Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2010 23:05:34 GMT -5
OK, my jersey cow is almost as stubborn as I am, and we appear to be at a stalemate. She had her first calf almost 6 months ago, and I had to train her from scratch to let me milk her. She fought and kicked and didn't like it. So I tied her face close to a bar to give her no room to move, then hobbled her and put a kick bar on her. Of course I also tied her tale to her leg to prevent getting smacked with it. I had to milk her by standing against her, hip to hip, and use a machine. Within a couple of days she was behaving and over the past months we have had a good milking partnership, but I still have to keep her tied. I tried once to let her eat while I milked, but she took advantage of me and tried to knock me down. So I feed her a little upon entering the milk stall, tie her up and milk, then feed her a bunch more afterward. It has worked well for us. My recent problem is that she has been holding more and more back for her big calf. I tried everything from letting him latch on and then removing him (it worked for a while, but then they both got wise to it), to letting him drink a few hours in advance, but she holds it back still. So I resorted to weaning him. This worked at first, and he's doing ok, but now she is not only still holding her milk back on me, she is fighting me just the same as she did in the very beginning, and making milking experience nearly tearful. I've been milking three times daily, and each milking she's giving me less and less. Today she gave me only a cup of milk mid-day, and tonight only 1/2 litre (1/4 gallon). Meanwhile she kicks her feet up and tries to get rid of me. I'm afraid her milk supply will deplete to nothing, and that we'll never have an enjoyable milking experience again.
To address possible questions, she is on a good quality hay with unlimited access, she grazes, and she is eating plenty of dairy feed during her milkings (before and after). I'm at my wits end and about to instruct my children that they have to give up milk for the rest of their lives. HELP!!!!
To address possible questions, she is on a good quality hay with unlimited access, she grazes, and she is eating plenty of dairy feed during her milkings (before and after). I'm at my wits end and about to instruct my children that they have to give up milk for the rest of their lives. HELP!!!!