Lots of dairy cow questions *Update*

[welsummerchicks]

I worked at a farm where they had a little gadget to hold the cow's tail and prevent kicking when we milked them.

 

[Cowgirl71]

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I've found a piece of rope works just fine for a tail holder, LOL.

As far as kicking, I like to put my head right up against her flank so that I can feel her bones moving around before she kicks. Usually giving her a hard sudden slap on her side and a brief yell will do it. Just let her know you're there and she better not do that again! But at the same time you have to be careful not to freak her out. We've gotten our cows to the point where they'll never kick us on purpose. Only exception being when their udder is huge, swollen and painful from a rare case of mastitis or from recently calving. Even then they rarely try to kick us, they dance more than anything else. Kinda like when you're in pain and bite down on a stick to distract yourself.

 

[herfrds]

My first cow I taught to stand to be hand milked. My first experience too.

A Stop Kik Stick worked wonders. Always had to use it on the holstein cross.
Only had to use it the first couple of milkings with my Jersey.

Just take a long piece of twine and tie it in a slip knot to the hair on the end of the tail. DO NOT tie to the bone.
If the cow is in a pen tie the other end to a plank in a slip knot. Much easier to pull off quickly if needed.

Watch out for the sudden pee they do when getting milked.

Biggest trouble I had with Chocolate was her licking me while I milked her. Nothing will drive you crazier then a cows rough tongue on the back of your neck.

One thing I did learn was to sit as close to the hind leg as possible. I was almost sitting under the cows. Now if they went to kick they could pick up their hoof, but not get me with a good solid kick. Just got a small thump.

 

[Hound]

All this talk of kicking is making me want to wear my riding helmet when milking.

 

[Mahonri]

Growing up we milked a number of cows that were 'mixed' with beef breeds.

"Beast" came from a Holstein cow bred by a Hereford. She had tons of milk, but was the most difficult to milk because she had to be tied so she couldn't move or she'd kick the crap out of us.

"Dumbo" (had large ears) She was half Holstien half Guernsey. Lots of milk and mother loved her cream.

"Helen" half Holstein half Charolais... Lots of milk, gentle wonderful milker.... cream wasn't the best.

Before I started milking, we had a Brown Swiss. HUGE cow. LOTS of milk.

We also had a purebred Jersey... I hated milking her because her teats were so small. After two years of my complaining my dad sold her... I was young then, if I'd been a little older I might have got used to her.

And a purebred Guernsy (mother of Dumbo)... She gave lots of milk and her cream was my mothers favorite of all.
Her back teats were a bit small so I hated that, but I'd milk out the two front teats first and it made it easier to milk the back ones.

Even though I'd love to go back to the farm, the one thing I imagine I'll never own again is a milk cow. TOO MUCH WORK! There is NEVER a vacation, it's every day, twice a day and you can't miss or it messes them up.

 

[Cowgirl71]

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If it makes you feel better I've been milking for two and a half years straight and never got anything worse than squashed toes. And I've milked some less than pleasant cows. You mentioned you have beef cows and milk goats, between the two, I bet you'll make a great cow milker!

 

[Hound]

I have a milk goat that's a little 'opinionated'. On more than one occasion milking or hoof trimming has ended up looking more like steer wrestling.

 

[Cowgirl71]

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Who wants to leave the farm anyway?

I'm glad to hear your beef/dairy cross animals made good milk cows! We have two Black Angus x Jersey heifers we're hoping will make good milkers.

 

[Mahonri]

We also had an Angus crossed to a Holstein that we tried for a while, but she was too low and none of us liked her milk. Go fig.

 

[Cowgirl71]

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What do you mean "too low"? Udder was too low to the ground?

We had a couple Holsteins and their milk was bland. The Jersey's milk tastes so rich and yummy! We figure that our two heifers are bound to make good milk cows or good momma cows. Lizzy's such a sweetie I'm hoping she'll make a good milker!