Old Geezer starting out with a Jersey named Tinkerbelle
Jan 22, 2018 22:42:10 GMT -5
terizjean, AZAmy, and 28 more like this
Post by Trim on Jan 22, 2018 22:42:10 GMT -5
Good evening all,
I'm Trim. Long story how I got that "call sign" but I will only say, I "earned it" in the service of our nation.
As most of you probably will admit, many folks start learning to milk a cow at the age of 6-8 years, but I started learning to do this at 68. Yep, I'm that old and that is why I am looking to learn and share information on this forum. I will probably NOT be a real busy poster because there just isn't enough time in the day to spend it on the computer and operate my farm.
I moved to this farm in Dec 2006 but had to continue to work until I retired on 1 JAN 15. Since then I have lived and worked on this farm in the NE corner of South Dakota...yes, it is colder than a well diggers feet out here.
To say the least, retirement is what I was born to do and I love it. Hence, I am learning many new things and doing things in skill sets that were previously only "hinted at". Now, I have to do those things and fortunately while I was working, I spent ALL my money on tools and this farm "and the rest I just wasted." (As the joke goes.)
My cow is a beautiful Jersey that I bought from a local Hutterite colony. She was "billed" as a "THREE Teat'er" and that turned out to be true. Her right front quadrant is non-functional. However, that has not stopped me from getting close to 4 gallons a day since about mid November when she calved. (The calf died from insufficient colostrum and hypothermia on the third day of life).'Bout broke my feeble heart to lose that little girl.
Since then, Tinkerbelle and I have been together twice a day and we appear to be able to get along. She is a gentle and cooperative animal. She is communicative and affectionate. When one of my friends told me "you are married to that cow" before she calved, I really didn't understand it but I do now.
So, the one thing that actually got me here was Joann S. Gromann's book, "Keeping a Family Cow" which I'm about 1/3D of the way through. She has answered many of the questions I had weeks ago and confirmed my findings on the things I learned "The Hard Way!" I LOVE her book and highly recommend it to any who have not already read it.
So, from time to time, I will get on here and ask questions about things that happen or things that I don't WANT to have happen. I was "lurking" for a few days to see what it was like. I am NOT a fan of big forums, but this one has a specific set of parameters which I hope to enjoy while learning about my cow.
The entire adventure with THIS project is kind of old but I started seriously working on it June 2, 2017 and built my own milking parlor and work room. (I'll post a few pics of what I built one I figure out how to do it here.) The building is 13 X 16 and the milking room is 12 X 10 and the work room is 4' 8" X 12. I scrounged all kinds of equipment for it like a three bowl industrial (restaurant) sink, and a stainless steel work table. My operation is very compact but I think it is adequate. I got a propane heater for it and welded up a stanchion made out of a crate that my wood chipper came in. It takes me about 1 to 1 1/2 hours from start to finish...set up to clean up for everything.
I got a lot of things from Hamby Dairy Supply and they are in use. Some folks who used to milk, gave me some stuff (2 DeLaval 50# milking buckets, and claws, etc). I had to "up date" some of the things I was given but the bottom line is that the whole thing is working well for me.
My trusty companion, "Woods Witch" and I made about 4 lbs of butter today. There is a lot of mozarella cheese in the freezer right now. You get the picture. I don't sell any milk or eggs. I give it away if folks want to come get it.
So, that is a "nutshell" version of things out here on the high prairie. You'll find that I tend to "ramble on" once you get to know me here... O and will someone pleas tell me how to post pics...?
Saepe Expertus, Semper Fidelis, Fratres Aeterni
Trim sends
//BT//
I'm Trim. Long story how I got that "call sign" but I will only say, I "earned it" in the service of our nation.
As most of you probably will admit, many folks start learning to milk a cow at the age of 6-8 years, but I started learning to do this at 68. Yep, I'm that old and that is why I am looking to learn and share information on this forum. I will probably NOT be a real busy poster because there just isn't enough time in the day to spend it on the computer and operate my farm.
I moved to this farm in Dec 2006 but had to continue to work until I retired on 1 JAN 15. Since then I have lived and worked on this farm in the NE corner of South Dakota...yes, it is colder than a well diggers feet out here.
To say the least, retirement is what I was born to do and I love it. Hence, I am learning many new things and doing things in skill sets that were previously only "hinted at". Now, I have to do those things and fortunately while I was working, I spent ALL my money on tools and this farm "and the rest I just wasted." (As the joke goes.)
My cow is a beautiful Jersey that I bought from a local Hutterite colony. She was "billed" as a "THREE Teat'er" and that turned out to be true. Her right front quadrant is non-functional. However, that has not stopped me from getting close to 4 gallons a day since about mid November when she calved. (The calf died from insufficient colostrum and hypothermia on the third day of life).'Bout broke my feeble heart to lose that little girl.
Since then, Tinkerbelle and I have been together twice a day and we appear to be able to get along. She is a gentle and cooperative animal. She is communicative and affectionate. When one of my friends told me "you are married to that cow" before she calved, I really didn't understand it but I do now.
So, the one thing that actually got me here was Joann S. Gromann's book, "Keeping a Family Cow" which I'm about 1/3D of the way through. She has answered many of the questions I had weeks ago and confirmed my findings on the things I learned "The Hard Way!" I LOVE her book and highly recommend it to any who have not already read it.
So, from time to time, I will get on here and ask questions about things that happen or things that I don't WANT to have happen. I was "lurking" for a few days to see what it was like. I am NOT a fan of big forums, but this one has a specific set of parameters which I hope to enjoy while learning about my cow.
The entire adventure with THIS project is kind of old but I started seriously working on it June 2, 2017 and built my own milking parlor and work room. (I'll post a few pics of what I built one I figure out how to do it here.) The building is 13 X 16 and the milking room is 12 X 10 and the work room is 4' 8" X 12. I scrounged all kinds of equipment for it like a three bowl industrial (restaurant) sink, and a stainless steel work table. My operation is very compact but I think it is adequate. I got a propane heater for it and welded up a stanchion made out of a crate that my wood chipper came in. It takes me about 1 to 1 1/2 hours from start to finish...set up to clean up for everything.
I got a lot of things from Hamby Dairy Supply and they are in use. Some folks who used to milk, gave me some stuff (2 DeLaval 50# milking buckets, and claws, etc). I had to "up date" some of the things I was given but the bottom line is that the whole thing is working well for me.
My trusty companion, "Woods Witch" and I made about 4 lbs of butter today. There is a lot of mozarella cheese in the freezer right now. You get the picture. I don't sell any milk or eggs. I give it away if folks want to come get it.
So, that is a "nutshell" version of things out here on the high prairie. You'll find that I tend to "ramble on" once you get to know me here... O and will someone pleas tell me how to post pics...?
Saepe Expertus, Semper Fidelis, Fratres Aeterni
Trim sends
//BT//