Post by Deleted on May 28, 2005 7:51:42 GMT -5
We got our girl home last night!! When Howie got to the Amish place they already had her milked and ready to go. She was born on their place and didn't want to leave it and her family - I'm sure! They had trouble getting her in the trailer. It was about a 45 minute ride to get to our place. She seemed pretty calm when we put her out into a little fenced area near our house. I stood out there with her till dark and she was busy grazing as if that grass seemed wonderful! She dipped her nose in the water several times, but I never saw her really drink. She seemed content, but also alert at every sound she heard and sniffing the breeze like our dogs do! And she's been answering the neighbors cows. She layed down right about dark and I came in.
But the milking this morning was worrysome. She went right in to the stanchion, ate her grain and stood nice and still for quite awhile, but YIKES Howie only got about a quart and a half of milk. We know she's not a big producer anyway (about 3 gals. a day) but although it seemed to start out okay, then he just couldn't get anymore milk. There was no disturbance to upset her during the milking - it just didn't seem to go right. He felt like three of the quarters were empty, but her best quarter was the worst to milk this morning and it didn't really seem like it was empty, but he just absolutely couldn't get anymore. Finally she got a little tired of all this and stepped in the bucket! Poor thing, what an upsetting experience to be taken from your home and family, and from experienced milkers to a couple who don't have a clue!!
Would really appreciate any advice you have. Maybe it's just because of all the changes she's had, but if it doesn't go better tonight, we'll really be concerned.
I'll post pictures later if I can get that figured out.
But the milking this morning was worrysome. She went right in to the stanchion, ate her grain and stood nice and still for quite awhile, but YIKES Howie only got about a quart and a half of milk. We know she's not a big producer anyway (about 3 gals. a day) but although it seemed to start out okay, then he just couldn't get anymore milk. There was no disturbance to upset her during the milking - it just didn't seem to go right. He felt like three of the quarters were empty, but her best quarter was the worst to milk this morning and it didn't really seem like it was empty, but he just absolutely couldn't get anymore. Finally she got a little tired of all this and stepped in the bucket! Poor thing, what an upsetting experience to be taken from your home and family, and from experienced milkers to a couple who don't have a clue!!
Would really appreciate any advice you have. Maybe it's just because of all the changes she's had, but if it doesn't go better tonight, we'll really be concerned.
I'll post pictures later if I can get that figured out.