how to train a calf to be a milker?

Karen in Alabam · #1 02/17/11, 09:38 AM

How do you train a cow/calf to be a milker?

I have a 6 month old Charolais calf which we bottle feed still, and sometimes I touch her all over so she gets used to it. she doesn't care, she just wants the bottle.

I wouldn't mind using her as a milk cow or at least practicing on her for when and if I get some Jersey/Angus heifers from my cows.

I also would like to halter train her. How do you go about that also.

6e · #2 02/17/11, 11:12 AM

Lots and lots of attention and lots of handling of the udder. Take her out everyday and feed her where you plan on milking her. Same routine. Pet her and rub her all over and sit down and start messing with her udder just like you were going to milk her. They tend to be creatures of habit and like a routine, so you can start one now while she's a baby.

On halter breaking, what we're doing with a cow that's semi halter broke is got her to like cow treats and then we gently pull on the halter and hold a cow treat in front of her to get her to come forward and then when she comes we take the pressure off and give her the treat. She's learning quick. And I really prefer the cow halters with the chain underneath rather than just the ring. :-)

myersfarm · #3 02/17/11, 11:23 AM

Charolais calf I wouldn't mind using her as a milk cow or at least practicing on her

I have never seen one give milk more then a calf needs....I would try to find something more milky to practice on..investing all that time .....every day for the next 1 1/2...

Karen in Alabam · #4 02/17/11, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myersfarm

Charolais calf I wouldn't mind using her as a milk cow or at least practicing on her

I have never seen one give milk more then a calf needs....I would try to find something more milky to practice on..investing all that time .....every day for the next 1 1/2...

guess I have to wait until my jerseys give me something to train then, could be a while.

I have another Jersey who is dry and hopefully pregnant, got her end of August. She is not crazy about being milked. We only milked her for a week after we got her, and tried to get a calf on her (the Charolais), then because of her condition decided to dry her up. She would kick at the calf. I tried touching her while she was at the hay ring and she was not happy.

Should I be practicing with her and feed her like I was going to milk her instead of out in the pasture when I feed the rest? Or should I just wait until after she calves before I start her routine?

Only been in cattle since end of August.

bigbluegrass · #5 02/17/11, 02:44 PM

Charlais cows get really big. I don't know if I would want to milk one even if it was broke and really gentle.

I would start working with the Jersey like you were milking her. Get her coming into the barn or wherever you are milking at. Get her so you can pet her and touch her udder with no problems. It will make it a lot easier when it is milking time. She might still kick at you if she is prone to that type of behavior. I always grab the cows tail between her legs if you think she is going to kick. Grab it up high (from a position toward the cows head). So that when the cow kicks at you it pulls her tail. Make sure you hold on tight and the tail is somewhat clean. Grabbed a bur one time and I was more surprised than the cow was

myersfarm · #6 02/17/11, 02:46 PM

I think your make the right move...EVERY hour you work with the jersey will help when you do go to milking her....scratching there back sometimes makes bonding quick...also the Charolais calf will bring more money at sale right now then a jersey....the beef calfs are bing at 500 lbs $1.55 a pound here

thequeensblessing · #7 02/17/11, 02:47 PM

We put ours in a stantion and give her grain only when we're touching her udder. It's easiest to train a very young calf. We have a 6 month old jersey replacement heifer that will let us do nearly anything to her. We rub all over her udder and belly with our hands and with a wet cloth. We pick up her tail and touch her back end, and we get her used to us touching her all over. Any cow used for milking needs to allow herself to be handled and manipulated. She has to trust you, really. If a cow just tolerates being milked, and that's it, you'll have a hard time using any intramammary meds in a case of mastitis. She needs to let you wash her udder or spray it before and after milking. She needs to stand for a palp or AI if need be.
Yeah, I think it's best to start with a very young calf and then train them up right. It also increases a calf's value if you have them ready to be milked before they're ever bred. Besides, if you put this much effort into a calf, you'll want to keep her and milk her yourself, or sell her for a tidy sum.

sammyd · #8 02/17/11, 06:16 PM

Ours are always being handled. When they are big enough to be bred they go in with the cows and the bull. We try to get them through the parlor a couple of times so they know what it is. They are usually so tame by the time they freshen it's not an issue though..