I need a home milking "kit"

cathleenc · #21 08/31/12, 08:28 AM

I never ended up with milk stone buildup - here's the key: rinse with cold water first, then wash in hot water. Hot 'sets' the dairy protein.

And yes, by all means strip her teats out before beginning to milk. I kept a black rubber feed pan next to my stanchion, stripped into that. Would swirl the milk around to look for strings or clots (indications of mastitis) then just put the feed pan next to me on the ground. Always a small herd of kitties waiting for their morning milk.

Dusky Beauty · #22 08/31/12, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callieslamb

YOu need a good farm store like Tractor Supply or Rural King. Everything on your list is there. TS can order it. You can get milk filters 100/$5. I used two funnels with the filter between the funnels.

I wish we did-- I live just outside of Phoenix and while it's farmy enough for two John Deer dealers, there's no big chain farm store except the Ace in the city (The country Ace hardware across from the feed store is more reasonable, but less inventory) and their prices are nutso and the small private feed stores try, but cant fill the niche for everything so I'm thinking I'm going to have to order online.

Jeffers is great, I've bookmarked that and been working on an amazon wishlist to keep track of what I need.

65284 · #23 08/31/12, 07:21 PM

You should definitely go with stainless steel. I brush the cow's belly, udder, inside hind legs area, then wash with warm water and dry with paper towels. I use a ss milk strainer with pads, set the strainer in the bucket and milk directly into the strainer.

This way I almost never have hair, bits of hay, or other odd bits of whatever floating in the milk. When I milked directly into a bucket, no matter how careful I was, I always had extra "goodies" in the milk when I got to the house.

solidwoods · #24 09/01/12, 07:06 AM

And get some good milk product recipes like cheeses yogurts butters.
jim

big rockpile · #25 09/01/12, 09:53 AM

Seems like you all have the basics.Just wanted to add I haven't milked a Cow by hand for years but just thinking takes me back to the Smells and Sounds of Milking Grade C for Cheese in Town.

Would give Cows Sweet Feed,wash Her down,check each Teet,put Bucket Down set on 3 Legged Milk Stool,start Milking,once She was done or Bucket was Full,pour Milk into Strainer,with Paper in bottom on Milk Can.Had to watch,she would swat you with Tail,tuck it in your knee.Might have to put Kickers on if had a Young one that might Kick.Milked twice a Day 7 Days a week.

Would put Cans in Water Tank down by the Well where we pumped by Hand.Milk Truck came by,the Guy would pick up two Cans at a time load them in the Truck.

big rockpile