D-1-0 new cow today- troubles already! Pls help

[combsaj]

We brought home our cow today- what a mess!
She hasn't been taught to lead so to get her out of the trailer and into the field and then the barn, I planned on 'herding' her with a long branch in one hand to encourage her where to go- cuz this is how they move around their cows at the dairy. Well she jumped down from the trailer and my friend had a bucket of grain to tempt her but the trip so upset her she just plowed ahead- running down our street!! I ran hard beside her a bit away with my branch extended in front of her to keep her from bolting onto the street and hopefully turning her. I was successful in turning her down the next side street which was a dead end and with my friend running like mad to open and shut gates and the help of a car that turned into the road and kindly parked his car to block the open end of the street we eventually got her into our yard then out to the field and then in the barn- phew!! Took about an hour in the pouring rain.
She was very uspet so I gave her some grain and alfalfa, talked lovingly to her and then left her to rest and relax. I checked on her a couple times and then thought I might try to milk her tonight instead of tomorrow morning (as she is ready to drop to one milking and the previous owner says they sometimes skip a milking with her and she is fine- so I could have waited until tomorrow morning) but thought I might go out and see how her udder looked. I went out then back to the house to flip the light for the barn switch- but after I left to go to the house she started mooing so when I came back I thought she may want to be milked. I tempted her past the gate from her stall into the milking area but she was VERY nervous and then tried to slip my halter around her neck while she ate her alfalfa and grain. But she balked, pulled it out of my hands, and went back to her stall. Two tries of this and I finally got it on and clipped to the rope near her food. She freaked out pulling bakwards, scraping her face on the wall near her (didn't injur herself though) and finally got the halter off. It was not an adjusted good fitting halter so it came off without too much trouble and I'm glad she didn't hurt herself.
I decided that was enough stress for her and I and so closed the gate (she was back in her stall) and got her some hay to munch on (but did not bring her the alfalfa and grain). When I was giving her the hay she was getting pushy with her head and I firmly said no. Then before leaving for the night I thought I would see if she might let me milk her while she ate without being tied. So I approached her and leaned down to feel her udder. She kicked out at me and I poked her hard in the leg and said 'Oh no you don't! No kicking!' She went into the corner of the stall with her head low and her eyes looking alarmed. Then I left and came inside.
I feel like we are starting off SO bad!!! This is NOT how I envisioned it!!!
I know she is used to a stanchion but I don't want to use one and don't have one built. I was hoping to tie her off and milk her- but now I need to go purchase a halter and get it on her and she will probably freak out again. I was thinking earlier today I would need to halter train her by tying her to a tree until she submitted to it- but I don't have much time- she needs to be milked tomorrow! How am I going to milk her?
Pls help- thanks so much!

[Leimana]

if you have a barn you can easily put up a head gate like a stanchion for this girl. One thing is for sure we have our ideas and cows have theirs. If she is use to a stanchion I would do what she needs to be comfortable, considering halter breaking her is not a one day endeavor. You could try a collar instead, if you could get that on her. I wish you luck, those first days of having a new cow can be challenging! Take a deep breath, give her some treats from your hand, let her know you are not a boogy man ( thats what she probably thought in the pouring rain running!). There are so many knowledgable people here, I am sure you will get much support!!

[babyboy1mom]

I am so sorry for your troubles with your new cow.

I would keep her in her stall, for a few days, to get used to you and her new home. As for the milking problem, sorry that I cannot help you with that one. I would definitely hobble or tie her foot back to keep her from kicking. I would spend as much time as possible out there, to help her get used to you. This is all new to her and she is scared. Cows are very routines and you have upset her routine and she is not happy...lol

IMO, you did right by not letting her get pushy with you or kick you, but she got what she wanted. You let her be and she was able to get away from you. I understand that it was stressful. I am by no means saying that walking away was the wrong thing to do, I just do not want her to think that because you left her alone after she acted badly, that she can do it again to get you to leave her alone.

