Post by farmerswife on Jul 25, 2011 23:34:41 GMT -5
So before I say "what's the point" I will say- yeah I probably know what the point REALLY is...... but "WHAT"S THE POINT?!"
As some of you know I have nurse cows 8 of them....(and 1 bred heifer) but currently only have 4 in milk-- the rest are in dry-out mode
Anyways..... one of my Jersey's "Shirley" had been being used for my part-time family cow. I was milking her about twice a week she wouldn't ever give me all of it but she would give me about 2 gallons and then she would be held up for her calves for the rest (about another 2 gallons)...... well one day she decided- NOPE not gonna give it to you any more...... I think I kinda like them pesky little critters after all sooo you are just outta luck....... I tried talking to her- rubbing, massaging, bumping her udder-- singing to her--- (Christian songs- maybe she woulda preferred Old McDonald Had a Farm?!) still she refused to let down for me any more..... and it was not worth the hassle to get her all hooked up and the time to clean everything up for 1/2 gallon of milk! So poo just be a nurse cow for a while! She had actually broken in the pen with her calves a few mornings before I could get there to milk her!
So then I get a new cow...... Fiona....... wonderful PERFECT Jersey cow! Seriously I LOVE HER
Fiona also LOVES her babies........ I decided I would try to start milking her (the lazy way) so I seperate her from the calves for the night and get her all hooked up the next morning- problem was I had her tied loose where her back end could step aside........ at first she let down perfect- 2 full gallons and she got fidgety and made all the cups fall off and by then she was spooked so I just turned her to her babies. HER milk was fantastic!
So attempt #2 today -- I separated her for the day and went to try this afternoon...... she was nice and round and full-- this time I have her in a "chute" (kind of- its panels set up for loading out the calves) All seems to be going well-----except the little fact that there is basically ZERO milk coming --- I rub- I pet- I talk- I walk her baby up to "pretend" like he was sucking--- she's no dummy! after 20 min.......its now getting dark...... she poops...... she finishes her feed and she decides she's ready to get out..... she squirms and stomps and all the cups fall ----- yes----- in the POOP! I scramble to get it shut off....... but now I have poopy teat cups- she steps on one- the hoses are FUNKY- there is poo in the milk tubes now! total time- probably an hour and a half for a WHOOPING 1/4 a gallon ...........
so now I ask again......... WHAT"S THE POINT?!
ya ya ya--- I know - if I want to milk her I need to have a set routine- milk her every morning or every evening and keep her on the same schedule- my life just doesn't work that way........unfortunantly
I believe attempt #3 will require a little less......... 2 buckets........ one for milk and one for wash water........ I could hand milk my gallon with much less effort for both of us...... if she's not gonna let it all down anyways- then I'll just get by with less time on me to get it by getting it the old fashion way.........
Does anyone else have any experience with trying to be a "lazy milker" with a machine?
As some of you know I have nurse cows 8 of them....(and 1 bred heifer) but currently only have 4 in milk-- the rest are in dry-out mode
Anyways..... one of my Jersey's "Shirley" had been being used for my part-time family cow. I was milking her about twice a week she wouldn't ever give me all of it but she would give me about 2 gallons and then she would be held up for her calves for the rest (about another 2 gallons)...... well one day she decided- NOPE not gonna give it to you any more...... I think I kinda like them pesky little critters after all sooo you are just outta luck....... I tried talking to her- rubbing, massaging, bumping her udder-- singing to her--- (Christian songs- maybe she woulda preferred Old McDonald Had a Farm?!) still she refused to let down for me any more..... and it was not worth the hassle to get her all hooked up and the time to clean everything up for 1/2 gallon of milk! So poo just be a nurse cow for a while! She had actually broken in the pen with her calves a few mornings before I could get there to milk her!
So then I get a new cow...... Fiona....... wonderful PERFECT Jersey cow! Seriously I LOVE HER
Fiona also LOVES her babies........ I decided I would try to start milking her (the lazy way) so I seperate her from the calves for the night and get her all hooked up the next morning- problem was I had her tied loose where her back end could step aside........ at first she let down perfect- 2 full gallons and she got fidgety and made all the cups fall off and by then she was spooked so I just turned her to her babies. HER milk was fantastic!
So attempt #2 today -- I separated her for the day and went to try this afternoon...... she was nice and round and full-- this time I have her in a "chute" (kind of- its panels set up for loading out the calves) All seems to be going well-----except the little fact that there is basically ZERO milk coming --- I rub- I pet- I talk- I walk her baby up to "pretend" like he was sucking--- she's no dummy! after 20 min.......its now getting dark...... she poops...... she finishes her feed and she decides she's ready to get out..... she squirms and stomps and all the cups fall ----- yes----- in the POOP! I scramble to get it shut off....... but now I have poopy teat cups- she steps on one- the hoses are FUNKY- there is poo in the milk tubes now! total time- probably an hour and a half for a WHOOPING 1/4 a gallon ...........
so now I ask again......... WHAT"S THE POINT?!
ya ya ya--- I know - if I want to milk her I need to have a set routine- milk her every morning or every evening and keep her on the same schedule- my life just doesn't work that way........unfortunantly
I believe attempt #3 will require a little less......... 2 buckets........ one for milk and one for wash water........ I could hand milk my gallon with much less effort for both of us...... if she's not gonna let it all down anyways- then I'll just get by with less time on me to get it by getting it the old fashion way.........
Does anyone else have any experience with trying to be a "lazy milker" with a machine?