Post by Lannie on Jun 8, 2010 12:00:31 GMT -5
Although I've won some battles, I think I've lost the war with Bandit. She wants to dry herself off. I did get her in last night for milking without too much trouble (it wasn't too hard because it was raining), but her letdown was verrrrry slow and I got less than a gallon. A couple of weeks ago, I was getting 1-1/3 gallons at each milking, and now I can't even get a full gallon. And I probably worked harder getting that milk out last night than I do when she skips evening milking and only comes in for morning milking. My hands were cramping so bad halfway through that Rich offered to help. (Whoa!!!! Where did THAT come from?? He was NEVER going to milk a cow! LOL!) Then she came in this morning, as usual, but I still had the problem of the very slow letdown, and having to work twice as hard to get it. The funny thing is the cream has increased considerably, so she's not holding up per se, she's just making me work harder for it. So I decided this morning, that for the extra quart or so that I get milking twice a day, it's not worth it. I'm going to once a day starting now.
I know she won't stay at this production if I go to once a day, but I only have another two weeks until I'll be milking Cricket anyway, so Bandit's milk will be "surplus," and I'll just milk her until she stops or I decide to dry her off. All things considered, I think she did really well for me, in spite of the grief she's been causing me in the last week or so. I figured her Hereford half would want to dry off as soon as the calf was weaned, but her Jersey half will want to make milk as long as she's being regularly milked. Thankfully, her Jersey genetics held out as long as they did. Seven's been off of her for 4 months now, and she's still making almost 2 gallons a day on TAD, or a little more than 1.5 gallons a day on OAD. I don't think that's too bad at all.
And now, since *I* have decided to go down to once a day, she can act up all she wants and it won't bother me.
Also, last night, after I finished with Bandit and let Cricket in the stanchion, Rich wanted to sit by her and handle her udder. I thought it was a GREAT idea, and sat on the other side of her. I made the mistake of only milking Bandit from the right side, so now she won't let me on her left side without a lot of fussing and foot lifting. I figured if we got Cricket used to being handled on either side, and by two people at once, in case I ever do need Rich to help me, he can. I hadn't actually voiced this to Rich because I know he doesn't want to have to milk, but he surprised me by saying to Cricket while he was sitting by her, "So Cricket, you gonna let Grampa milk you, too?" YIKES! Maybe he WILL help me! I'm not going to lie, it's going to be hard on my hands to milk two cows, even if I'm only milking Bandit once a day. That's still two milkings in a row in the morning. If Rich decides he can help milk Cricket, then maybe I'll move Bandit's once a day to evenings, and just milk Cricket by myself in the morning, then Bandit by myself in the evening, then both of us can milk Cricket after I've finished with Bandit. That would be heavenly!
~Lannie
I know she won't stay at this production if I go to once a day, but I only have another two weeks until I'll be milking Cricket anyway, so Bandit's milk will be "surplus," and I'll just milk her until she stops or I decide to dry her off. All things considered, I think she did really well for me, in spite of the grief she's been causing me in the last week or so. I figured her Hereford half would want to dry off as soon as the calf was weaned, but her Jersey half will want to make milk as long as she's being regularly milked. Thankfully, her Jersey genetics held out as long as they did. Seven's been off of her for 4 months now, and she's still making almost 2 gallons a day on TAD, or a little more than 1.5 gallons a day on OAD. I don't think that's too bad at all.
And now, since *I* have decided to go down to once a day, she can act up all she wants and it won't bother me.
Also, last night, after I finished with Bandit and let Cricket in the stanchion, Rich wanted to sit by her and handle her udder. I thought it was a GREAT idea, and sat on the other side of her. I made the mistake of only milking Bandit from the right side, so now she won't let me on her left side without a lot of fussing and foot lifting. I figured if we got Cricket used to being handled on either side, and by two people at once, in case I ever do need Rich to help me, he can. I hadn't actually voiced this to Rich because I know he doesn't want to have to milk, but he surprised me by saying to Cricket while he was sitting by her, "So Cricket, you gonna let Grampa milk you, too?" YIKES! Maybe he WILL help me! I'm not going to lie, it's going to be hard on my hands to milk two cows, even if I'm only milking Bandit once a day. That's still two milkings in a row in the morning. If Rich decides he can help milk Cricket, then maybe I'll move Bandit's once a day to evenings, and just milk Cricket by myself in the morning, then Bandit by myself in the evening, then both of us can milk Cricket after I've finished with Bandit. That would be heavenly!
~Lannie