Milking Question

[Karen in Alabam]

Some of you might remember in September helping me with Yo, a Jersey that we had acquired who had been through the sale barn a few times. She was grossley underweight and with came with a calf she didn't want.

So as you have seen in recent posts she had a baby girl and we named her Rita (after the neighbor who helped deliver her).

Anyway, I finally got a halter for Yo that fit and this morning I hooked her up to feed and milk her. She was fine until she was done then she flipped out.

I got half a gallon off her before she flipped. I was worried she was going to hurt herself or me or the calf that was nearby, so I let her loose.

I am wondering if this is the reason she went through the sale barns.

I was thinking of the anti-kick thing for her because she will swing the foot as a warning. But not I am wondering if the shackles would be the best thing, or would she really freak out and fall over.

Or do we need a full head stanchion? Right now we clip her halter to the wall. Maggie our other cow was trained that way and so that is how we are set up.

[gone-a-milkin]

When you say she flips out, what is she doing? Does she actually fall down?

[linn]

Cows that have newly calved are nervous at first. With the last heifer we trained, I found that she behaved better if her calf was not in the milking area. Trying to keep track of her calf and keep track of what I was up to at her other end really made her jumpy. A stanchion would probably better keep the cow in position, but they can still kick and swing around unless you build a milking stall, which some people have done. It has a head catch at one end and rails along the side. Unless she is a bad kicker, I would try milking her without an anti-kicking device. Her udder is probably sore and that can cause a reaction. Have you tried putting some alfalfa pellets in with her feed to make it last longer? If you don't have that, you might try a flake of leafy alfalfa hay next to her feed pan.

[Karen in Alabam]

Thanks,

By flipping out she was moving around a lot trying to rip the chains out of the wall that we had her halter secured to.

I do give her some alfalfa pellets.

Right now our pen area is all open, it was originally supposed to be divided into 3 but never got that way. I could move the rings closer to a wall.

The calf was just kind of laying down when I was milking. One time I had her nursing and I was on the other side.

[springvalley]

I strongly encourage anyone to milk in a stancion. it is so much safer for you to milk in than just milking while your cow is tied up to a wall, or post, or fence. I have never had a cow outwit me when we have some problems milking her. I hate using kickers on a cow, have you ever seen a cow kick with both back feet? I think the hip kickers is a better choice in anti kicking device. I will show you guys a chute I built years ago that is great for milking a family cow in, or a beef cow that won`t let a calf nurse. It won`t be till next week as i`m going to be busy till then. > Thanks Marc

[Tad]

That is very common for first time milkers. We milk in a tie stall and we always tie their head with a lead rope to restrict movement. We have had hiefers we roped for 2 milkings and left alone with the machine on after 4, and we have had heifers we had to tie up and sit with for 6 months. We had one that would NOT milk with out a rope all you had to do was put the halter on her and throw the other end onto a post so she thought she was tied and would milk just fine. Dad only had one and none since I have been there that we couldn't train. He gave up when she ripped a nose lead out and she went for beef. All being said I would bet after a few milkings she will calm down.

[KSALguy]

if she was fine while eating give her more to eat till you can milk faster, alfalfa pellets is a good streacher to keep her busy, wont hurt her any and will give you time to milk what you need,

and i agree you need a stanchion to help hold things togather safely

[6e]

We had a milk cow that when she was done eating, that was it. So we just gave her more feed to keep her occupied till I was done milking. We have a new heifer now that I will milk in a stall with a board to keep her from kicking for my own peace of mind.

[Karen in Alabam]

Thanks everyone. I also did some talking to a kid at the Tractor Supply he has milk cows too.

I had a big feeder that hooks to the wall that I used for Maggie and since she would stand for an hour after eating it wasn't a problem. But now I feed Yo out of a bucket and it takes her longer. I do give her Alfalfa pellets in her feed as well.

The handy woman that I am did originally build a stall which the cows tore to shreds when I left the pen open for them to get out of the rain (we only have the one area--there is a barn in the other side of the pasture that they can get to).

Well anyway, I now turn Yo against the wall and I take the thingy I made which is like a fence and lean it against her.

I find that her skin is very dry and she has a very different feel to her than Maggie. I mostly try to milk her back teats as they are harder to get to for the baby as well as myself.

My hands didn't really cramp with Maggie but they are cramping doing Yo. Her teats in back are kind of short and fat. I have been rubbing bag balm on my hands before I touch her. I am afraid to put it on her liberally since the calf is sucking.

