Drying a cow at this time of year ?

GreatOaktree

Hi all, I have a pet cow and September calf. I just bought two more cows, 1in calf and one with calf at foot.

My pet cow has a calf at foot and I want to dry her off, she had the calf far too young (18 months) and the calf is as big as she is. The problem is that I need to keep them together.

Can I give her a shot in each tit to dry her immediately and leave the calf with her after a few days ?
I am told drying a cow at this time of year can be problematic, ive had them separated for a few days now, one quarter is dry and the other 3 are bursting.

Who2

let the calf in to empty her then stick one of the spikey nose rings in the calf. the cow will dry grand just keep her on a bare paddock, or on hay for a few days.

_Brian

Definitely have calf empty her, stick her in yard on straw and water for 3-4days, never seen it fail.

L1985

Ok do those spikes things work? We put it in a cow that was drinking other cows and it made no difference. She still drinks away....I don't think we have ever let the calves back in with the cows as they will drink and even if the cow is dried off the calf will keep sucking until it gets the milk going again!!!

_Brian

We always took calves away completly when drying off.