Heifer that won’t let down milk

edward901 · 16-05-2021 9:41pm #1

We have a heifer here that calved last Thursday.The calving went ok but she won’t let down the milk in the parlor.There is milk dripping out of her when she comes in.We can draw milk out of her udder before milking but when we put the unit on her she will milk for a few seconds and then stop.No more milk.She is quiet in the parlor.Is it that she is nervous or something?
Any suggestions would be appreciated

JustJoe7240 · 16-05-2021 11:16pm

edward901 wrote: »

We have a heifer here that calved last Thursday.The calving went ok but she won’t let down the milk in the parlor.There is milk dripping out of her when she comes in.We can draw milk out of her udder before milking but when we put the unit on her she will milk for a few seconds and then stop.No more milk.She is quiet in the parlor.Is it that she is nervous or something?
Any suggestions would be appreciated

Could be a case of nerves alright, Talk to your vet, they'll probably prescribe oxytocin to promote milk let down. I have heard of guys giving estrumate for the same purpose but unsure of that one.

Sacrolyte · 17-05-2021 12:25am

6cc of oxytocin. It be like you turned on a tap

whelan2 · 17-05-2021 6:00am

Have heard of people bringing her calf into the parlour beside her.

Castlekeeper · 17-05-2021 2:24pm

Try bathing the udder with a cloth and warm water.

Mooooo · 17-05-2021 2:30pm

Oxytocin would work but you don't want to use it too often or she won't ever let it down without it. Is the cluster on while she is still eating? Distraction of the nuts normally sorts em eventually.

satstheway · 17-05-2021 2:32pm

If you put on cluster and nudge her udder (lightly) a few times I think it helps like a calf looking for a teat.

50HX · 17-05-2021 9:46pm

I thought oxytocin had to be given within a short time frame after calvirg for it to be effective

Mooooo · 17-05-2021 10:39pm

50HX wrote: »

I thought oxytocin had to be given within a short time frame after calvirg for it to be effective

That's to aid passing the cleaning after a difficult calving, twins etc. Has to be within 2 hours I think otherwise it'll only help drop milk

edward901 · 17-05-2021 11:05pm

Gave her 8cc of Oxytocin this evening a half an hour before milking. It worked very well. She hadn't a huge amount of milk but she left it down. Will give her another injection before milking in the morning. We will see how she gets on. Fingers crossed ðŸ€ž

Say my name · 17-05-2021 11:09pm

I think you're only supposed to be giving 2ml and in 5 minutes of milking?

pms7 · 18-05-2021 10:24am

Every parlour needs a bottle of oxytocin in my opinion. Might need to wean her off it, reduce dose over few days.

whelan2 · 18-05-2021 10:44am

pms7 wrote: »

Every parlour needs a bottle of oxytocin in my opinion. Might need to wean her off it, reduce dose over few days.

Have never used it here

Castlekeeper · 18-05-2021 10:53pm

whelan2 wrote: »

Have never used it here

Ditto

Mooooo · 19-05-2021 12:23am

Don't use it for milk let down, only for difficult calvings

Sacrolyte · 19-05-2021 12:34am

Mooooo wrote: »

Don't use it for milk let down, only for difficult calvings

I’d use it to let down milk but only once.
A bit like easy start.

JustJoe7240 · 23-05-2021 12:49am

How did she go since?

edward901 · 23-05-2021 10:47pm

She is letting down her milk at last without injecting her.Have to missage her dug and use warm water on her which helps.We were injecting her once a day for a few days to get her going.Hopefully no more injections will be required.Will keep with the massaging and the warm water.Its a work in progress.

Heifer that won’t let down milk

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