Cream amounts?

[darbyfamily]

I just read this post on Family cow, and it got me wondering.

How much cream do you get on the top of a gallon jar?

I'm really working with Spring and milking her every chance I get, will it really get better? do cows do the supply and demand thing that humans do? will her milk supply increase if I keep milking her?

She does seem to have come to understand that this is how our mornings will go, and doesnt give me too many problems with milking. Its still more ME giving up than her.

I just have my dreams of this full pail of milk with plenty of cream for butter and whipped cream, and right now that is NOT a reality for me at all... and its got me really wanting to breed her with a mini jersey bull and hoping for a heifer calf. i could keep a Dexter and a Belfair and milk both of them

Thanks for the help and encouragement! Ya'll are priceless on this wonderful journey!

[lazyj5]

HI Jennifer. How far along in lactation is Spring? If she was near to weaning her calf, she may not increase much until her next freshening. On a gallon jar my Dexter milk averages a little over a quarter of the jar in cream. My Jersey/Dexter cross cow had more. Also varies depending on stage of lactation, time of year, type of feed and let down. Cream is the last to come from the udder, so if she's not letting down for you, you won't get as much cream (but you will have a fat calf, haha!).

With your large family, plus wanting to make cheese, I think you would be happier with a Belfair and/or a second Dexter. Or even a good dairy goat. My Nubians give a gallon a day. My good friend has Saanens and they give more than that, but it doesn't have as much butterfat, so takes more milk per pound of cheese. You might be able to get a good goat to help with the milk supply until your cow has her next calf. There wouldn't be near the investment or feed cost for a goat. Then sell the goat when you're getting what you need from the cows. Just thinking out loud, I know lots of folks don't like goats.

My Nigerians haven't had their first freshening yet, but I bought goats from excellent lines and was able to see their dams in milk. They were amazing. 19" tall, 60# and give 1/2 gallon a day. Here's the dam of my favorite doe about 3 months into lactation (she is due in May and I can't wait!).

[darbyfamily]

Very cool! My sister has a registered Nigerian she's going to give me once her twins are ready to be weaned. Im hoping I can get her up here and keep milking her so she doesnt dry up, but I really love nubians.

I did find a lady in NE who has mini jersey bull straws for sale I just need to find someone who can help us with the AI, and we are planning to breed both our Dexter cows alternately to always have fresh milk, but now Im thinkin I want a third one..>ROFL my dh will flip out!

we're going to be members of the 'Dexter of the month' club.. hehehe

[lsg]

Is your cow a first calf heifer? If so, she will most likely give a lot more milk in her second lactation. My little Dexter didn't milk well at all with her first calf; but with her second, she started out giving two gallons per day. I got at least a pint of cream from a gallon of milk. Cows will hold back milk for their calves. I ended up separating the calf from my cow. I would milk out the two back quarters and leave the front ones for her calf.

[marion]

hee hee, Dexter of the Month Club? How about joining our Dexterholics group..."hello, my name is marion, and I'm a Dexterholic" ;D

[darbyfamily]

this is her second calf, but she'd never been milked before last week when I started milking her... and since we didnt start milking until she was 5 mths into this lactation, I reckon that is a big part of it.

I'll keep milking her and possibly try to wean the calf sometime soon and see if she'll start letting it down for me instead of holding back for the calf.

[lazyj5]

Well, that explains a lot. 5 months is a pretty long time into lactation to start milking.
At least if you wean you'll get all the milk, once she lets down for you.
Keep us posted.

[liz]

Hi Darby Family; Most of the actual cream is in the last 10% of the milking, or the 'strippings'. A cow is in flush or at peak for the first third of lactation, usually, and then slows off a bit. Also, I don't know about everyone else, but my dexters are horrible for letting down their milk if their calf is still on them, so at 5 months you are probably not seeing the peak of her lactation, and if you haven't weaned her calf then she might not be letting you have any but saving it for the calf. And if she is holding on to the milk, then you are not getting the 'strippings' or most of the cream! Mine will hold up their milk for a couple of days even after I take the calves away! If your calf is already 5 months then it is probably also taking less milk and more solids so it will decrease the production. Personally I would just take it off the dam and milk her twice daily, if you need the milk. And then let us know what the cream line is like! Liz

[darbyfamily]

I started giving her more alfalfa, and also finally got the hang of milking with two hands and putting the bucket on the ground.

I was always too afraid of her kicking it over before... but we got enough cream to actually make butter the other day... YUM!!!

Im also getting closer to half a gallon a day now, but still have not weaned the calf yet.

I think it really has made a difference that I am milking two handed...I can get more, faster from her and its easier to milk her out til Im only getting just dribbles from each of the teats

[darbyfamily]

Oh and my little nigerian dwarf is giving me only about a cup of milk per milking right now... pitiful really, but shes so sweet

anyway, it has a cream line on it, which I thought goats milk didnt do, but am pleased to have!