hayzor said:
I have a 5 yr old Dexter due to freshen w/ her 3rd calf in September. She has never been milked and I want to milk her. What are the things that I need to know and prepare for. I'm sure she'll need some training to get used to the whole process. Any recommendations to get her ready. I will be milking her by hand.
Thanks
Hi I am only a bit ahead of you, I have two dexter cows that I got for meat milking, they are guiet but I have had times when I thought I would never get them tame enough to milk, you dont really have much time but I had mine for a fewmonths before they went to the bull. Every cow is different I always had horses and was used to noing how a horse thought ,cows, so I've learnt are different, just dont give up ! Mine seemed to just tame up when they were ready not when I wanted it, I just keep feeding them small amounts of yummy feed I did buy some hobbles but my one heifer who is due in a couple of months and has already bagged up letts me touch her udder and do anything and she dosnt mind. One thing I have noticed with cows because they see us as dominent if they are eating and we walk up and touch them they will move away more out of respect so like the other guy said if you can restrain them and get them used to you touching them while they stand and eat, they seem to then relax and stop moving away, I have heard of some cows that have to be hobbled while they are milked, that is why I bought some. Luckily I dont need them, well not for this one,hope you persist.
DOES ANY ONE KNOW THE RIGHT WAY TO CLEAN THE UDDER BEFORE YOU MILK?? Thanks