is a good sign. she ate her concentrates with gusto. i see NO cud on the barn floor today. thanks alee
the learn as we go silk purse farm farm girl #1014
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts
Posted - Mar 26 2011 : 12:34:17 PM
so amother day is good. she had no cud on barn floor today. she ate her food happily. we then proceeded to go to the hay stack. well we are out of alfalfa today. the hay was no good. she ran up to the electric gate and stopped. turned her head and looked at mt. the sun WAS out and she was going to pasture no matter what. so i walked her over. she is thin but i think she will live to have her calf. we will see if she cuds up the pasture grass tonight. i hate to have folks on the road see her so thin. we are needing feed today. she finished her colicleanse. it cleans the rumen and digestive tract with psyllium and good bacteria. so i am again encouraged. thanks to all you girls for the support and checking on us. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm farm girl #1014
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts
Posted - Mar 27 2011 : 4:25:05 PM
hey there girls, i think the girl will make it. she is eating with gusto. the goats were trying to take her pellet and she had the energy to push them to their own bowl.she did cud up the dead grass that is still in the pasture this am. but its the only one i see. it was huge. probably weighed 2 pounds wet in a clump. so i have an offer on sophie. i was not going to sell her. i need money to pay for my cow. she is belles baby. i am going to ask $1000.00 for her. she is halter trained and a pet. the gal wants her for her daughter for 4 h. she said i could have the calf. i think unless something weird comes up i can stop this thread and go back to goats and cow posts. i really think if i can eventually dry her off she will do good. like some have said the green grass is coming. it will help her too. but for today snowing sideways. so i think she will be ok. happy days for belle. thanks to all you farmgirls for supporting us along the way. i felt lifted up each time one of you posted. thanks for the love from belle and me
the learn as we go silk purse farm farm girl #1014
belle is hurt
Posted - Mar 24 2011 : 08:04:12 AM
It's so hard tosee our animals hurting. Baby steps...1 day at a time.