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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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 Posted - Jan 17 2016 : 2:01:56 PM
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We are trying to figure out if we want Flossie bred now as her due date would be the end of October.
Betsy is due to calve in July (pregnancy needs confirmed) and Clover is due to calve in early October (also needs confirmed).
Just talked with Ethan and he suggested that we wait until May to breed Flossie so we'd have a calf born in February 2017. We really don't want a calf born during the winter months.
Do you all think that Flossie will keep giving us milk that long? She freshened last August and we wouldn't be drying her up until December 2016. |
Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jan 17 2016 : 5:48:24 PM
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i thought mary jane's original plan was to keep milking fanci for a super long time after giving birth, as fanci is older so mary jane didn't necessarily want to breed her again (or maybe not just too soon - don't want to put words in her mouth).
i know she stated that you can milk cows for years - think of how some humans nurse for years. of course it depends on the health of the cow during that time... |
_(199x300)_(66x100).jpg?v 93697001) Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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Posted - Jan 17 2016 : 9:18:02 PM
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| You are correct, Cindy. I had forgotten MaryJane's plan concerning Fanci. Flossie is on a great diet now and that would continue. I guess as Ethan is milking her, he would notice if the milk production slows and then we'd have to breed sooner. It just would be nice not to have a calving in the middle of the winter and then all of our cows would be nicely spaced. With more experience under our belts, we may change the game plan. |
Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Jan 18 2016 : 08:23:26 AM
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I would think giving milk is easier than giving calves. I think your plan is a good one. It gives Flossie and you time to settle in. I'm already wishing I'd waited to breed Miss Daisy. On Saturday she gave me 2 1/2 gallons of milk!!! Pretty good for such a pint-sized cow. I feel like we're on a roll and now because she's pregnant, I have to dry her up the first week of March. Although, given Sweet William's endlessly sweet disposition, we're all looking forward to meeting Miss Buttercup May 9.
Keep in mind also that for the first 4 months of their freshening, you're sharing milk with a calf. It feels like you just get on a roll and then you need to stop. Unless you're relying on calves as one of your crops, it might be good to make milk your priority. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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Posted - Jan 18 2016 : 10:07:50 AM
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Wise woman, MaryJane. Thank you for your advice. I would like to sit for a bit and just let things settle down and I'm sure Flossie would too! Then, by the time she would be getting bred, the dairy barn would be completed and more fencing would be done as well. I'm loving the roll we are currently on! Last night we had 8 gallons of milk in the fridge! :-)
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Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jan 18 2016 : 6:37:00 PM
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charlene, i am sure miss flossie would just like to bond with you and not worry about another baby any time soon. your daily milk production is amazing.
i keep forgetting that mary jane and i will be drying off our cows at the same time as they were "visiting" the bull at the same time... |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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Posted - Jan 18 2016 : 6:44:48 PM
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| I agree with you, Cindy, as Ethan is really enjoying spending more time with Flossie. It will also give Flossie time to adjust to her diet and life here. I can see some bonding happening between those two similar to the experience you are having with Sally. And, I get to witness all of it. What a huge blessing! |
Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens |
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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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Posted - May 01 2016 : 10:10:24 PM
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Yesterday was another exciting day on the farm! The rest of the family left to attend a wedding out of town and I stayed at the farm as Dashi, our Guernsey goat, was 1 day overdue and I didn't want to miss the birth, just in case she needed help. I bought Dashi this winter already bred and I don't really know what to expect from her. Again, I'm so impressed with our cow network that we have going here on the farm ... Mr. Tony was bellowing, along with Betsy and Clover which alerted me that something was not quite right!
This is what I wrote on our farm's facebook page:
"A day on the farm is always full of surprises ... or not. Our Guernsey goat, Dashi, is STILL pregnant and now overdue. Between checking on her every few hours today, selling milk and eggs to a new customer, household chores were done. And then the cows started to moo and moo and moo. Very unusual and slightly alarming ... looked out and sweet Flossie, son's dairy cow, was OUT of the pasture. Family was out of town attending a wedding ... slightly timid cow is son's cow and is wary of others ... uh, what's a farm girl to do? Put son on speaker phone to call to the cow as I lead her back into the pasture with a bucket of grain! Modern day technology helps the homesteading family farm!! Whew, you never know what is going to happen on a day at the farm."
It really was quite amusing to see Flossie perk up her ears when she heard Ethan's voice and then she would tilt her head while looking at me, trying to figure this all out! But Ethan just kept talking to her and I very quickly led her back to her pasture where Clover was waiting. Today, the guys went over the pasture fence with a fine tooth comb and fixed the necessary spots.
We also have a few inquiries out for more fence work so I'm hopeful that we'll get more fencing up soon. It was part of the grant that I received last year. So we'll see what we can do.
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Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - May 02 2016 : 05:12:02 AM
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| Cute story, Charlene! Flossie's Big Adventure. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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NellieBelle
11214 Posts
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Posted - May 02 2016 : 08:53:14 AM
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| Reminds me of the darling children's story, Emily and Daisy by Elsa Beskow. No modern technology involved however. Emily is to look after Daisy the cow so that she doesn't go through a hole in the fence. However, Daisy gets through and the adventure begins. The illustrations are so sweet. Glad everything worked out Charlene. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - May 02 2016 : 09:17:49 AM
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Oh my gosh, THAT book is on my shopping list. The front cover is adorable.
Here's Lacy Lou a few minutes ago telling me all about the adventures she wants to have. Miss kissy face. (This was the last photo I could get without her nuzzle in my muzzle.)
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MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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NellieBelle
11214 Posts
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Posted - May 02 2016 : 09:22:28 AM
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| Lacy Lou sure has a sweet face. I know, it's hard to get photo's when all they want is some hugging and a kissing. But you got a good one of this little gal. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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CloversMum
3486 Posts
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Posted - May 02 2016 : 10:16:08 PM
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| I'm going to see if I can find that book on Amazon and add it to my wish list, Janet. |
Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens |
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![[flourish]](/images/flourish-txt_mobius.png)
Flossie
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