when will my cow have her calf?

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I bought a holstein jersey cross cow back in September and the man I got her from said that she was pastured with a bull but doesn't know when she was bred. I am currently milking her and am wondering when I should dry her off. Is there any way to tell how far along she is without having the vet come out? I've been told you can "bump" a cow to see if she is pregnant but I have no idea how to do it. Are there other signs? Will her milk production drop off? She has dropped slightly since she has been here from 3 gallons to 2 1/2 gallons but isn't that normal in her production cycle? Any help would be appreciated. also does anyone have the mozzarella cheese recipe given in the May/June 1999 issue. I used mine so much and the pages stuck together and I am lost. It is the one using citric acid. Thanks in advance!! cara lewis cnllewis@email.com

-- cara lewis (cnllewis@email.com), November 01, 2000

Answers

If you know when she had here last calf it helps. Most cows running with a bull will have another 10 to 12 months later. Bumping a cow is not to hard. Right side. Above the udder and forward some is a area that you can push in on a feel a calf if it is big enough. Takes experience to tell how big the calf is. usually I can feel it if its, say 5 months. But depends on how it is turned. One time you can then next day maybe not. Push in hard enough to push the side of the cow in maybe 4 or 6 inches. If there is a big enough calf in there you will bump against it----bumping! If not you get nothing, feels empty. When you hit it you will know without a doubt you hit something. Give it a try. Don

-- Don (dairyagri@yaho.com), November 01, 2000.

I'd recommend either taking her into the vet or have them come out for a preg. test. That way you can confirm she has been rebred and have an estimated calving date. It doesn't cost all that much.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), November 02, 2000.

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