Dum cow question

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MY cow is going to have her first calf in a week and she has something on her udder it looks like an 5th teet can she get mastits from this if so how would i treet it? And how many Times does a cow have to be dewormed? thanks in advance Anne

-- Anne (Dove@epix.net), March 16, 2002

Answers

Anne,

If the 5th teet isn't causing a problem just ignore it. Or you can have a vet remove it. ( I never have).

As to worming. Are you going to drink the milk? I know. I know. Ivomec pour on is supposed to be ok for dairy cows. . . .but you are NOT going to catch me drinking milk from a cow wormed with this stuff. Or any of those other harsh wormers. I don't use chemicals for worming. . . . and won't unless there is simply no other recourse for the cow's well being. My cows have free range to woods and old fence rows where they can eat wild garlic and other plants that expel worms. Early spring plants and spring grass is said to be excellent for expelling worms.

If you are raising your own meat for eating and milk for drinking, then remember that what you put into your animal may be present in what you drink/eat.

Judy

-- J McFerrin (JMcFerrin@aol.com), March 16, 2002.


Good point Judy... ie.. latest Kroger milk recall.

-- Kristean Thompson (pigalena_babe@yahoo.com), March 16, 2002.

Anne, I deworm our milk cow when we dry her off. That way at least there is a 2 month break before you get milk again! I do use a pour on now just for dairy. It says zero milk withdrawl, yeah right. I agree you do get what you put in....but I worm because there has been cattle here for years, and we bring cattle in. I just wormed the bull we borrowed, since we're gonna have him for acouple months..

-- Suzanne (weir@frontiernet.net), March 16, 2002.

Anne:

If your cow seems healthy and thrifty there is no rush to worm her at this time of year.

Wait until Spring and then consult your vet or read the instructions on the ivermectin package. Under some circumstances you can harm a cow with worming at the wrong time.

As for danger from the ivermectin, either injectable or pour-on, I would not worry about it. Ivermectin is used to worm humans, so the residual in milk (if any) is unlikely to harm anyone.

Mac

-- Jimmy S (Macrocarpus@gbronline.com), March 18, 2002.


worm her with diatomascus earth , DE, from the health food store, for her size , one or 2 cups on her grain , should do the trick , do that for 3 days , then cut down to like 1/2 c per day, ad intinitum

-- Beth Van Stiphout (willosnake@hotmail.com), March 19, 2002.


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