Post by Applelonia on Apr 30, 2023 11:31:57 GMT -5
Any suggestions for a secure milking stanchion or a chute that can be used as a stanchion that would protect me from getting kicked when working with/training Flower/Rowie for milking??
Flower is due to calve in July ...she is very well behaved - no issues if she is not touched. She knows some voice commands - comes when called. Holds. Listens very well. I can't say I like going into her pasture area with her as I don't trust her - but she has never done anything bad when I'm working near her as long as she is not touched. She stays back when I tell her to hold as I bring square bales over to the round feeder. She does like following me around - is a smart, friendly heifer and likes being near me as long as I don't touch her front 2/3rds of her body - back end is not as bad.
This is not a case of getting her used to it - handling more etc...from a young calf she was like this - would lash out if France, her dam, tried to lick or touch her. Flower doesn't want any other cow touching her. She is very reactive. Even Rowie - Rowie can not lick Flower - Flower will not stand next to Rowie to eat hay without a little space between - does not want her body touching Rowie.
I've worked with her from the time she was little ....bottle feeding 4-5 times a day from 1 1/2 months old to 9 months old. Hours almost every single day I worked with her as a young heifer. She can be tied up - collar/halter and she'll stand there - ears back grinding her teeth in irritation...
Flower had herself a butcher appointment...she had not settled by AI after several attempts and with her temperament ...but the AI guy came one last time and we both figured one last try...sure enough she settled. And with Frances being retired with her back injury and Cordelia's udder history I wanted to give Flower a chance. Her genetics are the main reason why she was kept - probably a bad reason - but it was a big factor.
Touch her head, neck, sides, back and her entire hide jerks and she acts like she has the creepy crawlers all over if touched and then will sometimes snort or toss her head - come forward - threaten. She is hot tempered when it comes to having certain areas touched. She has always been much better with her rump - hind end - she will stand for scratches on her rump. She never kicked during her AI'ing. She has never tried to kick me. AI guy he is cattle judge - he has dairy and beef cows - works with dairy bulls etc...so lots of cattle experience. He saw her and her temperament - he said she was a "reactive heifer" he has seen dangerous heifers that don't last long in herds - but he didn't see her as dangerous as in mean wants to get a person he saw that she was well behaved if not touched and he saw that she just did not want to be touched. He said some cows are just like that. Some improve - some don't.
There is no possible way I'm doing my regular milking routine - squatting down or knelling and milking into a bucket with the cow freely next to me So she needs not a just a head gate ...or one bar running along the side but something more secure - something that if she decides it's going to be a fight I don't get kicked - I've never been kicked by a cow and want to keep it that way!
Suggestions on what style stanchion is best? There is a metal fabrication guy who did metal work for the barn that I think could make something if the right thing can't be purchased/pre made.
Flower is about 50-51 inches at shoulder - about 1,300-1,400lbs - first calf so IF she stays, she will fill out a little more with age. Would be using the stanchion for Rowie as well. She's about the same height but weighs over 1,500. I saw one stanchion online and the husband laughed "I don't think your cows can squeeze into that"...So a wider one would be best - as I know Flower will not go into something that is touching her on both sides. We have concrete floor in the main area of the barn that it can be bolted into.
She's due beginning of July ...have a butcher appointment end of July ...in case she is a terror ...I am holding out a little hope she'll be milkable - I at least want to give her a chance....l figure it's like a 1-2 percent chance this works....
Flower is due to calve in July ...she is very well behaved - no issues if she is not touched. She knows some voice commands - comes when called. Holds. Listens very well. I can't say I like going into her pasture area with her as I don't trust her - but she has never done anything bad when I'm working near her as long as she is not touched. She stays back when I tell her to hold as I bring square bales over to the round feeder. She does like following me around - is a smart, friendly heifer and likes being near me as long as I don't touch her front 2/3rds of her body - back end is not as bad.
This is not a case of getting her used to it - handling more etc...from a young calf she was like this - would lash out if France, her dam, tried to lick or touch her. Flower doesn't want any other cow touching her. She is very reactive. Even Rowie - Rowie can not lick Flower - Flower will not stand next to Rowie to eat hay without a little space between - does not want her body touching Rowie.
I've worked with her from the time she was little ....bottle feeding 4-5 times a day from 1 1/2 months old to 9 months old. Hours almost every single day I worked with her as a young heifer. She can be tied up - collar/halter and she'll stand there - ears back grinding her teeth in irritation...
Flower had herself a butcher appointment...she had not settled by AI after several attempts and with her temperament ...but the AI guy came one last time and we both figured one last try...sure enough she settled. And with Frances being retired with her back injury and Cordelia's udder history I wanted to give Flower a chance. Her genetics are the main reason why she was kept - probably a bad reason - but it was a big factor.
Touch her head, neck, sides, back and her entire hide jerks and she acts like she has the creepy crawlers all over if touched and then will sometimes snort or toss her head - come forward - threaten. She is hot tempered when it comes to having certain areas touched. She has always been much better with her rump - hind end - she will stand for scratches on her rump. She never kicked during her AI'ing. She has never tried to kick me. AI guy he is cattle judge - he has dairy and beef cows - works with dairy bulls etc...so lots of cattle experience. He saw her and her temperament - he said she was a "reactive heifer" he has seen dangerous heifers that don't last long in herds - but he didn't see her as dangerous as in mean wants to get a person he saw that she was well behaved if not touched and he saw that she just did not want to be touched. He said some cows are just like that. Some improve - some don't.
There is no possible way I'm doing my regular milking routine - squatting down or knelling and milking into a bucket with the cow freely next to me So she needs not a just a head gate ...or one bar running along the side but something more secure - something that if she decides it's going to be a fight I don't get kicked - I've never been kicked by a cow and want to keep it that way!
Suggestions on what style stanchion is best? There is a metal fabrication guy who did metal work for the barn that I think could make something if the right thing can't be purchased/pre made.
Flower is about 50-51 inches at shoulder - about 1,300-1,400lbs - first calf so IF she stays, she will fill out a little more with age. Would be using the stanchion for Rowie as well. She's about the same height but weighs over 1,500. I saw one stanchion online and the husband laughed "I don't think your cows can squeeze into that"...So a wider one would be best - as I know Flower will not go into something that is touching her on both sides. We have concrete floor in the main area of the barn that it can be bolted into.
She's due beginning of July ...have a butcher appointment end of July ...in case she is a terror ...I am holding out a little hope she'll be milkable - I at least want to give her a chance....l figure it's like a 1-2 percent chance this works....