So much of homesteading is about doing what feels right for you and your situation. Sometimes it can be hard to know what to do. When it comes down to making a decision, you have to decide what is safest for you and the animal. For my situation, calf sharing made the most sense. Both the cow and I were new to milking and I found peace knowing that the calf would still get her mother’s milk and both would be less likely to have health issues. However, I didn’t grasp how hard it can actually be to separate a cow and calf when they have no interest in doing so. I still definitely have a lot to learn, but as we are now in our third season, I want to share some lessons we’ve learned the hard way.
You can separate the calf from the cow for up to twelve hours after the calf is two weeks old. Liza, our dairy cow had never been milked before and had calved for the first time. Her natural mothering instincts were in full swing. After the first two weeks, I started to milk Liza, but I let the calf stay with her full time. I couldn’t understand how I was only getting half a quart jar full of milk. Barely out of the field gate, I would turn around and see the calf guzzling down milk, with foam around it’s mouth. First time milk cows, have the ability to hold back their milk for their calves. Isn’t that amazing? To learn more about training a first time dairy cow, read this post.
Separating The Calf For Calf Sharing
We had a barn stall we could use to keep the calf safe overnight. The first week of getting the calf into the stall was challenging. The plan was to lure Liza, the milk cow into the stall with alfalfa pellets and then the calf would follow. Once the calf was in, Liza was escorted out and then we shut the stall door before the calf could get out. Make sure you get a halter with a little lead rope on the calf the first day because the second day will be much harder. We decided to keep a lead on Liza for a few days also because she was a little anxious and hesitant to come into the stall.
Having a lead rope will give you a fighting chance of catching the calf and getting her in the barn. You will want to start early, because it will take a while for the first week or two. Make sure the calf has fresh water and is safe from predators. You will hear your cow calling for her calf most of the night the first time. That will get better quickly. It does hurt your heart some, but I try to think of it as sleep training a child.
Calf Sharing Requires Patience
Make sure you do not go over the twelve hour window, in fact try not to wait that long. Get everything you need that night and go out as early as you can. Those first few times you milk her she will be very anxious. She will poop way more than usual, stomp her legs, or try to kick. Do what you can, then let the calf out and release the cow from the stanchion. I am currently letting the calf out of the barn as soon as Liza is in the stanchion. That is working well because the calf isn’t trying to nurse the cow while I am trying to milk. As the calf gets bigger, it may try that.
It does get better. The cow and calf eventually get into the routine of going to the barn at night. Milking will become a calm process and she will release more milk for you. It requires patience and the understanding that your milk cow is a mother protecting her child. Once she knows her calf is safe then everything will fall into routine.
Calf Sharing Does Get Easier
Liza, just had her second calf just over a month ago. The second time around has been so much easier than the first. Calf separating just started a week ago. Liza did bellow that first night. The next day she didn’t start calling until sunrise and hasn’t done it at all after that. Mind you, I am trying to get out to milk her as soon as the sun is up. She is definitely still holding milk back, but I am getting half a gallon right now and that will increase as we get more into the routine again.
It feels right to leave a mother and her calf together. Watching them communicate in gentle sounds. Liza makes sure that her calf has all the nutrition it needs and still has some left for me. It is so beautiful to see our calf running circles around her mother, healthy and happy.
