Heifer won't let milk down

theroad

One of our calved heifers won't let her milk down without an injection of oxytocin. She calved last Thursday night/Friday morning, and went into the parlour on Saturday. Since then she's been milked twice a day but won't give a drop without the injection. How long should I keep with the oxytocin? I've heard a massage in the rectum might also work. Has anyone tried this? Any other ideas? Thanks.

whelan1

i would stop the oxytocin now , keep massaging the back of the udder and talking to her

LostCovey

theroad wrote: »

I've heard a massage in the rectum might also work.

Well it might, but it might sting afterwards

funny man

theroad wrote: »

One of our calved heifers won't let her milk down without an injection of oxytocin. She calved last Thursday night/Friday morning, and went into the parlour on Saturday. Since then she's been milked twice a day but won't give a drop without the injection. How long should I keep with the oxytocin? I've heard a massage in the rectum might also work. Has anyone tried this? Any other ideas? Thanks.

Had this problem last year, the heifer was in with her calf for a day and a night and wouldn't let down her milk in the parlour, so after "5" days in pure desperation i took the calf into the parlour and low and behold she let it down and went on milking without any bother.

theroad

Thanks fm, I'll try that tomorrow morning.

sh1tstirrer

You should reduce the dosage of oxytocin at each milking, start with 5cc reducing to .5cc then she should let her milk down without the injection. Massaging the udder helps.

Bizzum

theroad wrote: »

I've heard a massage in the rectum might also work. Has anyone tried this? Any other ideas? Thanks.

Ambient lighting, soft music, insence burning perhaps a bunch of roses and a bottle of wine.............

And no I'v never tried it. yet.:D

tismesoitis

if the oxytocin is working stick with it. we had a lovely heifer about 5 years back had to inject her every milking for her full first lactation calved her second calf and was perfect. sold her in our dispersal the next year still goin strong on her 3rd. best of luck with her hope it works out,they very valuable now!!

Feargal as Luimneach

funny man wrote: »

Had this problem last year, the heifer was in with her calf for a day and a night and wouldn't let down her milk in the parlour, so after "5" days in pure desperation i took the calf into the parlour and low and behold she let it down and went on milking without any bother.

The presence of the calf would cause release of endogenous oxytocin in the cow.

theroad

Thanks for that funny man, the milk flowed once she saw the calf. It worked the finest. Can't beat the ol' endogenous oxytocin

funny man

theroad wrote: »

Thanks for that funny man, the milk flowed once she saw the calf. It worked the finest. Can't beat the ol' endogenous oxytocin

Good to hear that worked, hope she settles down, wouldn't want her to make a habit of it.