All things Dairy

[Cows 'n grass]

And we are off, 23 month old, Brooksteads Jess 28th and her AA bull calf....View attachment 566914

Have you been milking 12 months now?

 

[multi power]

We had one last week gave it a bottle under the skin but didn't have any affect so gave her one in the vein and she didn't take long to get up then. Never done it in the vein before myself but saved a vet call.

If I have a cow down I always give 2 bottles, one under skin and second in vein, and always milk vein too, very frowned upon I know, but better than the knacker man

 

[sidjon]

If I have a cow down I always give 2 bottles, one under skin and second in vein, and always milk vein too, very frowned upon I know, but better than the knacker man

Why is the milk vein frowned apon? I am giving down cows bottle of Mag too and the one case of MF we had this year did get up much faster and didn't go down again unlike last year's case with had 14 bottles of calmag, thankfully is was pre calving

 

[Penmoel]

Have you been milking 12 months now?

October 1st we first sold milk last year

 

[Beef farmer]

October 1st we first sold milk last year

You find life easier with cows? Both work and finance?

 

[multi power]

Why is the milk vein frowned apon? I am giving down cows bottle of Mag too and the one case of MF we had this year did get up much faster and didn't go down again unlike last year's case with had 14 bottles of calmag, thankfully is was pre calving

Infection risk I think, I have yet to have a problem
You are not putting mag in vein are you? That's a cow killer
I used to always give a bottle of mag at home as often had low blood mag levels

 

[Penmoel]

You find life easier with cows? Both work and finance?

On both fronts really, yes more work but its a routine that's all, yes more productive in terms of finance.

Many underestimate the amount of work with sheep, and it has surprised me just how much grass we grow which the sheep used to consume. All of which is now put to a better use

 

[Clay52]

If you don't want milk fever cows going down again you need to give some calcium orally as well as in the vein. Calcium in the vein quickly lifts calcium to very high levels in the blood often close to fatal levels. Negative feedback causes it to drop, often back into clinical milk fever levels.

Oral calcium gives a longer slower release keeping the levels above normal long enough to get going properly, and oral calcium chloride is negative DCAD so it gets their own calcium mobilised as well. It is also less likely to trigger negative feedback mechanisms. Think of IV calcium to stop them dying and oral calcium actually fixes the problem.

Only give IV calcium to down cows. Oral calcium to the rest.

My guess is milk vein IV is likely more stress on the heart. why not just IV in the neck?

 

[multi power]

If you don't want milk fever cows going down again you need to give some calcium orally as well as in the vein. Calcium in the vein quickly lifts calcium to very high levels in the blood often close to fatal levels. Negative feedback causes it to drop, often back into clinical milk fever levels.

Oral calcium gives a longer slower release keeping the levels above normal long enough to get going properly, and oral calcium chloride is negative DCAD so it gets their own calcium mobilised as well. It is also less likely to trigger negative feedback mechanisms. Think of IV calcium to stop them dying and oral calcium actually fixes the problem.

Only give IV calcium to down cows. Oral calcium to the rest.

My guess is milk vein IV is likely more stress on the heart. why not just IV in the neck?

What exactly do you give them orally?
I can easily find milk vein, but not neck vein

 

[Nyvlingen]

Are you guys allowed to give calcium in the vein yourself? We have to get the vet..

 

[Beef farmer]

On both fronts really, yes more work but its a routine that's all, yes more productive in terms of finance.

Many underestimate the amount of work with sheep, and it has surprised me just how much grass we grow which the sheep used to consume. All of which is now put to a better use

Apart from 10 weeks now, life with cows is easier and more controlled than ever before. You still got sheep? We used to spend hours chasing bleedy maggot taxis about.

 

[Beef farmer]

Are you guys allowed to give calcium in the vein yourself? We have to get the vet..

Where you Too?

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

Are you guys allowed to give calcium in the vein yourself? We have to get the vet..

That's what we normally is ring the vet but it was midnight and I didn't fancy getting the vet out just for that.

 

[Nyvlingen]

Where you Too?

Sweden

 

[Penmoel]

You still got sheep? We used to spend hours chasing bleedy maggot taxis about.

Yes about 1/3rd of the number we used to have. And too many sucklers left yet, tested a few today to be sold with calves at foot, some of the remainder, bad feet , old and 3 titters, will be off as barrens before winter .

 

[sidjon]

Infection risk I think, I have yet to have a problem
You are not putting mag in vein are you? That's a cow killer
I used to always give a bottle of mag at home as often had low blood mag levels

Our vets will put ithe in the milk vein old time but hadn't know it to a infection risk, Mag in the vein is fine as long as slowly, our vet was on F and M slaughter and was told to use mag , 4 bottles later cow is shot, think is one if the risks of mag. ( will be very careful next time in for mag in the vein just in case I have jinxed it)

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Where yee too?

Spot the westcountry bey.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Our vets will put ithe in the milk vein old time but hadn't know it to a infection risk, Mag in the vein is fine as long as slowly, our vet was on F and M slaughter and was told to use mag , 4 bottles later cow is shot, think is one if the risks of mag. ( will be very careful next time in for mag in the vein just in case I have jinxed it)

I don't think we share vets but mine told me something very similar about trying g to kill a cow with mag and giving up after 4 bottles. The bottle I used in the vein today was calmag.

 

[multi power]

One place I used to work in days of over 30 month scheme or whatever it was vet would use mag in vein to put cows down

 

[Clay52]

What exactly do you give them orally?
I can easily find milk vein, but not neck vein

I use the calcium chloride gels that are specifically made for low calcium cows. Don't just go cheap and mix plain calcium chloride with water as it can irritate the throat. There are blouses available as well but I've never used them.

As for finding the neck. I was never shown how to do it. Dad was useless at it so I called the vet for a down cow once and watched how they did it and did it myself ever since. Taught myself to IV fluids to scouring calves the same way.

As for someone saying IVing calcium being vet only in some countries??? What a great way to end up with more dead cows. Time can often be limited and it's a easy fix. That's another one of those things if they come in here I'm out. I want to actually be able to look after my cows.