Hopefully some more experienced cow tamers will chime in here soon. My Daisy was only 4 months old when I got her and she had been hand raised, so it was pretty easy to do whatever I wanted/needed to do with here.

Good luck.

Dorothy in LA

[catherine]

1. Congrats on your first cow!
2. Good food and head control can work wonders on any cow's attitude. The halter will help a lot.
3. Remember, YOU are the alpha cow. Stomp your feet and shake your head right back at her if she gets sassy.
4. Be careful when between your cow and anything hard and immoveable.
5. Pet her first, and then work down towards her udder. Just diving for the "goods" can freak any girl out! lol
6. Feed her in whatever improvised headgate you can rig up. When she realizes she can't go anywhere and can't kick you, but has good food in front of her, she'll most likely settle right down and ignore your fumblings.
7. It usually takes about 3 days to set new habits in your cow.
8. Patience and persistence. Don't get discouraged. Soon, you'll be hearing that lovely "zing" in your milk pail!

[jerseymike]

Boy, where to start.....

First I'm sorry that you are having problems with the new cow, but sometimes it does happen... she doesn't know you and you don't know her. It will take time to break the routine she's used to at the dairy and become adapted to the routine that you are starting at home.

It doesn't sound like she had a lot of one on one human contact, it sounds more to me that she was "herded" into a milking room and into a milking stanchion where the milking machine was applied and when finished was let back out to the herd...not much one on one meaningful contact there.

First and foremost give her some time to calm down and get used to the fact that she is no longer with the herd. She is scared and frantic and really pretty dangerous at this time.

I take it she has never worn a halter at the dairy? She's going to get freaked at the fact of the halter is a part of her life.

Most dairy cows have become accustomed to a stanchion for miking and trying to "set her free" and milk without one at this time may not be in your future. Building one and working her out of the stanchion may be a better idea.

Remember at this time meet her on the terms she's become accustomed to and change her to your ideas a little at a time.

Above all be careful, do not place yourself in harms way, she's used to jostling for position with others of her kind, puny humans are no match.

Mike

[Nonesuch Melissa]

Well one thing is for sure... once you get this all worked out you will have some very funny stories to tell... what an adventure.

I would not try to combine halter breaking with milking. Trying to had milk a cow that is fighting a halter the first couple of times would be pretty tough as they often thrash quite a bit and I've even had a few fling themselves on the ground and lay over.

For an emergency 'stanchion' attach a gate to one of your barn walls near a corner and make a makeshift chute. Then lead her in with food... give her no food except in the 'stanchion' for a couple of days... When hungry she will be much more motivated to cooperate.

While she is eating her food you will need to get her milked out fast. This is not the time to dilly-dally around. If you are not an experienced milker you will probably get little into a bucket anyway on a nervous dancing cow so just concentrate on getting the milk out even if it goes on the ground. After a few times of you milking her she will realize that it is just another version of what went on at the dairy. Also with her needing to get her full 1/2 days ration eaten as this is the only place she can eat, she will spend a long time in the stanchion and after a time or two you will be able to carefully wash her udder and bucket milk sitting comfortably beside her.

Eyes on the prize! and congratulations on your new cow.

[richard olson]

hi combsaj. lets give your new cow a name how about ''she devil'' for now.it could of helped if the farmer would have put the halter on your new cow a month or at least a week prior to your ''welcome home to your new life bossy''[remember this point to all new cow owner wanawbies]. coming from a herd of cows she devil lived very independant life, all she was expected to do was follow the herd a give 10 gallons of milk a day. she devil doesn't know anything about family cow love.is there anyone with cow experience in your neck of the woods that can help you out TODAY.you really need to keep the milk flow going in her bag or mastitus may pop up. if she's real close to the end of her milk lactation you could just dry her up totally.this would give you time to start over and get acquainted. if you do get she devil cornered to where you can attemp a milking go round you must stay clam do not yell at her [whisper sweet nothings in her ear]or poke her, these things will only hold her milk all the more.get a brush and comb her down[at the top of her tail,they like that] if your going to hand milk her don't worry about putting any milk in a pail just squirt it on the ground,brush the back side of her udder this should help stimulate milk let down.don't let dogs or kids nearby either the may make her nervous. good luck richard

[jwaller]

She's in a new place with new humnans and the pouring rain didn't help. Also the sort of chasing down the street.

