Post by gdorris on Sept 26, 2010 7:36:46 GMT -5
I thought I posted this yesterday but can't find it....so if this is a duplicate just ignore it.
Sub title: You never get too old to learn.
Willow is not my first milk cow and I am old enough I should have guessed...........but have never had a cow do this to me.
Jenn owned her previously. When we bought her, she still had Annabel nursing (we bought her too) and then she had another heifer, Ginger and this year, a beautiful dark red bull calf.
All this time, I made the assumption she just wasn't a heavy milker and her BF was very low......I just milk three times a week by taking the calf or calves away the night before.
Willow is a wonderful nurse cow and we always put another calf on her and this year she has three.
In the past I have been getting l.5 gallons on the morning milking, milking all four quarters.
For some strange reason this calving she has become increasingly attached to her babies. When I would milk, she would become very restless and quit eating until I finished......then I would turn the calves to her just so she would be happy, thinking they were getting nothing from her udder.
This Wednesday, I was pressed for time and wanted to finish quickly and...........she wouldn't let her milk down at all! Frustrated I decided to help my husband load calves and make the sale barn run first......then try again.
One hour later, we returned and I decided to turn just her baby in with her while I milked the other side. She immediately let down her milk..................and I got my full 1.5 gallons from just two quarters! and the BF was about 2 inches deep on the 1/2 gallon canning jar. I was stunned. She has been giving 3 gallons all along in the mornings.
Just to be sure it wasn't a flux, I did the same thing yesterday and got the 1.5 gallons again. So now we have a new milking routine which is working beautifully....for now. Don't know how it will be when the 8/19 calf gets too large to smack on the nose if he creeps to my side.
We knew she was a great cow and were very pleased with her...I like her even better now...but she is stubborn and sneaky.
It just took me three years to figure this out but I have her number now................
Sub title: You never get too old to learn.
Willow is not my first milk cow and I am old enough I should have guessed...........but have never had a cow do this to me.
Jenn owned her previously. When we bought her, she still had Annabel nursing (we bought her too) and then she had another heifer, Ginger and this year, a beautiful dark red bull calf.
All this time, I made the assumption she just wasn't a heavy milker and her BF was very low......I just milk three times a week by taking the calf or calves away the night before.
Willow is a wonderful nurse cow and we always put another calf on her and this year she has three.
In the past I have been getting l.5 gallons on the morning milking, milking all four quarters.
For some strange reason this calving she has become increasingly attached to her babies. When I would milk, she would become very restless and quit eating until I finished......then I would turn the calves to her just so she would be happy, thinking they were getting nothing from her udder.
This Wednesday, I was pressed for time and wanted to finish quickly and...........she wouldn't let her milk down at all! Frustrated I decided to help my husband load calves and make the sale barn run first......then try again.
One hour later, we returned and I decided to turn just her baby in with her while I milked the other side. She immediately let down her milk..................and I got my full 1.5 gallons from just two quarters! and the BF was about 2 inches deep on the 1/2 gallon canning jar. I was stunned. She has been giving 3 gallons all along in the mornings.
Just to be sure it wasn't a flux, I did the same thing yesterday and got the 1.5 gallons again. So now we have a new milking routine which is working beautifully....for now. Don't know how it will be when the 8/19 calf gets too large to smack on the nose if he creeps to my side.
We knew she was a great cow and were very pleased with her...I like her even better now...but she is stubborn and sneaky.
It just took me three years to figure this out but I have her number now................