Tired of skim milk

Sometimes we all get emotional, especially if we feel that an animal's health is at risk. If you know that for hundreds of years cows have been milked twice daily and they have been bred to do this, the thoughts of getting around to it wheny ou are needing milk is likely to set you off. So very direct replies were given. Like everything on here, opinions. Rather than admit that there has been a breach in the "contract" that every farmer makes when they commit to having a milk cow, a list of very valid reasons was given to excuse the irregular schedule.

I was simply noticing that some ask questions because they seek solutions while others object to the replies that run counter to their current failed plan. Offering sympathy to someone who is needing answers is as useless as offering solutions to someone that can only accept sympathy.

In my short time on these HT forums I have noticed that bovine people tend to be blunt.
I think it is a 'farmer thing'.

Folks who attempt to make a profit in the wildly unpredictable world of agriculture dont waste a lot of words on prettiness.
They tend not to suffer fools well, and they make valid points even if it feels a little ouchie.

Try not to take it too personal.

Of all the forums on HT this one really is my favorite because I can count on folks to have a different opinion.
There is very little molly-coddling, nicey-nice.

It is refreshing.

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Cows may not be smarter than People, but some cows are smarter than some people.

[QUOTE=haypoint;5982407]Sometimes we all get emotional, especially if we feel that an animal's health is at risk. If you know that for hundreds of years cows have been milked twice daily and they have been bred to do this, the thoughts of getting around to it wheny ou are needing milk is likely to set you off. So very direct replies were given. Like everything on here, opinions. Rather than admit that there has been a breach in the "contract" that every farmer makes when they commit to having a milk cow, a list of very valid reasons was given to excuse the irregular schedule.]


This is true. But in the case like this, where the cow has multiple calves on her and is not hurting needing milked, that reasoning is faulty. If the cow isn't hurting, its nobodys business how often she gets milked. I've got a Jersey cow out in the pasture nursing two calves. She is always empty, she doesn't ever need milked. Calves WILL adequately keep a cow milked down, it does NOT always require twice a day milkings.

One size doesn't always fit all.

Sounds like it might work to either replace this cow with one more open to this type of arrangement, or use this one exclusively for a nurse cow, using the other one for drinking milk when needed.

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Emily Dixon
Ozark Jewels
Nubians & Lamanchas
www.ozarkjewels.net

"Remember, no man is a failure, who has friends" -Clarence

Calves are on cows, keeping them drained. Calves are locked up when milk is needed. I don't see the health concern haypoint. Sammyd is just copping an attitude because he doesn't like this way of doing things. There is nothing wrong with doing it this way, I've done it for years. The op just has to figure out how to outsmart the cow to get her to share milk.

Naw, I think that you and Bullfrog are missing the point. The vacillation between nursing and hand/machine milking is creating a problem for the cow that wouldn’t exist if there was a regular milking schedule. The remedy for mastitis is frequent milking, like every three or four hours. Conversely, leaving a cow with milk she can’t/won’t let down is contraindicated.
I’m not opposed to anyone sharing a cow with a couple calves, but expecting that she spend a couple days feeding calves and then abruptly comply with your request for a few gallons of milk, is stressful.

You may have been sucessful for years, but obviously, this time it isn't working for Bullfrog.
Many animals depend on consistency. Inconsistency is stressful. Interesting to hear of some one or two cow dairymen berate factory farms, when those monster dairies supply better nutrition, greater consistency and less stress than they can muster.
But that’s just my opinion.

Lol you can make up some crap when you are trying to prove a point

The op just needs to figure out how to accomplish what she wants from the cow. When I sharemilk I take some milk every morning but on the cows who want to hold back for their calves I don't think every day vs every other day matters really. They will still want to hold back. Just have to outsmart them.

I didn't get the impression that the cow is ever left with milk in her udder, after the op milks the calves are turned back in.