She'll come around. Just need to get used to new home and humans. Don't get hurt-be careful.

[Jenn]

Cocoa had never had anything around her neck or head. She always just stood in line with a group of cows. She did best when we gave up trying to use a head gate and just duplicated as best we could the environment she was used to. We made a "stall" that she couldn't turn around in and she just ate while we milked her. We made sure to stay away from her shoulder forward initially. We had to use our other cow to lead her, because she had always just followed and that was what she knew how to do.
-Jenn

[amyniowa]

Oct 10, 2010 6:40:07 GMT -5 richard olson said:

lets give your new cow a name how about ''she devil'' for now.

Come on she doesn't deserve that name yet.

Does she have a name yet, will help bonding if she has a good name.

Amy

[missconnie]

try looping a rope around her hips in front of the utter and tie the rope end to a pole or railing with her head held firmly just long enough to get the milk. this keeps her from moving to much and you can rub her belly and hips if she is calming down. to do this without a stall, you will need someone to push her against the pole or railing while you tie the rope.

[jerseylovinliz]

Pretty much everything I would suggest has already been said so I'll be quick. One thing to keep in mind is she was on the bottom of the totem pole where she came from. Everybody else pushed HER around. Now that they're not there to do that I wonder if she's not being a little overly dominate so as to start out at a higher ranking. I brought home a calf that was pushed around where she came from. She was terrible the first couple of days. When she realized she didn't have to fight for everything things settled down dramatically.

One of the best ways to gain trust is peaceful time. Yes, your milking times are stressfull right now. But, go out there & read a book next to her stall or paint your nails or something at other times. Just be there quietly. You don't have to look at her or talk to her or have anything to do w/her right now. She needs to know you're safe & a good thing.

I'm sorry you're having troubles. I promise they'll pass quickly if you keep working w/her.

Liz

give her no food except in the 'stanchion' for a couple of days... When hungry she will be much more motivated to cooperate.

Awesome advice!

[combsaj]

THANK YOU all for the advise! Please keep it coming- I so very much appreciate the encouragement. My hubby is on the way outside right now to build a quick stanchion- she has been mooing like crazy- hope the neighbors are patient! What a crazy time- my hubby went to go outside and our back door is bolted shut and won't open. Just little things like this going on to add to the mayhem.
I'm nervous about getting hurt around her now. I realized enough yesterday to be careful- but now I am going to have to try really hard to not give off any fear vibes. CALM CALM CALM. I will just milk her out into a bucket that we aren't going to keep for milk and let it fly if she kicks it. I am worried the rope around her might make her more upset about being milked- but if she gives me too much trouble I will try it.

Any more info on the best way to handle her to show her I am boss but not be aggressive towards her would be great. Stomping my foot and shaking my head- should I not yell 'no!' as well?
Thanks again all... sigh... wish me luck this morning!

[missconnie]

about the rope... i need to mention : do not tie it in a knot!!! there is a quick release knot like tying a bow but with one "bunny ear". i dont know how to explain it to you. the rope around her should have a non slip loop to thread the other end thru to cinch her up and then tie to railing.

[jerseylovinliz]

A stern No! is a good thing. You don't need to beat her but I have seen a pop on the nose works wonders w/an uppity cow. That'd be about all I'd do to her. You don't want her to be scared of you, just respect you. It sounds like y'all are doing an awesome job. She can feel your fear & uneasiness as well. Remember you are the boss & she must submit to you. Walk in there w/your head high & like she's no match for you (even though your knees are knocking & your hands are shaking so much you spill the grain everywhere). She's showing you attitude now show her yours.

