Post by Jenny at Sagehill on Jun 21, 2007 8:11:06 GMT -5
I gave up milking pansy this morning... I started to milk her, then just quit after a few squeezes, I couldn't bring myself to waste an hour of time and physical energy, trying to get even a gallon, when I have so many other things that demand my attention.
it's been a week today since she arrived, and I can't fight her any longer. I'm spending nearly three hours a day on Pansy, time I can't afford to lose as I run my farm without any help. Chores are piling up and I'm exhausted and overwhelmed.
I'm tired of being kicked, and she's tired of being locked in a stanchion with her hind legs tied and of me pulling at her teats for an hour twice a day with two gallons or less a day to show for it. I've got bruises up and down both arms because she has become expert at kicking even her feet tied.
She also seems to be drying up, despite 18 lbs of 14% grain a day and good pasture... I get less and less milk each milking and she's not filling up like before. Yesterday I got 1 1/2 gallons total... I've got two goats who give that much each on three pounds of grain and same pasture.
Still, I wouldn't even mind the lower quantity if I could just get it in 20 minutes, if I didn't have to tie her legs down in order to get it. Part of the reason it takes me an hour is that I hvae to stop when she lifts her foot to stomp me, then when I try to restart milking she tries to stomp me again.
I've tested her milk on all four quarters and there's no mastitis, so that's not the problem.
I'm so disappointed and disheartened by what's happened. I really didn't expect milking her to be SO difficult or to last so long each time.
I don't know what else to do.
Jenny
it's been a week today since she arrived, and I can't fight her any longer. I'm spending nearly three hours a day on Pansy, time I can't afford to lose as I run my farm without any help. Chores are piling up and I'm exhausted and overwhelmed.
I'm tired of being kicked, and she's tired of being locked in a stanchion with her hind legs tied and of me pulling at her teats for an hour twice a day with two gallons or less a day to show for it. I've got bruises up and down both arms because she has become expert at kicking even her feet tied.
She also seems to be drying up, despite 18 lbs of 14% grain a day and good pasture... I get less and less milk each milking and she's not filling up like before. Yesterday I got 1 1/2 gallons total... I've got two goats who give that much each on three pounds of grain and same pasture.
Still, I wouldn't even mind the lower quantity if I could just get it in 20 minutes, if I didn't have to tie her legs down in order to get it. Part of the reason it takes me an hour is that I hvae to stop when she lifts her foot to stomp me, then when I try to restart milking she tries to stomp me again.
I've tested her milk on all four quarters and there's no mastitis, so that's not the problem.
I'm so disappointed and disheartened by what's happened. I really didn't expect milking her to be SO difficult or to last so long each time.
I don't know what else to do.
Jenny