Post by bja105 on Apr 26, 2015 20:03:15 GMT -5
We bought a Dexter in September, the fourth member of our new and growing herd. She was bred when we bought her, and she calved Thursday, 4/23/15. The calf is half Angus, a heifer.
I was a little worried today. Every time I looked at the calf she was sleeping. The cow's bag looked bigger than ever. I had seen the calf nurse, so I know she can. She was urinating the few times I saw her stand. My wife says she saw her nurse and run around today, so I guess I just wasn't there for the action.
Anyway, I wanted to see if I could milk this cow, and if her teats were OK. I can, and they are!
I put a halter on and tied her to a post. I put a little grain in front of her and a clean stock pot under her. I got on my knees (she's short, I'm tall) and gave it a shot. I'm a pretty big guy and those teats are small, but I got milk. My problem is accuracy. More ended up on me and the ground than in the pot.
I didn't know how much to take on the third day, so I stopped at only a cup. Its enough for my coffee tomorrow. I pulled out the basket from my coffee maker and strained the milk through a coffee filter. Not ideal, but it worked.
We bought this Dexter to give us calves to eat, and as practice for when our Jersey grows up. This is her second calf, and our first.
Some questions.
If I want to share milk with the calf, how much should I take? She is a Dexter, and I have read they are low producing.
Can I milk her only occasionally, or is it an every day commitment, even with the calf on her.
I have a pen to put the calf in if I need to separate them. If I have to do that, should I leave some milk in her for the calf?
This cow has 6 teats. The four normal ones, plus a third pair in back. The extras are small, one is just a nub, the other is about 1/4 size, but it makes milk, or something, when I squeeze it. Is this unusual, is it a problem?
If I am going to be milking, I need some equipment and facilities. Stanchions look easy to build, and the two Amish neighbors have some I can copy. They can probably point me in the right direction for straining equipment, too. I'll take any suggestions, though.
Here's a picture, I like pictures.
![](http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh51/bja105/clarabelle7_zpsnu1bwu4l.jpg)
I was a little worried today. Every time I looked at the calf she was sleeping. The cow's bag looked bigger than ever. I had seen the calf nurse, so I know she can. She was urinating the few times I saw her stand. My wife says she saw her nurse and run around today, so I guess I just wasn't there for the action.
Anyway, I wanted to see if I could milk this cow, and if her teats were OK. I can, and they are!
I put a halter on and tied her to a post. I put a little grain in front of her and a clean stock pot under her. I got on my knees (she's short, I'm tall) and gave it a shot. I'm a pretty big guy and those teats are small, but I got milk. My problem is accuracy. More ended up on me and the ground than in the pot.
I didn't know how much to take on the third day, so I stopped at only a cup. Its enough for my coffee tomorrow. I pulled out the basket from my coffee maker and strained the milk through a coffee filter. Not ideal, but it worked.
We bought this Dexter to give us calves to eat, and as practice for when our Jersey grows up. This is her second calf, and our first.
Some questions.
If I want to share milk with the calf, how much should I take? She is a Dexter, and I have read they are low producing.
Can I milk her only occasionally, or is it an every day commitment, even with the calf on her.
I have a pen to put the calf in if I need to separate them. If I have to do that, should I leave some milk in her for the calf?
This cow has 6 teats. The four normal ones, plus a third pair in back. The extras are small, one is just a nub, the other is about 1/4 size, but it makes milk, or something, when I squeeze it. Is this unusual, is it a problem?
If I am going to be milking, I need some equipment and facilities. Stanchions look easy to build, and the two Amish neighbors have some I can copy. They can probably point me in the right direction for straining equipment, too. I'll take any suggestions, though.
Here's a picture, I like pictures.
![](http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh51/bja105/clarabelle7_zpsnu1bwu4l.jpg)