Post by squashblossom on Aug 2, 2010 16:05:25 GMT -5
When I posted a couple weeks ago suggesting the Udderly EZ milker to someone with hand pain, I was surprised to get responses that discouraged the use of this hand-milking tool because it seems so gentle and has worked very well for me. The responses were concerned about the lack of pulsation harming the cow's udder, and I certainly do not want to hurt my sweet cow.
I did an Internet search to try to find an expert on cow physiology and milking. I found Dr. Doug Reinemann, a professor at University of WI, experts.news.wisc.edu/experts/134 and sent him my question, which he kindly answered. Here is his response:
Sent: Wed, Jul 28, 2010 3:11 pm
Subject: RE: Extremely Small scale milking equipment question
Very interesting!
This is similar to the device used by nursing mothers to extract breast milk.
‘Normal’ milking machines for cows use pulsation to collapse the liner about 1/second to counteract the congestive effects of high milking vacuum. If used as directed (stop pumping when milk flow starts and pump again when milk flow stops) your milking vacuum will be at a very moderate level and should not cause severe congestion in teat tissues. Here are my suggestions.
1. Do a very good preparation and stimulation before you start milking. This will trigger the milk letdown response and you should see the teats fill with milk. This will reduce the time it takes to extract milk by working with the cow’s natural milk letdown.
2. When you are preparing the cow, make sure you squeeze the end of the teat a number of times. This will promote flushing of keratin from the teat canal and remove bacteria. It will also stimulate new keratin production to keep the teat canal natural defense working.
3. If you see signs of discomfort and/or discoloration in teat skin (red or blue color) you need to allow more time for normal circulation to remove congestion from the teat tissues. You can do this by allowing more time before re-applying vacuum after milk flow stops. The calf does this by releasing vacuum between each draw of milk.
The most important of these is squeezing the teat canal to remove keratin and stimulate new keratin production.
Let me know how it goes.
Doug Reinemann
link verified: 3.1.11
I did an Internet search to try to find an expert on cow physiology and milking. I found Dr. Doug Reinemann, a professor at University of WI, experts.news.wisc.edu/experts/134 and sent him my question, which he kindly answered. Here is his response:
Sent: Wed, Jul 28, 2010 3:11 pm
Subject: RE: Extremely Small scale milking equipment question
Very interesting!
This is similar to the device used by nursing mothers to extract breast milk.
‘Normal’ milking machines for cows use pulsation to collapse the liner about 1/second to counteract the congestive effects of high milking vacuum. If used as directed (stop pumping when milk flow starts and pump again when milk flow stops) your milking vacuum will be at a very moderate level and should not cause severe congestion in teat tissues. Here are my suggestions.
1. Do a very good preparation and stimulation before you start milking. This will trigger the milk letdown response and you should see the teats fill with milk. This will reduce the time it takes to extract milk by working with the cow’s natural milk letdown.
2. When you are preparing the cow, make sure you squeeze the end of the teat a number of times. This will promote flushing of keratin from the teat canal and remove bacteria. It will also stimulate new keratin production to keep the teat canal natural defense working.
3. If you see signs of discomfort and/or discoloration in teat skin (red or blue color) you need to allow more time for normal circulation to remove congestion from the teat tissues. You can do this by allowing more time before re-applying vacuum after milk flow stops. The calf does this by releasing vacuum between each draw of milk.
The most important of these is squeezing the teat canal to remove keratin and stimulate new keratin production.
Let me know how it goes.
Doug Reinemann
link verified: 3.1.11