I know it sounds strange but: My cow is Depressed!

[NATIVO]

Since my other cow had her calf the other day my Jersey has been acting strange. She doesn't eat like normal, doesn't moo like normal and acts like she's just out of energy.. I think she's depressed!..

It all started when she saw us milking the new mother... She got mad and tried to move the cow from the milking post.. Since that it's all been downhill for her....

Anybody else ever deal with a depressed cow?

 

[amysflock]

Is it possible she has milk fever? I don't have personal experience with this, but as I understand it, symptoms include being off feed, acting depressed, and cold ears. I believe milk fever is a very serious issue and requires immediate intervention.

 

[wynedot55]

i doubt that its milk fever/because a cow with milk fever will go down.an she wont be able to get up or stand.an she will die pretty quick if left untreated.i think she is jealous that the cow is getting milked.an she wants tobe milked.

 

[NATIVO]

Ok.. I think this is more serious... I just tried to milk her.
She normaly makes about 2 gallons each morning.. I bareley got a gallon... She is also making a kind of grunting pig sound when she moves

I'm afraid it may be hardware disease...

 

[Farmer Kitty]

How is her manure? With hardware it would be real solid.

How long has she been milking?

Does either she or her milk smell off?

Have you checked for mastitis?

 

[NATIVO]

Her manure looks ok, just not as much as usual... her milk smells fine and I don't see any signs of mastitis...

She does kind of have her back arched up...

 

[Farmer Kitty]

You could stick a magnet into her and that should pull any metal (except aluminum or other non-magnetic metals).

The reason I asked about smell and how long she's been milking is, I'm wondering about Ketosis. The amount of manure would be down as she's off her feed.
From my Misc. Info page:
Ketosis is usually characterized by a dullness, typically during the first 6 wk after calving, and is seen primarily in dairy cows. Occasionally, such cows are highly excitable and blood glucose is decreased, whereas ketones and free fatty acids are increased. It is proposed that the major causative factor is an inadequate supply of glucose precursors to maintain adequate blood glucose levels. Cows with Ketosis either pick at their feed or go off feed. There is a different smell to their milk and if severe enough the cow will smell too. There is an IV product or an oral gel product that can be used to treat ketosis.

 

[NATIVO]

she's been milking since July. I don't notice any smell on her or in the milk...

This started yesterday... She didn't want to come to the barn. Then this morning when I went out to feed, she ate the hay and would not eat the grain.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

That short of time she may not smell enough for you to notice. It's also a ways out for Ketosis and definately way out for milk fever.

I would give her a magnet to cover the hardware possibility. Her manure may not have thickened in that amount of time with hardware either.

Have you taken her temp? 101.5 is the "normal" for a cow.

 

[wynedot55]

this 1 has me stumped thats for sure.