Post by wildprairiefarms on Mar 30, 2008 16:35:09 GMT -5
Hi all,
Got another elaborate question for you. I'm new to all this and trying to learn as much as I can. I know many of you let your calf drink its mother's milk and also milk the cow yourself. Can you tell me more about this?
1) My ex dairy friends say they would NEVER do it. Because it introduce germs into the teats and raises the "somatic cell count". But, they weren't in it for the "family cow", it was their livelihood to sell the milk to the dairy. They did this for 30 years. Now they only have one cow for their family cow and they still practice this and sell the milk to us. They clean her well, use a teat dip, wipe with individual wipes, then use a machine. Their milk is great. When the cow freshens again, I think they let the baby stay on for the first few days to get the colostrum, then take her off and bottle feed her.
I know that's how some folks might do it, especially a dairy, but it doesn't seem natural to me. Seems like a baby needs her mama. But for how long?
2) My friend Tammy in Washington does it all the time, (shares the milk). But I'm not sure what their schedule is. They use a bowl and soapy water with a rag, no teat dip. They milk with a machine. We bought their milk and it was great.
4) I have read others that say they milk in the morning, then let the calf have all the rest of the milk until night fall. Then they separate the calf and cow until morning. They milk again in the morning. They only milk once a day. Some do this for the whole time, for 10 months, until the next off time, 2 months before the next freshening.
5) My friend also said sometimes they have 2 cows, with 2 calves. They let 1 mom take both calves and milk the other one twice a day. So that time, one never gets milked.
Some folks say they only milk once a day, others say you have to milk them out twice a day, even if the calf is on the rest of the time, because they will not drink enough. Then the cow might get mastitis. I'm so confused!!!
Also what is the schedule for when they are first born? Let the baby have all the milk for how many days, then start milking. If you were going to sell the calf, when is is good time for weaning? 3 months? 6 months? 10 months?
I did read Shalali's schedule last week, the 8:00 & 4:00. (I'll have to read it again) For a twice a day schedule that seems like it would work for me, but more like 10:00 & 6:00! I'm not a morning person! And I am so busy with my kids homeschooling and other stuff, that I might forget to go out to separate them again the few hours before the afternoon milking.
So I'd love to hear about how you all do it. I'm sure everyone will have their preference. But I'd love to hear it just the same. I especially want to hear about how to do it only once a day!
Thanks ahead of time!
Bonnie
Got another elaborate question for you. I'm new to all this and trying to learn as much as I can. I know many of you let your calf drink its mother's milk and also milk the cow yourself. Can you tell me more about this?
1) My ex dairy friends say they would NEVER do it. Because it introduce germs into the teats and raises the "somatic cell count". But, they weren't in it for the "family cow", it was their livelihood to sell the milk to the dairy. They did this for 30 years. Now they only have one cow for their family cow and they still practice this and sell the milk to us. They clean her well, use a teat dip, wipe with individual wipes, then use a machine. Their milk is great. When the cow freshens again, I think they let the baby stay on for the first few days to get the colostrum, then take her off and bottle feed her.
I know that's how some folks might do it, especially a dairy, but it doesn't seem natural to me. Seems like a baby needs her mama. But for how long?
2) My friend Tammy in Washington does it all the time, (shares the milk). But I'm not sure what their schedule is. They use a bowl and soapy water with a rag, no teat dip. They milk with a machine. We bought their milk and it was great.
4) I have read others that say they milk in the morning, then let the calf have all the rest of the milk until night fall. Then they separate the calf and cow until morning. They milk again in the morning. They only milk once a day. Some do this for the whole time, for 10 months, until the next off time, 2 months before the next freshening.
5) My friend also said sometimes they have 2 cows, with 2 calves. They let 1 mom take both calves and milk the other one twice a day. So that time, one never gets milked.
Some folks say they only milk once a day, others say you have to milk them out twice a day, even if the calf is on the rest of the time, because they will not drink enough. Then the cow might get mastitis. I'm so confused!!!
Also what is the schedule for when they are first born? Let the baby have all the milk for how many days, then start milking. If you were going to sell the calf, when is is good time for weaning? 3 months? 6 months? 10 months?
I did read Shalali's schedule last week, the 8:00 & 4:00. (I'll have to read it again) For a twice a day schedule that seems like it would work for me, but more like 10:00 & 6:00! I'm not a morning person! And I am so busy with my kids homeschooling and other stuff, that I might forget to go out to separate them again the few hours before the afternoon milking.
So I'd love to hear about how you all do it. I'm sure everyone will have their preference. But I'd love to hear it just the same. I especially want to hear about how to do it only once a day!
Thanks ahead of time!
Bonnie