hand milking or machine?

[Panther]

We are getting our first Dexter Cow in early July. I have a chance to get a refurbished Surge single cow Milker for a good deal.

I understand it takes 15 - 20 minutes to hand milk a Dexter, so I'm wondering if bothering with the machine is worth it, as cleaning the machine after each use may take longer than just milking by hand.

What do you think? Any pros/cons on either side?

Dave

[linn]

I can milk my Dexter, strain the milk and wash up the strainer and bucket almost as quickly as the time it takes to set up the milker and wash it up after milking. However, if you can get a really good deal on a working milker that includes the vacuum pump, I say go for it. You never know when you might be milking more than one cow or a different breed that gives a lot of milk.

[Oregon Julie]

We milked a Jersey/Brown Swiss with a surge milker and I didn't think it took that long to clean the machine. It was also handy when you aren't feeling so great (ill) or injure yourself in some way that makes the act of hand milking difficult to have an alternative. We actually loaned ours out to a neighbor when their first time freshener had her calf because she had issues that made hand milking painful, but machine milking was not. I say get the machine and train her to it even if you normally plan on hand milking for the most part.

[cathleenc]

I agree - get the milker, decide once you have the cow which you prefer but keep the milker no matter. Always easier to get someone else to milk your cow if you have a milker at the ready.... and everyone needs to miss a milking, now and then.

[springvalley]

I like Linn can milk by hand very well, but I would rather use a milker anyday. > Marc

[gone-a-milkin]

Originally Posted by springvalley

I like Linn can milk by hand very well, but I would rather use a milker anyday. > Marc

Ditto this.

[BlackWillowFarm]

I planned on hand milking when I bought my first Jersey. About a month into it, I couldn't sleep at night because of the pain in my arms and wrists. Bought a machine and have never regretted it.

I spend my time doing other chores when the machine is on so I'd say the time issue between hand milking/ machine cleaning is a trade off.

[topside1]

I'm 53, handmilk twice a day, everyday....Never a problem. Panther it all depends on you. I'd buy the cow, handmilk and then determine if you need a machine or not. Strength, age, teat size, orifice diameter, time of year (cold, heat) mostly it depends on the owner. I can't see how milking a Dexter could take more than 10 minutes once you get you strength and rhythm down...Don't forget a radio too...Topside

[eruehr]

What Cathleenc said - if you can get the machine for a reasonable price - get it. You will eventually be able to milk quickly and easily by hand (but not for a while!). The big thing for us is to be able to have someone else come and milk for you when you go away. Unless you a very fortunate to have a neighbor that milks by hand - regularly - and can and will come over and handmilk your cow. Even if they know how to milk by hand but haven't for some time it's going to be tough to get someone who can get the cow milked out properly. Their arms and hands are going to be killing them and chances are the job might not get done as well as it should...
I have a great neighbor who milks his own cows (machine) and milks mine when we're gone - but it takes him forever and darn near kills him. I've started taking the cows down there, but that's not an ideal situation and they're not used to being machine milked, etc. Result - every time we go away there's a week or so of 'readjustment' when we get home.

[10kids]

We have a Surge, and love it. They are hard to find in our neck of the woods, I would get it.