Continuance of the not so family milk cow...

Hannah90 · #1 12/29/12, 10:55 AM

Guys,

I am just done with this cow. I am trying so hard to not lose my inspiration here. I took the calf away and I think things got worse. I tried everything that everyone suggested in the last thread. It worked for a few days. Smacking her belly when she moved.... pushing her into the wall... then it didn't work anymore and she moved and peed and pooed more and more. The last three days I used a set of hobbles my neighbor let me borrow. The first day was scary. She did some serious dancing and I was afraid she was going to hurt herself. It got better... until today. She saw the hobbles coming... I got them hooked on one leg... then she kicked sending the metal piece to slap me on the chin. Ouch.

After I recovered from that, I sat down to continue milking and she wouldn't let down. At all. This is the first time she's done this. With no calf around, I am scared she's going to get mastitis.

I feel like I've given this my best go. But I just don't think I can do this anymore with THIS cow. I mean, it's not always like this, right? All cows aren't like this, RIGHT? I want to keep milking a cow. I love the experience. The responsibility and the rewards. This has been a bad first experience, and now I just find myself thinking... ok, sell her... what if it happens again?

pancho · #2 12/29/12, 11:08 AM

Is this your first milk cow?

Hannah90 · #3 12/29/12, 11:08 AM

It is. After I read my post I felt like a HUGE whiner. But, I am just so frustrated at this point.

Oakshire_Farm · #4 12/29/12, 11:11 AM

I have been milking my family cows for about 12 years now. My piece of advice, pull her next calf at birth! She will look to you for relief, bottle feed the calf, yes that is a extra work. But in my experience the cow will hod back the milk for the calf. upnd a

I am by no means a expert, maybe others will have a different opinion, but that is mine. If you pull the calf right away, they do not bond, my cows have their calf, I take the calf away, within the hour they get up and join the heard. I have never had any problems with holding milk since I started doing this.

nduetime · #5 12/29/12, 11:13 AM

I so feel for you. Been there, done all that. You really just have to be more stubborn than she is. i know it is tough, and painful, and frustrating and everything else...the rewards will be so much greater when you finally get her where you wnat her to be. Can you put up a gate next to wall to stick her in to keep her steady? that helped a lot with my first timer. She had no place to go and could not kick me then. You can milk through the bars and stay safe. You may get pee and poo still and the milk may be undrinkable (for humans) but at least you will stillbe milking and she will be learning. You have to be the boss. Do not give in and let her get away with this. i will be saying a prayer for you. Gosh, I so remember being where you are right now!

Hannah90 · #6 12/29/12, 11:14 AM

I have had this suggestion. It might solve the letting down problem, but what about all the OTHER problems? If I sell her and get another cow, I probably will pull the calf immediately. I don't want another cow that doesn't let down. That used to be the only problem with this cow until the last few months.

nduetime · #7 12/29/12, 11:17 AM

just wanted to add: what i did was put up a gate in a stall right next to a corner and attached really strong eye bolts to the wall. then, when i got the cow into the gate and tied her (had a feed bucket at the top of the stall for her) I could close the gate pretty tight and snap the chains to keep the gate closed. I used a good strong chain and a utility gate. It took away one of my barn stalls but was soooo worth it! everybody stayed safe...both me and the cow, and we both learned.

Hannah90 · #8 12/29/12, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nduetime

I so feel for you. Been there, done all that. You really just have to be more stubborn than she is. i know it is tough, and painful, and frustrating and everything else...the rewards will be so much greater when you finally get her where you wnat her to be. Can you put up a gate next to wall to stick her in to keep her steady? that helped a lot with my first timer. She had no place to go and could not kick me then. You can milk through the bars and stay safe. You may get pee and poo still and the milk may be undrinkable (for humans) but at least you will stillbe milking and she will be learning. You have to be the boss. Do not give in and let her get away with this. i will be saying a prayer for you. Gosh, I so remember being where you are right now!

Thanks for this.

She's 12 years old. It's not HER first time. It's mine. I knew she had a bad attitude when I brought her home. I mean, I gathered this after the first week or so of having her. The only real trouble I had with her was the milk not coming down. She wiggled a little bit, but nothing major. As many suggested in the other thread, it's most likely my fault. I didn't realize little things like that would turn into something like this. I am trying to not beat myself up here. First time with no one there to say "hey, stupid, you're doing it wrong." Mistakes are made yadda yadda. I feel like I'm banging my head against the wall. Only another month until I dry her up. I suppose I'll make my decision on whether to sell her when she freshens again in March.

nduetime · #9 12/29/12, 11:20 AM

I sure do not know everything by even a snidge but what did work for me when i had a letting down issue was udder massage. I used udder balm and would massage the heck out her and she would let down everytime. Once she relaxes and you are still massaging it is a natural reflex. takes a little time. by the way, I did not pull my calves, so I am sure this is why i had the same issues you do. i have since learned a lot but I still do not pull the babies. Just my preference.

