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Post by MyMiniFarm on Jun 8, 2008 23:45:32 GMT -5
Well, I started to milk my cow last night & it didn't go well, she calved on Thursday. I tried again tonight & it went a heck of a lot better but I was totally overwhelmed. This is my first time milking & it seemed to take forever & I only got 2 quarters done & I don't even know if I did them completely. Seemed like the milk would never end. I spilled a lot of it & missed the bucket a lot but ended up with over 5 quart jars full from those two quarters. (I also had to take a break in between quarters & strain & chill since it was taking soooooo long) I think it took about 25 minutes each of those 2 quarters, thats too slow right?? Hopefully the calf will finish off what I wasn't able to. My hands are throbbing, gotta build up strength in them quick! But its now12:35 am & I'm enjoying my first cup of coffee with milk from my cow so I guess all is good. Was too hot here earlier to try so I waited until after dark & after the rain. Praying tomorrow things go smoother. I gotta get this milking thing down before I start back at work on Thursday. Any milking mentors near Sullivan County NY with any time to come over this week?  ?? I can't believe I thought that this would be simple. I read tons of books over the past 2 years to prepare for this & my mind went completely blank & I felt totally lost as to what to do. I guess the more I do it the easier it will get. I think I'll try to make some butter tomorrow so that I feel like I accomplished something. How long does it take all of you to milk out?? Do you use two hands or do one quarter at a time?? Thanks for any advice in advance! |
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Post by copperhead on Jun 9, 2008 20:48:47 GMT -5
Back when I milked, I"d milk front and back on my side and let the calf have the opposite side. What ever I didn't get out, the calf would finish off for me. I did lazy girls kind of milking. I only took what I neede and let the calves finish the job for me.
P.J.
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Post by wstevenl on Jun 10, 2008 10:31:33 GMT -5
Yesterday was my first time milking too. I was only doing it to relieve some pressure on her udder and later in the week I'm going to try and milk for drinking. In my short time of milking I found that it was faster to do quick forceful squirts over and over than to do long squirts until the stream of milk stops. It was also pretty hard to milk with two hands because the front teat was big enough to put my whole hand around and the back teat was smaller so I could only use a few fingers on it. They could both be milked but doing two different methods at the same time was tough. It was like trying to pat your head and make circles on your belly. :-)
Good luck Jessica!
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Post by davendahlonega on Jun 10, 2008 22:47:22 GMT -5
Hi Jessica, It's going to be stressful for the first few days. It will get better soon. First you should milk at the same time everyday. Cows really love routines. Same time, same way, everyday. The more you milk out the more she will make. 5 quarts from 2 quarters is pretty good this early. Congratulations!
Good luck.
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Post by MyMiniFarm on Jun 12, 2008 14:27:08 GMT -5
Well, last night went better but it took like 3 hrs, had to keep switching hands & do one quarter at a time. However I milked her out completely. So, today I broke down & ordered a milking machine. But I will keep milking her by hand till the machine comes & who know maybe i'll be a little better by then.
All in all its getting better, I'm still a little overwhelmed but not as bad.
Steve, yep patting your head & making circles it exactly what it was like trying to do two different methods at the same time.
Thank you all for responding & giving me tips, I really appreciate it.
Will keep you posted!
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Post by davendahlonega on Jun 19, 2008 22:46:05 GMT -5
Jessica, how is the milking going?
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Post by MyMiniFarm on Jun 22, 2008 14:07:36 GMT -5
I broke down & ordered a milking machine. I don't know what is worse my hand milking or the darn machine. The machine seems too heavy for her, the thing is supposed to hang off her teats & be suspended in the air & she is short so it rests on the ground. The inflator things are a pain to put on & fall off then suck up anything that is on the ground. Its a pain in the butt to clean, its noisy & soooooo heavy. Darn bucket is almost too heavy for me to lug back & forth from the house. A friend said maybe a goat milking machine would be better.
I don't want to give up getting milk but what I'm doing now is not working for me.
Anybody here have a small milk machine set up that they use? What brand and parts are working for you guys??
Right now I have a surge mini orbit milker (this is the heavy thing that is supposed to not be on the ground)
On a good note, her milk is absolutely wonderful!!!!!!!
I have the calf with her 24/7, at night I milk her & get about 1 1/2 gallons, sometimes more. I think that is pretty good considering the calf has access at all times.
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Post by davendahlonega on Jun 22, 2008 23:04:01 GMT -5
Jessica, I don't know anything about milking machines, but, it sounds like you are getting a fair amount of milk w/ the calf on full time. How big is the bucket? Could you get a smaller bucket?
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Post by MyMiniFarm on Jun 23, 2008 7:43:30 GMT -5
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Post by MyMiniFarm on Jun 23, 2008 9:51:31 GMT -5
Update: I spoke to the company that I got the milking machine from & told them what I was having trouble with. They are sending me out the goat unit today to see if that works better & then I can send back what I originally got. The goat unit doesn't have a claw so it is much lighter & the suction shuts off if the cows kicks the things off so it won't suck up stuff on the floor. This is what they are sending instead: hambydairysupply.com/xcart/product.php?productid=1296&cat=215&page=1Wish me luck when it arrives that this works better. |
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Post by Wags on Jun 23, 2008 18:08:32 GMT -5
I'll be interested to hear how the new machine works for you. Hope it solves the problem for you.
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Post by Olga on Jul 1, 2008 11:37:01 GMT -5
When I first started milking a few years ago, it was taking me about 45 min to milk our cow. But now I need about 15 minutes per cow and have been milking two this season. It is hard on the hands, and you do need to devise custom holding positions depending on teat shape and size, but you do get used to it eventually. So don't give up if the machines don't work out, although I hope they do. The best thing about a cow that makes plenty of milk, is that you can leave the calf on her all the time, and only milk out what you need - that way it doesn't matter if you don't milk her out completely. Plus, you can leave on a short vacation and the calf will take care of the cow. Also, most cows will hold a little milk up for the calf, they won't let all of it down for you. If you ever take the calf off and continue milking with the machine, don't forget to strip the quarters by hand, because a machine can't do that.
Good luck.
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Post by MyMiniFarm on Jul 3, 2008 11:43:51 GMT -5
Ok, the goat parts arrived & worked sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much better!!!!!!! Cleo didn't seem to mind it as much either. I am glad to have the calf still on her 24/7 since last night I got home late & just didn't have the energy to milk & still get up for work today.
So for anyone else that is looking to get a machine the goat one gets my vote. It's also great that if you drop one of the inflators or if it comes off the teat while you are milking it will automatically shut off that inflator so it won't suck up anything on the ground!!!
I also picked up one of those glass sun tea jars with the spigot on the bottom to use as a cream separator since i'm sure I don't want to clean a million parts on a regular one or spend that much money at the moment. Will let you all know how that works out when I try it this weekend.
Oh, & I also ordered some stuff to make some cheese, hoping it arrives today so I can do it this weekend otherwise it will have to wait until next weekend. I'll let you know how that works out also. I plan to make mozzarella & a cream cheese.
Have a great 4th of July everyone!!
Thanks for all the input.
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Post by paulads on Oct 25, 2009 8:50:08 GMT -5
Jessica,
Just found this website and not sure that you're still a member or not. However, wanted to thank you for posting your struggles and frustrations with milking. I've milked only one time when mama had mastitis - we had to milk out one quarter in order to treat it. She's still nursing and I'm going to give regular milking a try. (In fact, we have two cows nursing now.) I'd rather start this venture knowing the setbacks, than thinking it's a rosy world in the milk barn! Thanks for your honesty,
paula
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