Cow unexpectedly producing milk

[AndrewCrown]

Calling on the wisdom of cattle experts...

A friend of mine has two cows and one heifer (around 1 year old) . Cow 1 is an old cow.. around 15 years old... Cow 2 is relatively young ( 3 years) and gave birth to the heifer last January... These cows live in France on my friends small holding...
The cows are Jersey... or possibly Aubrac

The heifer has been taking milk off its mother (Cow 2) ... all going well... but unexpectedly Cow 1 is now producing milk in a weird kind of wet nurse capacity... My friend isn't a farmer... and the local farmers have said its impossible for Cow 1 to have started producing milk.. there is a suggestion that Cow 1 has never calfed... as it was a pet cow....

So is this normal...should this be happening?

Answers gratefully received...

[Tam_Mullen]

Not a cow expert by any means, grew up and live on a farm however.

Never heard of anything like this, as far as I’m concerned a cow wouldn’t produce milk unless it was pregnant. However given the circumstances that doesn’t sound possible. I’d also suggest that at a year old the heifer is probably overdue being weaned.

Only thing I can’t think (which doesn’t even really sound plausible) is that the heifer is attempting to suckle the older cow, as being a year old is will require a LOT of milk, which has triggered some sort of instinct in the older cow which has produced milk.

[Thevet]

At last something I'm good on...... a maiden heifer, non pregnant can come into milk. It's unusual but may not cause any issues. It is so unusual that I can't say whether the milk production will dissipate itself or linger, but I would expect the former. If there is no need or desire to milk the heifer, then dry her off by one of the well established methods. On major word of caution though, is could the heifer be pregnant, my record for finding a heifer in calf and actually calving is 13 months, suggesting conception at 4 months! If the heifer is in calf then you will need some serious vet cover as she starts to give birth. Anyway, hopefully its just a lactational aberration and settles with no problems.

[bexVN]

Thevet said:

At last something I'm good on...... a maiden heifer, non pregnant can come into milk. It's unusual but may not cause any issues. It is so unusual that I can't say whether the milk production will dissipate itself or linger, but I would expect the former. If there is no need or desire to milk the heifer, then dry her off by one of the well established methods. On major word of caution though, is could the heifer be pregnant, my record for finding a heifer in calf and actually calving is 13 months, suggesting conception at 4 months! If the heifer is in calf then you will need some serious vet cover as she starts to give birth. Anyway, hopefully its just a lactational aberration and settles with no problems.

Are you meaning the 1yr old producing milk due to being pregnant? I thought the OP was referring to the 15yr old cow producing milk (but has never given birth herself)

[AndrewCrown]

Thank you...to clarify the old cow is producing milk....they graze and live on a secure field well away from any other animals...

[Emeye]

Is there a FarmingHeads website that may be better placed for posting this?

[Thevet]

bexVN said:

Are you meaning the 1yr old producing milk due to being pregnant? I thought the OP was referring to the 15yr old cow producing milk (but has never given birth herself)

doh got my months and years mixed up getting old and useless, however the same principles can apply, such that milk can be produced by animals bred for producing milk with few incentives. It has possibly been induced by one suckling from the other but thats a supposition. I would advise separation until milk dries up to avoid risk of mastitis. I'm off to retire.....with my old ultima GTR.....reacquiring tomorrow.........well it is pistonheads