Post by Tamara on Aug 30, 2016 1:04:08 GMT -5
I've been thinking a bit about leg ropes lately. I had one or two people at my workshop comment on the fact that I didn't use a leg rope, and after watching videos from other family cow owners and micro dairies, I realised that lots of people actually use a leg rope as an everyday part of their milking routine, to tie back the leg on the side they sit, whether or not the cow kicks.
Does anybody else here use a leg rope regularly? Not at all or only when needed?
I have never used one. It didn't even cross my mind with Tallulah as she's never put a foot wrong, literally. When I got Arwen she got a little snotty with me at one point and did try to kick however I found her reaction to be much worse with a leg rope. She would kick and kick and with the design of my stanchion (being a little short for her) I was afraid she'd break an ankle or the stanchion. I ended up using the belly rope just once in her case but figured out a new milking routine that suited her better and she stopped kicking.
After the workshop I did try the leg rope again to see if I could train my two girls to it, not because they need it but so that guests at future workshops felt more at ease. However I've already taught Tallulah to move her foot backwards at slight pressure to get her leg out of the way for milking, so when she felt the rope she kept lifting her foot up and down thinking I wanted her to move it back, the poor girl was terribly confused. And Arwen just reacted by kicking again.
So I'd love to hear from others here on your use of leg ropes
Does anybody else here use a leg rope regularly? Not at all or only when needed?
I have never used one. It didn't even cross my mind with Tallulah as she's never put a foot wrong, literally. When I got Arwen she got a little snotty with me at one point and did try to kick however I found her reaction to be much worse with a leg rope. She would kick and kick and with the design of my stanchion (being a little short for her) I was afraid she'd break an ankle or the stanchion. I ended up using the belly rope just once in her case but figured out a new milking routine that suited her better and she stopped kicking.
After the workshop I did try the leg rope again to see if I could train my two girls to it, not because they need it but so that guests at future workshops felt more at ease. However I've already taught Tallulah to move her foot backwards at slight pressure to get her leg out of the way for milking, so when she felt the rope she kept lifting her foot up and down thinking I wanted her to move it back, the poor girl was terribly confused. And Arwen just reacted by kicking again.
So I'd love to hear from others here on your use of leg ropes