Kicking with milking machine
Apr 25, 2016 8:41:19 GMT -5
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pbrownie and thasista like this
Post by mummaducka on Apr 25, 2016 8:41:19 GMT -5
I have one cow ( my original beautiful bessie) that i can use a machine on and two that would go berserk. One of those two refuses to even go onto the milking stand- actually dragged it several Metres. I worked on getting her in it for months both before and after she calved. The new cow is a kicker and as yet I can barely get my hands around her oedemic fat teats. But I know in my heart she would be a refusnic as well with the machine. I can't even lead her yet. She kicks a lot and is not at all in a routine -yet. I have resigned myself to the fact that these two need to be hand milked.
So my advice is as Tamara mentioned above and to start one handed and a smaller bucket - empty into a larger one behind- and build up those muscles. You will get there. I suck at it as well and will never be a fast milker as some people say to get it done in under ten minutes. Nope. That's not me. I allow a half an hour.
I guess i have a few things against me timewise as well in that my two jerseys have small orifices so the flow is slow. They also probably hold up for their calves. The new cow has great flow- so far. I also share with multiple calves so I'm not fanatical about emptying the udder. The calves will get what I miss. My best girl (the only one who will!) hasn't been on the machine in a very long time as she has had multiple calves and frankly her milk is not as tasty as the ones I hand milk. Maybe that is the machine? Dunno. I think it might be
Another thing i wanted to add is that i picked up a great tip on this forum of using a surgical or foodsafe hair net over the top of the milk bucket. It stops any bugs, flies, hair, dust, grass, bits from going in your bucket. The milk doesn't need to be filtered when put into bottles, therefore saving me more washing up ) they are super cheap if you buy a big bundle and so worth it. I just throw them into my burning rubbish. I am thrilled with how the milk is super clean. I don't milk without one anymore.
So my advice is as Tamara mentioned above and to start one handed and a smaller bucket - empty into a larger one behind- and build up those muscles. You will get there. I suck at it as well and will never be a fast milker as some people say to get it done in under ten minutes. Nope. That's not me. I allow a half an hour.
I guess i have a few things against me timewise as well in that my two jerseys have small orifices so the flow is slow. They also probably hold up for their calves. The new cow has great flow- so far. I also share with multiple calves so I'm not fanatical about emptying the udder. The calves will get what I miss. My best girl (the only one who will!) hasn't been on the machine in a very long time as she has had multiple calves and frankly her milk is not as tasty as the ones I hand milk. Maybe that is the machine? Dunno. I think it might be
Another thing i wanted to add is that i picked up a great tip on this forum of using a surgical or foodsafe hair net over the top of the milk bucket. It stops any bugs, flies, hair, dust, grass, bits from going in your bucket. The milk doesn't need to be filtered when put into bottles, therefore saving me more washing up ) they are super cheap if you buy a big bundle and so worth it. I just throw them into my burning rubbish. I am thrilled with how the milk is super clean. I don't milk without one anymore.