Wits end with the cow thing

cjb · #1 02/17/08, 01:27 AM

I guess I'm just a goat guy

Our calf is one week old and I'm trying to keep up on the udder that had mastitis and the cow is impossible to handle. The last time around, when I got rid of the calf that was grafted on her, she became much easier to milk. Right now, if I take the calf out of the stall and try to clean off her udders, put on mint oil, milk out etc, she goes nuts and acts like she's going to pull the walls down.

If I let the calf stay in with us and I try to handle her, she acts a little less nuts but not by much. I am not able to truly milk her out so hope that the calf is doing a good job. I guess I could sell him at a week or two as a bottle baby but than I will definitely have to milk her twice per day and am afraid she's going to still be a nutcase.

She lets me mess with her right side (two good teats) but all I have to do is walk around her left side and she gets crazy. That side is all hard from the case of mastitis that she had. Since I walked to that side and tortured her by stripping it and injecting stuff up it, she now doesn't let me get on that side of her.

I would sell her fat behind tomorrow if i thought that someone would want an ornery two teated cow.

Tam319 · #2 02/17/08, 02:10 AM

Oh man! I feel for you!!! That is painful and no fun at all. Are you milking her for your table as well? Is she acting this wild even with grain in front of her and in a stanchion? What if you separated the calf for the night...would she be happy to see you and the relief that milking brings in the morning?

Is she a decent nurse cow? If you are worried about not milking her sufficiently and the calf not emptying her would it work to get another calf on her? Someone may want her with calving season coming up and nurse cows in demand...even if she is 2 teated.

Of course, if you are having an absolutely rotten time and despising every moment of cowdom maybe it would be best to send her packing.

If you are determined to get a family cow, hang in there and try again. There are good ones out there, they just take some searching to find. Life is way too short (and milking waaaaaay too much work) to not enjoy it.

I feel for you!
Tam

michiganfarmer · #3 02/17/08, 06:38 AM

To milk a cow, I think you really need her in a single cow stall with her head locked in a stanchion. Then you can limit her movements, and control her. In a stall with a stanchion you can put a "kicker" on her if needed.

Otherwise,put her in the freezer.

Jay · #4 02/17/08, 01:00 PM

Some cows prefer being milked on one side as opposed to the other....
Can you try milking out the mastitic side from the other side? I understand this might kill your arms/hands, but if she is less kicky, its worth a try.

Try and put the mint oil on AFTER you are done miking....maybe she doesn't like it?? (just a thought)

Jay

farmergirl · #5 02/17/08, 01:02 PM

Be PATIENT! I know it's frustrating....but cattle respond poorly when they sense that you are angry or flustered. Go SLOW, talk sweet. Remember how excited you were to get this girl. The best things in life are those that require a little elbow grease

jerzeygurl · #6 02/19/08, 10:58 AM

what was the milking ritual in her previous abode?

they are creatures of habit, breaking the old habits can be like retraining...

are you using any form of restraint? headgate ect?

cjb · #7 02/20/08, 01:00 PM

No, I'm just tying her up. I need to make a headstall but didn't want to go to the trouble/expense if I'm not going to keep her. I will probably just build one this weekend and see how it goes.

Cheribelle · #8 02/20/08, 01:40 PM

I have never milked, but my friends that I helped work cattle with have a nice set-up I would maybe try. He has a head gate built in along one wall. There is a metal gate that swings off the side of the head gate. The cow goes into the head gate, someone has to trip it to catch her. Then the gate is swung towards her to hold her against the wall. This would mean you'd have to milk from one side, but this way the vet could do and preg checks, shots, cutting, AI, whatever. It is not a one man job though.
Of course my cow is an angus, not a jersey, but her calf does not get any help with milking, I have had no problems.

jerzeygurl · #9 02/20/08, 04:02 PM

yes a headgate is a must almost always...even with the "good" girls...we bought a used headgate at an auction

kickers or hobbles may be necessary for a week or so, tho sometimes they actually just cause problems.

You have no idea how they milked her or how she was trained, so basically you will have to retrain her to your way of thinking. Calmness is a must, jerseys are high strung and will get jittery if nervous, and will REMEMBER the stress from the milking period before ... so each time must be calm and happy...Maybe laying off untill you can get her contained would be best.

once you have the headgate up, she will LOVE to try to play nice little games with you...one of them is called...."what can I do to make you let go of that teat"...and it goes like this...potty #1 or #2 which ever seems to work( to make you move the bucket and in doing so let go), kick, turn sideways into you,back up, scoot forward, stomp back and forth...AND if one of those tricks work ie you let go, she WILL keep using that method... SOOOOO, don't let go(unless your saftey is being threatened) forget about saving the milk just keep milking and milking no matter WHAT she does. YOU MUST HOLD ON...head placed in the hollow in front of leg, back arm against the front of the near leg...I have stood up and leaned against one while holding on . Couldnt aim or see, but she couldnt step on me or turn into me. Stay calm, talk softly, say "good girl" when she happens to do something close to proper.

the milking area needs to be her happy place, they want to come there, they will come up early and stand and wait, they will watch the cow ahead of them in line, some will even come up for a second turn...some people use soothing music, sometimes i sing....the singing helps me as well, pass the time while hands are cramping, keep milking rhythem going...neck rubs, brushing grooming, horse treaties....that bucket of feed does wonders for the disposition as well...but sometimes they eat that too fast so i keep a flake of hay( the good stuff) just in case....

you need to have a spotter with you when you are training, just in case she decides to set her foot down on yours and won't budge. trust me it happens...watch your self arround the back feet they can move remarkably fast, and far...

I would keep the calf off of her for the night and milk in the morning(or vice versa) she will need to have the pressure relieved,and will eventually associate that relief with the milk stall instead of or along with the calf. She will also learn she gets the calf back after being milked. I have one that would bring her calf up for me to put away(i would grain her since she was there)The calves all want to be put up now its so cold, so all I have to do is open the gate and they walk in.

ozark_jewels · #10 02/21/08, 07:21 AM

We have always milked our cows with just a rope loosely looped around neck or horns, but as some have said here, some cows must have a stanchion.