I managed to get half a gallon off of her this morning before she started mildly swiping her foot. I then took her feed away she hadn't quite finished.

I think she is getting better. I also have not tied her up again either, just kind of wedge her against the wall with my fency thing I built leaning against her.

Yo is about 7 years old, was probably used mostly as a nurse cow or something, though she does lead pretty well and is very friendly and doesn't have a problem with me near her baby, seems more leery of the other cows than me.

[gone-a-milkin]

Sounds like you two are working it out.

You can put Bag Balm on her udder and it will not hurt the calf.
It sounds like that calf is favoring the front quarters anyhow, so she wont mind the grease.

[farmergirl]

I just milked our Jersey yesterday for the first time since she freshened last week. This is her third lactation, so she knows what milking is all about, but she was still a total fidget yesterday.
I figure it will get easier and easier over the next several days as she settles in to the milking routine.
I did build a stanchion for her in the barn last year, which she hates. She is actually much quieter being milked in the pasture, tied to a sturdy fence post. I switched from tying her with a collar to using a halter this year, so that is probably part of why she's being fidgety.

Keep at it. It's frustrating as heck to have a cow dance back and forth as you try to milk, but I have found that my stamina is longer that hers. If I just wait it out and be patient, she settles down within about 15 minutes or so, and then I can milk her just fine.

[springvalley]

My cows are fed in the barn, then I let them finish eating before I ever start milking. I don`t think jerseys can do more than one thing at a time. I don`t let the cows get away with anything either. A stern voice is all it takes most times, they are about like kids, if they know they can get away with something they will. I never tell anyone to hit or beat a cow, but sometimes you need to tell them your in charge. A good slap will do most times, she will have your attention then. But also praise them when they do good for you. I hope you are not putting bag balm on your hands when you milk for the house, it has stuff in it that is not good for you. If you need a lubricant use something natural that will not spoil your milking for the house. You can also use milk as the lubricant for your hands, this is what they call wet milking. I do not recommend this method as it can get all kinds of nasties in your milk if your cow is not super clean. Any more question, just ask. > Thanks Marc

[topside1]

Karen, build one of these and milk more safely. Marc is right about safety, tough milking with a broken foot or hand. The materials were not very costly and will last forever...Topside

[barefootflowers]

Topside1- Thank you so much for posting that pic. Our Jersey will be milking soon- a first for both of us. I knew I would need something to keep us safe, but wasn't sure exactly what I was going to do. How do you keep the cow from "backing out" while you're milking her? And not to hijack the thread, but would it be a bad idea to use the same stanchion for both milking and vet procedures, like vaccinations?

[farmergirl]

As I expected, the second day's milking was far smoother than yesterday's

Patience and determination go a LONG way with a cow.
Guess I learned that from having horses for so many years.

And Marc, it's good to know that I'm not the only farmer that sweet talks her Jersey cow when she's behaving, lol.

[topside1]

Linda I'll start a new thread and answer your questions...Topside

[barefootflowers]

Thank you, Topside. I've been reading as much as I can, but it's not the same as actual experience. I appreciate learning from everyone else's posts.

[Karen in Alabam]

Thanks everyone. And thanks for the pic of the stanchion, will read the other thread to see how to use it.

She didn't kick at all today and was still eating when I decided I was finished.

Instead of the bag balm, maybe I should try vitamin E or something.

[gone-a-milkin]

I am always hesitant to give too much specific advice when it comes to milking. Mainly because everyone is different.
Every cow is different too. I think the best thing is perseverence and a will to get the milk in the bucket.
The fact that she just swipes a warning with her hoof is very telling.
She doesn't give you the helicopter legs, or try to knock your face off.

I could talk to you all day long about different cows I have known and the various ways they go about kicking when you milk them.
Oh, and the other more passive/aggressive ways they have of avoiding you getting any milk...LOL.

It just takes time to develop a relationship. Same as with people.

Keep at it, you are doing great!

You can make an uddder salve yourself from so many different things, even just using clean vegetable oil, if that's all you have.

Most cows actually enjoy getting that massage and skin treatment. It is amazing really.
They know when you are trying to help them, for the most part.

I would love to see a new pic of Yo, now that she has calved and been fed-up some.

[Karen in Alabam]

I took this a couple of days ago. Little Rita's first day out.