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Barnyard Buddies:  Where's my cream??  |
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Brew Crew
True Blue Farmgirl
676 Posts
Molly
Arizona
676 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 13 2011 : 07:40:38 AM
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Daisy (4 yr old Jersey/Holstein) came to us already in milk last year. She was giving around 3 gallons/ day, and of that, we would get about a quart of cream.
Since she's freshened this year, we have hardly ANY cream! Like, half a pint for every 3 gallons. I've upped her grain ration (just standard 4-way cob, the same as she was on last year) but haven't seen a change in her production. Any suggestions as to the change? I was counting on making and freezing tons of butter and I barely have enough to get me through my daily use! :/
"The ideal equestrian has the courage of a lion, the patience of a saint, and the hands of a woman."
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2011 : 08:02:58 AM
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hi molly, are you sharing with the calf? cows know how to hold the cream for the calf. when did she freshen? is her calf around her. my mini jersey i tried to share calf with. i never got cream till cocoa was weaned. you can add sunflower seeds to her diet. how much milk are you getting? most cream in my cows is rear teat stuff. be sure to milk those well. i am so happy for you to have a calf and milk. if i can help more just ask. i can milk and come in and see if you answered my questions. i think mom is holding up for baby. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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Brew Crew
True Blue Farmgirl
676 Posts
Molly
Arizona
676 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2011 : 08:32:16 AM
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Thanks Sherry! Yes, I am sharing with the calf! I had no idea they could 'hold' it. The calf is on her all day, and we separate them at night so I can milk in the morning. I get 3 gallons this way, every day, but hardly any cream. So you think she's holding out on me??? Ha ha, well, at least if that's all, and I can look forward to it after the calf is weaned. I was thinking it was more of a dietary problem. I was hoping someone wasn't going to say, "Double the alfalfa!!". She is already going through half a bale a day (50#), and it's $16/bale right now. I'm not saving any money by having a milk cow, that's certain! LOL.
"The ideal equestrian has the courage of a lion, the patience of a saint, and the hands of a woman."
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2011 : 08:59:24 AM
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Molly, they will hold out on the cream for the calf. How old is the cow? I was just talking to my friend yesterday about this. She has 2 Jerseys and she said the older they are the more cream hers are giving. She has one cow that has a 3 month old calf still on her. She is now starting to get lots of cream from the other cow but not much from that cow. Cows are smart that way. They know their calf needs that cream to grow big and strong.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2011 : 8:47:40 PM
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you really can get more cream with a cup of sunflower seeds in while shes milking. i do know for a fact on belle the more i feed, the more milk she produces. i believe kris is right too. older cow more cream. happy days for you milking. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4461 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4461 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2011 : 07:37:38 AM
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My friend, hand milks and she proved the theory of cows "holding cream". I always thought, there is no way they can do that. But she kept the first half of milk, seperate from the last half. and sure enough that last milk had lots more cream then the first.
Michele |
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Barnyard Buddies: Where's my cream?? |
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Where's my cream??