Know that you guys are NOT alone. I'd be willing to bet most, if not dang near all, of us have been exactly where you are now. She's not a bad cow she's just scared & hasn't been taught how to behave. I literally cried while milking the first 3ish days (well, not while milking I was too scared but after lol). It was horrible BUT I stuck to it & now she's an absolute doll (most days)! I can't remember but is your girl bred (pregnant) or open? One mistake I made was bringing my girl home while in a raging heat. Maybe that's part of it?

It will get better w/time. If you guys stick to YOUR desired routine she will come around & calm down. We will all definitely be thinking of you guys & wishing the best for you all. We all have great shoulders to cry on & JerseyMike is ALWAYS good for some great jokes to put things in perspective!

Liz

[Shawn]

I haven't read all the responses, so pardon if I repeat. But I would say based on the way she responded when you kicked her for kicking you, she'll not end up being a kicker. My Emma did the same thing. She was used to the machine, been in a dairy all her life. I brought her home and sat down to milk. She tolerated it for a bit then decided to kick me. I kicked back. Her eyes got wide. We went again for a bit. She kicked at me again, I kicked back. Again eyes wide and she never did it again.
It's just a reaction to being scared, something different, upset routine, etc. Give her a chance before you hobble and tie her, she might surprise you.

Skip the halter training right now. She needs to get comfortable with everything else first.

[Janene]

And end on a good note---and YOU decide when its time to end a session. It shows her YOU are in control. For now, leave her halter on once you get it on until you/her are comfy around each other.

I have left my (normally calm) cow in the milking area more than once for her to be bored (couldn't go anywhere! "Cow Timeout") while I went inside and had coffee, and to chill/vent/calm down. This way she knew:
1) I am in control
2) things go MY way whether she likes it or not
3) I am fair--but there are limitations to her shenanigans

I do not feed grain (or her 'special' alfalfa) unless its milking time. That is her reward for behaving and coming in and getting milked. If she mis-behaves, I take it away while I'm away chilling/venting. Let her get mad, its all the good its going to do her. I bring food, she behaves, she gets special food. If not, she learns the consequences pretty fast.
Janene

[combsaj]

I did it! I did it!! Hooray! It took me an hour- my fingers aren't typing very well and I'm exhauseted- but it's done!
My great husband buit a stanchion, she went in fairly easy being led with the grain bucket, and I got the stanchion locked in place. I tried to hobble her- she stepped out of that, she stepped in the milk bucket (just a low pan), she shifted around a lot, she pooed and peed, and she kept looking at me like - WHY is this taking soooo long?! But I finally milked her out (mostly onto the floor).
I am only a little concerned if I have got her milked out all the way or not. It seemed the milk would NEVER stop coming- even when her udder seemed soft and I had been milking an hour ( I'm not a complete newbie at milking having raised goats as a kid myself with my parents) but I didn't want to leave milk in her. Finally when she seemed to have lost all patience herself- mooing and trying to get out of the stanchion and shifting everywhere (I'm glad she didn't try kicking again) I decided to end it. Don't know how much I milked out of course.
BUT.... I did it so I am relieved. Dear husband even gave me a break at milking for some minutes and did a good job himself I will say for a first timer!

[combsaj]

Janene,
I probably shouldn't have let her out then as she was definetly misbehaving. Next time I will leave her in there to chill and then let her out when she is calmed down.
THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!!

[Nonesuch Melissa]

Feed something that takes longer to eat at first, like her alfalfa... give grain toward the end when you are pretty sure you are almost done... That will teach her to be still since she will think she is not getting grain until you are ready... nothing worse than an impatient cow who gobbles up her goodies then shifts around peeing and pooping to let YOU know that SHE is done!