Lana, the milk cow

[Star Creek Dexters]

Lana and I have been milking now about 3 months. I just love her! She is the easiest, most docile cow I have ever been around. Once she learned her routine and what I expected her to do, she performs her duty perfectly and seems as if she really loves it. She knows she's the queen around her and walks around with her head held high

She has consistently given 3 gallons a day on TAD milking, with about a 15-25% cream line. Last week we switched to OAD milking and she has adjusted to just about 2 gallons a day.

Her milk has helped raise a calf, 6 goat doelings and provided wonderful, sweet milk for our family.

Anyone who is looking for a wonderful breed of milk cow, that will not inundate your family with more milk than you can handle and eat you out of house and home, should certainly have a Dexter. In all my thoughts of what it would be like to have a family cow, Lana has surpassed my expectations.

[wdd]

Congrats Kimberly! Is this her first lactation? I have found the Dexters I have milked to be easier to train than any other cow over the years, however I have 1 or 2 I don't know if I would ever try milking.

[Star Creek Dexters]

LOL, I know just how you feel. When I tried to milk one of our other cows who was really not interested in being milked, I almost lost my right knee cap and left arm She was a kicker and I ended up selling her to a lady with more guts than me. I was VERY frank and open with her on what this cow was like. She took her, tied a flank rope on her and has milked her for the past 2 months or so. She said she will probly never love being a milk cow, but does her job.

Lana on the other hand loves it. =D I have 3 more heifers ranging from 3-12 months old that we are spending a lot of time and energy on so they will be ready to milk when they calf. Really excited to see what the next couple fo years hold and what these girls personality are like when they are milked. =)

[lsg]

As your Dexter ages, her milk production will increase until it peaks at about six years of age. My little Dexter milk cow was giving just about 4 gallons per day at her peak last year. Since her second lactation she has raised her own calf, plus furnished milk for the house and fostered other calves later in her lactation. This year she is currently just raising her crossbred calf as I am milking another cow. I had to get her in several times and milk out what her calf wasn't taking until the calf was older. She is still my favorite cow. Her unique and funny personality won me over right away.