Post by Shalali on Jul 23, 2008 9:16:54 GMT -5
Karen,
You don't need a kick stop or you don't need to wait until it arrives if you do want one. The rope around the middle is a huge help. I am training a friend's Jersey/Angus to milk, as she was a wild maniac that tried to kill them every time they milked her. The glove on the stick was a tremendous help in getting the kicking over with, and then using the cinch rope around the middle did wonders, and if you have a length of rope lying around, you don't have to buy anything. Just make a loop in one end. Have the loop toward the milking side and throw the length over her back and pick it up under her (use a stick to grab it so she does not kick your head in). Thread the end through the loop. Position it right in front of her udder and in front of her hips on the top. Pull hard. I hold onto the rope coming from under her belly so that it doesn't slide around her, but actually cinches down tight. Do this where you have support for her, because if she starts to go over, she will not be able to right herself, as her legs are in capable of moving. It is nice to have a helper to hold the rope tight as you start to milk but you can use your foot to step on the rope (I have wrapped the rope around my knee and back down under my foot again to keep it TIGHT). Once you have the rope situated, check her with the glove to make sure she cannot kick you. Then be careful and deliberate. I found with this girl that she handles it better if I touch the top of the udder and then slide down to the teat she expects it better and it does not startle her. If I just grab the teat, she gets a little freaky. Good luck!
You don't need a kick stop or you don't need to wait until it arrives if you do want one. The rope around the middle is a huge help. I am training a friend's Jersey/Angus to milk, as she was a wild maniac that tried to kill them every time they milked her. The glove on the stick was a tremendous help in getting the kicking over with, and then using the cinch rope around the middle did wonders, and if you have a length of rope lying around, you don't have to buy anything. Just make a loop in one end. Have the loop toward the milking side and throw the length over her back and pick it up under her (use a stick to grab it so she does not kick your head in). Thread the end through the loop. Position it right in front of her udder and in front of her hips on the top. Pull hard. I hold onto the rope coming from under her belly so that it doesn't slide around her, but actually cinches down tight. Do this where you have support for her, because if she starts to go over, she will not be able to right herself, as her legs are in capable of moving. It is nice to have a helper to hold the rope tight as you start to milk but you can use your foot to step on the rope (I have wrapped the rope around my knee and back down under my foot again to keep it TIGHT). Once you have the rope situated, check her with the glove to make sure she cannot kick you. Then be careful and deliberate. I found with this girl that she handles it better if I touch the top of the udder and then slide down to the teat she expects it better and it does not startle her. If I just grab the teat, she gets a little freaky. Good luck!