Post by Tricia on Oct 9, 2008 6:57:19 GMT -5
Okay I have trained 2 green jerseys in the past 4 years but I think I have met my match. Last night was pretty horrible.
Well I have this Dexter cow, Cleo. She is 3/4 Dexter and 1/4 Jersey. Not halter trained but we thought that was coming along quite well. NOT!!! Well the idea was to train Cleo to milk so when Molly my jersey is dry from feb-April we would have some milk. Not alot but some for a glass a day for all of us.
Well now with hopefully moving (if there is an economy left that is) we decided to downsize my pet projects. Cleo and her calf need new homes. So her calf left 2 days ago to a great lady a few hours away.
So we handmilked Cleo in the field for about 5 minutes. Not restrained but eating grain and bread. Last night DH said we need to put her in the stanchion. Oh yeah. I didn't like the idea and well I think i was correct. She got in pretty good but then went down on her front knees, still reaching up to eat her grain. My camera was not with me it was pretty comical. So we handmilked her that way. We got a couple of quarts, the the freak out attitude came into play. Needless to say Cleo is pretty strong, stubborn, pigheaded, scared, strong, wild, you get the idea!!!! She busted the head lock out of the stanchion, almost took out my face it was so fast. Then smashed the stanchion with the headlock still on. It finally unlatched. Dh stubborn man that he is with green heifers/cows wouldn't let go of the lead. He slipped in the mud and was dragged. He denies it but was almost stepped on a few times. DS and I are screaming to let go. At that time I was so scared he would get hurt and hurt bad.
He did get back up and gave Cleo what for. We tied here in the barn to the wall last night. I hope she is better this am.
I really wanted to make her an appointment to become meat after last night.
I have 2 people interested in her for a family cow. Yes, she can be handmilked but not for long. So she has until Sunday to come around. I may just dry her off then decide if we can feed her for the winter or find someone that wants her non mannered self.
I really really really should have sold them as a pair and not bothered milking her.
I was reading a post last night saying how Dexters were the perfect breed, so calm and docile. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
So for those that have trained the wild ones, please chime in and give me some good advice. I so don't want to see her this morning much less milk her.
Molly, my jersey, Lilly her daughter were no where near this bad.
I am getting out my rescue remedy, boy do I need it.
Well I have this Dexter cow, Cleo. She is 3/4 Dexter and 1/4 Jersey. Not halter trained but we thought that was coming along quite well. NOT!!! Well the idea was to train Cleo to milk so when Molly my jersey is dry from feb-April we would have some milk. Not alot but some for a glass a day for all of us.
Well now with hopefully moving (if there is an economy left that is) we decided to downsize my pet projects. Cleo and her calf need new homes. So her calf left 2 days ago to a great lady a few hours away.
So we handmilked Cleo in the field for about 5 minutes. Not restrained but eating grain and bread. Last night DH said we need to put her in the stanchion. Oh yeah. I didn't like the idea and well I think i was correct. She got in pretty good but then went down on her front knees, still reaching up to eat her grain. My camera was not with me it was pretty comical. So we handmilked her that way. We got a couple of quarts, the the freak out attitude came into play. Needless to say Cleo is pretty strong, stubborn, pigheaded, scared, strong, wild, you get the idea!!!! She busted the head lock out of the stanchion, almost took out my face it was so fast. Then smashed the stanchion with the headlock still on. It finally unlatched. Dh stubborn man that he is with green heifers/cows wouldn't let go of the lead. He slipped in the mud and was dragged. He denies it but was almost stepped on a few times. DS and I are screaming to let go. At that time I was so scared he would get hurt and hurt bad.
He did get back up and gave Cleo what for. We tied here in the barn to the wall last night. I hope she is better this am.
I really wanted to make her an appointment to become meat after last night.
I have 2 people interested in her for a family cow. Yes, she can be handmilked but not for long. So she has until Sunday to come around. I may just dry her off then decide if we can feed her for the winter or find someone that wants her non mannered self.
I really really really should have sold them as a pair and not bothered milking her.
I was reading a post last night saying how Dexters were the perfect breed, so calm and docile. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
So for those that have trained the wild ones, please chime in and give me some good advice. I so don't want to see her this morning much less milk her.
Molly, my jersey, Lilly her daughter were no where near this bad.
I am getting out my rescue remedy, boy do I need it.