Wow, my internet has been down, boy did I miss alot. Let me just state the cow never has milk left in her,those calves keep her clean. I have never seen a speck of mastitis, and when the cow is ready to dry off, we butcher the calves,and no kidding we get as much meat as you do from a two year old. I dont see how milking every other day is stressful, seeing as she can not wait to get her fat rear end into the milking stall to eat grain. I am glad we are all so passionate about our animals. And yes I do intend to take the advice given, maybe I shall even start to drive a school bus, ha ha. Any way I think you would be hard pressed to fimd a healthier, happier animal. Bullfrog, I kind of like it.

To the OP. I share milk with the same probs you're having from time to time. These are problems that we all have and the variables on how to handle it change with the direction of the wind.

When I have a cow that's holding up her cream and saving it for the calf here's what I do: Keep in mind, from the time my calf is born it is handled. I keep it locked up for twelve hours and then lead it in to where my cow is locked up in a stanchion to get it's share after I have handmilked my share. After I get finished with my milking I turn the calf in on her and open the stanchion lock so she and the calf can leave when she's done eating. The calf spends the night out in the pasture with her and comes in for lock-up with mama when she comes in for a small amount of grain. I don't milk her in the morning. The calf has been with her all night so she's dry.

When the cow starts jacking with me and not wanting to share her cream I trick her by bringing the calf in to milking stanchion and let him bump on her back and even nurse a little on each teat. She instantly drops her milk and blooms out when she fills the calf nursing. Here's the trick now: Once she drops her milk I tie the calf beside her where it can't nurse and I can handmilk. I get all I want and then untie the calf.

Usually a couple times of this and we're back in business.

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Francismilker

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" James 5:16

I'll second what Francismilker said. I've been doing that for years. Take the foremilk, let calf nurse about 30 seconds, then pull away and tie up. Wipe alittle slobber off, and resume milking.

There are times when I don't need much milk or cream, so I just take the foremilk, and turn the calf in with the cow for the day.

You could also let the calf nurse a minute before you start and then pull it away after letdown, and you wouldn't have to interrupt.

And yes, it all seems a hassle to dairymen who are used to milking hundreds of cows. They have a hard time relating to the little guy. But once you get a routine down, it only takes an extra minute. Alot less trouble than swapping cows.

I've found it's a great time to halter train calves when they're little. I start with a llama halter.

wow, an attitude?
Bulldog asks for advice about a problem.
I give a remedy to the problem and I'm copping an attitude?
Get serious and milk your animal twice a day if your current routine is causing the animal to hold back. It's not about health it's not about lazy, its about fixing a problem you asked to be fixed.

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Deja Moo; The feeling I've heard this bull before.

I thought we were here to help not insult. I have been dairying all my life for myself and others in Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota and Arkansas and Minnesota and have seen it both ways in all of those states the super dairys 500 cows or more tend to take the calf as soon as it is seen which is usually the next morning unless the calf had to be pulled. I think this is mostly due to hired help not wanting to do it at the end of there shift lol. Smaller dairies often let the calf suck for 24 hours and then start to milk the cow and feed the calf her milk via bottle so that she gets the clostrume there are some who believe leaving the calf on for 24 hours reduce your risk of milk fever but I have seen no studies on this. I also have known probably 30 different dairymen and women who let there calfs run with the herd in one way or another and it works for them I agree that some cows are not good sharers when it comes to this method and you might need to try and trade her for another. As for my fellow posters who thought it was right to reem this women for her methods I think you owe her a apology as we all have our own ways to do things that work out best for us or because it was how we learned and that kind of critism and rudeness isnt in the spirit of this forum we are here to learn and help each other and remarks like that tend to keep people from asking and sharing which cost us all valueable information. I rarely post here but often read and often have learned new things by others questions. Sorry about the rant I just believe we should be helping each other and keeping the rude comments to ourselfs none of us know it all and what works for me might not work for you and vise versious.

Sorry ,have to ask...was that your wife?????