Post by mama4life on Aug 24, 2010 22:56:36 GMT -5
We brought our 2 Jersey cows from Kentucky safe and sound. Sorry, I know how everyone likes pictures. I will post pictures soon. One cow is fresh and was giving a gallon a day for the previous owner. The previous owner was going to dry her up, but a calf was sneaking some milk from her so she isn't dry, yet. She hasn't been milked for 2 days. We brought her into the stanchion tonight to see if we could milk her. We are TOTALLY green at this. If you could have seen us getting her into the stanchion you would have gotten a good laugh.
When I finally got the nerve to squeeze a teat, something the consistency of soft butter came out that was yellow. Could that be mastitis or is that normal for milk that has sat in the udder for a couple of days? She is due to calve in December. We would need to dry her up in October, so we kinda go back and forth about whether to milk her or dry her up. It would be nice to have a little history with her before she calves. I have to admit that I am having a little trouble getting over the fear factor-fear of getting hurt somehow. We have little experience with large animals.
Can any of you experienced milkers remember being a newbie? My DH says that in a year I will think it's easy. I hope he is right because we have gone through a lot of trouble to even get this far. I have been reading the info. on this forum for almost a year in addition to reading Keeping A Family Cow. It just seems harder than I thought it would be.
Can I just move next door to one of you?
Anne
When I finally got the nerve to squeeze a teat, something the consistency of soft butter came out that was yellow. Could that be mastitis or is that normal for milk that has sat in the udder for a couple of days? She is due to calve in December. We would need to dry her up in October, so we kinda go back and forth about whether to milk her or dry her up. It would be nice to have a little history with her before she calves. I have to admit that I am having a little trouble getting over the fear factor-fear of getting hurt somehow. We have little experience with large animals.
Can any of you experienced milkers remember being a newbie? My DH says that in a year I will think it's easy. I hope he is right because we have gone through a lot of trouble to even get this far. I have been reading the info. on this forum for almost a year in addition to reading Keeping A Family Cow. It just seems harder than I thought it would be.
Can I just move next door to one of you?
Anne