We Got A Milk Cow

Horse Fork Farm · #1 08/27/08, 11:43 AM

I think shes gonna do great for us after she settles down. She's been very gentle so far, except she was mightily upset this morning over the calf she left behind. She was bawling and carrying on wanting her, and broke her lead loose and ran down the road! I've milked her 3 times since we got her and she stands real good as far as not kicking or trying to be mean.

I'm a nervous wreck about keeping the milk clean in the bucket. She's a lot different from milking a goat. Goats are small and easy to clean their udders and legs. I gave this mornings milk to the hogs because I felt like it was "dirty". I've still got her in a 50x75 holding pen until she gets used to not having her calf, it was pouring the rain and muddy. How in the world do you keep everything clean while you milk? I'm being serious, please give advice. After she goes in the regular fence she will have a stall in the lean-to part of the barn which should help her stay clean.

I'm on here looking for advice and pointers from you all so fire away!

Jay · #2 08/27/08, 12:18 PM

Clean the udder as best as you can. I just cherish the days when they decide to lay in just about every poo pile they can find.....not!!

Some milk into a smaller container and pour it frequently into a bigger bucket. This helps keep things clean, and less chance of the bulk of it getting spilled/contaminated. Warning--if you have kitties around, they'll find your bucket when you aren't looking....

Give her a few days to settle down, soon she'll be your best friend!

Horse Fork Farm · #3 08/27/08, 12:29 PM

Hey Jay- thanks for answering. So does that mean I'm worrying too much? Are most cows "dirty" when you milk them? Do inot have to have her squeaky clean? I clean the
udder but she is dirty elsewhere......

Wags · #4 08/27/08, 01:26 PM

If it is warm outside and you have a hose handy you could give her a good spraying in the underbelly/rear leg area if she is particularly dirty. Brushing her before milking (just like with goats) will reduce the amount of potential hair and derbies that could land in your milk bucket. Some folks milk with a straining cloth over their bucket, and then strain again before cooling and storing.

Sabrina67 · #5 08/27/08, 03:11 PM

Congratulations on the cow !! And don't you just love running down the road after a(insert animal). Usually with a feed bucket yelling "come on come on" lol

Wags · #6 08/27/08, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabrina67

Congratulations on the cow !! And don't you just love running down the road after a(insert animal). Usually with a feed bucket yelling "come on come on" lol

That's not what I yell at mine!

I'm usually threatening to sell them to a NON-vegetarian if they don't immediately return to where they are supposed to be! LOL

cjb · #7 08/27/08, 06:32 PM

Congrats!!! You will get used to each and have a ball. I was on here, posting all of my woes when I got our Jersey, Violet, and now I wouldn't be without her.

I understand about the cleanliness - there's just WAY more cow udder to clean and they do tend to lay in crud. I bring a spray bottle up with soapy water and a little betadine in it, spray the udder/teats and wipe them all off with a hand towel. Then I spray each teat separately and keep wiping/spraying until the paper comes out clean. I then milk through a strainer into a jar. It takes longer but I feel confident that my milk is clean. If something falls into the strainer, it sits on the foam for a second and I flick it off.

piglady · #8 08/27/08, 07:18 PM

If you use a milker, is it cleaner as long as you get the teats clean before putting it on. I'm thinking it's a closed system and nothing can fall in it.

matt_man · #9 08/27/08, 11:14 PM

I don't usually worry about hairs and such falling in. If she kicks something off of her foot or there is obviously something floating in there, I will dump it. I do pour off into milk totes after milking because I hand milk 2 cows and I don't want stuff falling in the milk while switching cows.

If you are really nervous about it, you can rubberband a piece of cheesecloth over the top of the milk bucket and it will get strained as you milk. I would still run it through a milk filter once you bring it inside.

Rachel