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Post by al on Mar 3, 2008 8:53:05 GMT -5
Dave, You can probably do better than my wife and I! We had no farm experience at all. With Fiona's first calf we thought we were doing well to get a quart. She seems to produce more with each calf. We were bad with milking last time. With milk at $4 a gal you can bet we're going to try for more this year.
Al
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lsg
member
Posts: 247
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Post by lsg on Mar 3, 2008 10:24:44 GMT -5
A cow may hold up her milk, if she has a calf nursing her. My little cow didn't give very much at all her first lactation; but with her second calf, she started at least two gallons per day, maybe more, because her calf took part of it.
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Post by Seven Trees on Mar 15, 2008 21:25:52 GMT -5
I'm milking my 2yr old 1st calf heifer. She just calved a week ago, and we've been penning the calf for 4 or 5 hours the past few days. I get 2 quarts in the evening, and she still has some left for the calf. It takes a long time to separate, but there is about 1-2 inches of cream in each quart jar after 12 hours.
We don't have time to make cheese or butter right now, so it's rich enough for coffee & drinking & cooking.
The cow is on hay, a scoop of grains, some potatoes we stored over, and dried apple slices for treats. It's not quite grass time yet, but soon.
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Post by lazyj5 on Mar 15, 2008 21:29:32 GMT -5
Hi Seven Trees. Nothing like that fresh milk is there? You can make bag cheeses very eaily and they take almost no time at all. Finished product is like cream cheese. Very yummy!
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Post by Seven Trees on Mar 16, 2008 13:35:34 GMT -5
We're lucky enough to be able to buy raw local Jersey milk at our co-op, and also raw local Holstein/Jersey/Brown Swiss milk too. The Jersey milk tastes better and costs $8 a gallon. But now that we have Dexter milk, just a few hours old, there's no going back ;D You can see our cow, calf & other critters here - www.seventrees.blogspot.com
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Post by copperhead on Mar 16, 2008 13:56:19 GMT -5
Very nice blog/website. I like the way you have it set up. Don't know if it would help you with the cow letting her milk down, but I used to let the calf suck one side while I milked the other. It worked pretty well. Nice looking cow and baby, congrats............P.J.
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Post by Seven Trees on Mar 16, 2008 21:51:53 GMT -5
It's only my 5th day milking, and I think we have a routine. If she's separated from her calf for at least 3 hours, I can get 2 quarts of milk that make a 1 1/2" creamline on a quart jar of milk.
But I have to start milking, wait til she halds back (maybe 2 cups) then let the calf on her for a minute or two, and milk the rest of the 2 quarts. Then she holds back again, but there isn't much in her udders, so I quit and let the calf finish.
I assume I'm not getting the hind milk this way, but she gives a fair amount of cream for household use. I guess when I want to make butter or chease, I'll need to leave the calf off her longer and be more persistent about milking her out....
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Post by davendahlonega on Mar 16, 2008 23:12:40 GMT -5
Thanks for all the info. I am planning to wait about a week and start separating calf from cow all night and milk in the morning and let the calf out w/ mama all day. Of course you know what they say about plans. I have two heifers and would like to train them both. If I can get 1/2 gal from each I will be happy as this is the first lactation for them. Dave
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Post by seventrees on Mar 19, 2008 13:42:22 GMT -5
A little more practice, and we're learning together.
I got some advice from a more experienced friend that I may be milking too slow to get the full let down window. So I separated them for 3.5 hours yesterday and resolved to go a bit quicker. Stella also seemed better at going in her stall and getting ready too. I ended up getting 3 quarts before my hands got tired and she was starting to hold back a little. I think I could have gotten another quart without any trouble, but figured I should end on a positive note.
Besides, the fridge is filling up and I don't have time yet to make butter or cheese ;D
This is a pretty neat learning experience so far!
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Post by davendahlonega on Mar 19, 2008 21:21:12 GMT -5
Wow! That is great Seventrees! I bet if you started separating for 12 hours you would get a gallon easy. Is this the first time you have milked?
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Post by Seven Trees on Mar 23, 2008 23:00:10 GMT -5
Yup, first time milking! I can get 3 quarts now, if I leg Doug back on her for a few minutes for a 2nd let down. And that's after 4 hours off her. I'll keep them apart longer as he gets older.
We made butter today. It was soooo good!
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Post by darbyfamily on Apr 4, 2008 9:06:51 GMT -5
here is our fourth day of milking...and the product of the four days... I had sooo hoped to have a gallon when my parents came to visit tomorrow so that I could make cheese for them maybe I'll try hard to milk her again later today and then tomorrow morning before they get here
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Post by wstevenl on Apr 4, 2008 9:17:29 GMT -5
At some point you need to start using the milk before it goes bad. LoL Congrats!
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Post by darbyfamily on Apr 4, 2008 10:24:03 GMT -5
True... maybe I'll let one of the kids have some later today... its like liquid gold though... dont want to use it!!! not getting enough for anything major...rofl
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Post by lazyj5 on Apr 4, 2008 10:52:54 GMT -5
Great, Jennifer! Have you tried the milk yet, or saving it all for cheese? Convincing the cow that you are the one who decides when to milk and for how long can be challenging, but oh so rewarding. Let us know how the cheese turns out.
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