My first girl was a bout the same age! She came a dairy so she really preferred the milking machine. I wanted to hand milk. Chaos...after so many years she was having none of it. She managed to learn but had the same trouble with letting down...i call it stubborn lol.

pancho · #10 12/29/12, 11:24 AM

Best thing would probably be to get rid of this cow.
Find another milk cow and be sure to milk her before you buy her.
If there is any problems milking the cow look for another milk cow for sale.
You can find what you want.

Hannah90 · #11 12/29/12, 11:28 AM

Ya know, the sad part about this is. Buying her was a wonderful experience. The man is our town electrician. He raises about ten dexters. Shows, keeps good bloodlines and hand milks. Annabelle was his first calf. I went over to milk her 5 times before I bought her. He was straight forward with me about her milking letting down. I just didn't know what I was doing. NOW if I go to buy a cow and someone says, "she doesn't always like to let down her milk." I would probably run for the hills. There is a Jersey heifer I have my eye on. A friend of a friend has her. She's going to be three, and pregnant with her first calf due in August. She is some what of a pet. Halter broken, ok with udder handling, etc. Ya'll think it would be better just to start completely from scratch?

oregon woodsmok · #12 12/29/12, 12:36 PM

It's OK to sell her if you can't get along with her. You won't get much for her if she isn't good to hand milk, but there is no shame in selling a cow and buying another one.

Good gentle natured cows who are well trained, give lots of milk, don't have any health issues, settle and calf easily, and don't mind being handled by people are worth a lot of money. If a milk cow is a real bargain, there is usually a reason why she is priced low, and that reason might be difficult to work with, or even impossible for a beginner to deal with.

I suggest that you stay away from cheap cows and just resign yourself to paying enough money to get a good one..

Hannah90 · #13 12/29/12, 12:48 PM

Well, I certainly didnt skimp on price with her. Definitely paid a pretty penny, but even the most expensive ones, I guess, arent the right fit.

pancho · #14 12/29/12, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hannah90

Well, I certainly didnt skimp on price with her. Definitely paid a pretty penny, but even the most expensive ones, I guess, arent the right fit.

But you were paying more for the name than anything else.

Hannah90 · #15 12/29/12, 02:52 PM

Are you saying I paid more than I should have because she's a dexter, and dexters are "hot" right now? Just clarifying.

CJBegins · #16 12/29/12, 02:56 PM

You know some cows that are real buggers about being milked turn into the best nurse cows. I had one. That darn cow peed and pooped every single time I milked her and it was her second year milking. She wanted her calf, so I got her a second calf and put on her and she was happy.

I didn't need the milk from her that bad, I had 2 others I was milking.

You might look into getting another milk cow but if you are concerned about not getting your money back out of this cow, try her out as a nurse cow and let her earn her keep that way.

Judy in IN · #17 12/29/12, 03:00 PM

SELL the ---- COW! You've already put up with more than I would. I bought a Jersey from an individual 2 years ago. I didn't know it, but she was a dairy cull. If I had had a machine, she would probably have stood better, but I didn't like her disposition. They've been breeding the Jersey's to catch up to the Holsteins in milking ability. Sorry to say that the disposition has suffered.

I bought a Guernsey heifer this time around. THIS is going to be MY heifer, and will be raised to lift her feet and be bonded to ME. I'm not willing to take someone's milk string reject. I might be looking for a yearling, maybe even a bred heifer, but she'd better be a pet. I've got to say that I LURVVE the Guernsey disposition that I'm seeing on this girl.

It sounds like the Jersey you're checking might be what you want. With what you've been through with the Dexter, I'm sure you can handle a first time heifer.

topside1 · #18 12/29/12, 03:29 PM

You may want to consider two quality milk goats. I mention two because of the herd instinct. My goats give me one gallon of milk per day, per goat. Much more manageable, size wise....My two cents. Topside

pancho · #19 12/29/12, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hannah90

Are you saying I paid more than I should have because she's a dexter, and dexters are "hot" right now? Just clarifying.

Yes, you paid more for something actually worth less.

Rosepath · #20 12/29/12, 04:40 PM

If you have room, keep her as a nurse cow as was suggested, she can raise two calves for the freezer or to sell. I personally would have sent her down the road by now, you've shown a lot of patience and persistence. Milking time with a good cow is peaceful and not a rodeo, so don't give up on the idea. Just find a better cow - BTW I have always had Jerseys or Guernseys, love them to pieces for their milk and their personalities. Mostly. (one gal had an attitude, she has gone to a nice family with lots of kids to milk her, heh heh)