1st calf of the year!!
- Thread starter Doc
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Shadow Hill Farm
Well-known member
Nice looking healthy calf! Wow with an udder like that she'll grow great! Did you have to milk the mother out before she calved? I had one like that and had to milk her out a good 2-3 weeks before the calf dropped.
RyanChandler
Well-known member
You wouldn't consider keeping replacements out of a cow with that udder, would you?
Doc
Well-known member
Chandler said:
You bet I would. For a 13 yr old cow , I think her udder is in pretty good shape. It may not fit your criteria, but considering I have never had to milk it out and the teats aren't big bottle teats I see nothing wrong with it.
Doc
Well-known member
DL said:
Might do it DL, her mother is a Shannon Music and a full Irish cow.
kfacres
Well-known member
Freerider said:
Udder size has no correlation to milking ability. It's how often they fill that udder that counts...
I'd take a little tight bagged Jersey over a monster bagged holstein that hangs down below her hock any day of the week.. Same holds true for beef cows and those little tight udder Angus first calf heifers...
Cut the BS said:
Thanks tips!
So tight bagged jersey's milk more that huge bagged holsteins?....Last time i checked Holsteins are the milking champs.
Also I'd put money on that Shorthorn cow being my best milker....that's all i was referring to.
kfacres
Well-known member
sometimes... It's not uncommon for a jersey to give 100 lbs plus in today's day in age, with the genetic advancement's they've made.. The Holstein breed on the other hand, is a dire need of outcross. Maybe you just have a herd of pitful milkers? Club calf mamas maybe, I hear most barn mice give more milk than the do... And all I was saying was that Udder size has no correlation to milking ability. It's how often they fill that udder that counts then you put a big ole bag like that, coupled with balloon tits-- (herf breed maybe).. you've got serious problems...Freerider said:
Shadow Hill Farm
Well-known member
Cut the BS said:
I agree with what you are saying here! Not only did I have the one to milk out but I also had another one that filled up but not that much milk! I forgot about her! Her calves were nice but in terms of her bringing them on weren't that great. Needless to say she didn't stay around plus she was always the tougher one in terms of getting breed by AI.
heatherleblanc
Well-known member
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- Jan 2, 2012
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What is the breeding on that cow? Did her dam have an udder like that as well?
And I can agree with what you guys have been saying, my smallest cow (only about 1050-1100 lbs, only kept her because of her breeding and to see if she grew), had a super small tight udder, and had a 76 lb calf that weaned at 600 lbs! So even though she is a really small cow, and that is a small calf, considering it was more than 50% of her weight, I find her just as valuable as a 1500 lbs cow, plus she doesn't eat as much.
And I can agree with what you guys have been saying, my smallest cow (only about 1050-1100 lbs, only kept her because of her breeding and to see if she grew), had a super small tight udder, and had a 76 lb calf that weaned at 600 lbs! So even though she is a really small cow, and that is a small calf, considering it was more than 50% of her weight, I find her just as valuable as a 1500 lbs cow, plus she doesn't eat as much.
Doc
Well-known member
heatherleblanc said:
She is by Ballyart Vantage and her mother was by AF Deerpark Dividend 79 aka Explosion from the Shannon Music cow family from Ireland. As far as her dams' udder I don't know, I bought her as a yrlng.
I understand what some of y'all are saying on a big udder vs a smaller one. But I also think that I would rather take a chance on a cow with an udder that size that she will enough milk vs one with a lot smaller one that you are wondering if the milk is rich enough and replenished enough to support the calf.
kfacres
Well-known member
they all start out small uddered to prove themselves.. it's how long that udder cleft holds up that makes it or breaks it.. if the cow's old as dirt like yours, that udder is acceptable.. if she's just a 4 year old... that's another story. personally, I tend to shy away from theh big and floppy bags... I'd rather take my changes with a small tight one that looks full...Doc said:
lowann
Well-known member
Nice calf Doc!
Momma looks great for 13!!
Momma looks great for 13!!
