Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Milking Time Woes

We have several cows to milk daily here, so hand milking takes a really long time and if you have any sort of problems with your hands you cant do more then one, if that.  So, we use a milking machine.  Well here is how our last day has went!

Yesterday we had a new cow arrive.  She came from a dairy and was off the line so she is hand shy, you cant touch her, she doesn't know how to walk on a lead rope, nor has she been hand milked.  So, we put her in a small building that has a head gate in it as a wooden stanchion would not have held her.  She is used to being milked at 5 am and 5 pm.  So we go out at 4:45 pm last night to get her ready.  We have our bucket of warm soapy water to wash her udder, our milking pail and machine, oats, and a brush.  I run the head gate and DH pushes her in it.  Basically that means that he walks behind her and they don't like being touched so she will walk away.  You don't actually push on the cow, that is just what it is called.  So we get her in the head gate.  She is standing still and being really good.  We bring in the milking machine and turn it on so that she can hear the noise.  She doesn't move much.  I take the brush and start to brush her and she does really well.  By this time I am very surprised by her being so calm.  It is extremely unusual for a new cow that comes off the dairy line to be this still and calm.  I have two things going on in my head.  Either we are the luckiest people out there or she is going to explode at any minute.  DH washes her udder. She just stands there.  I get her whole left side (that is the left side of the cow, not my left side looking at her) brushed out.  We put the milking machine on her.  And guess what.....  She stands there!  OK!  By this time I am thinking her exploding is less and less likely.  Then we notice the machine is sucking, but not cycling.  That means that the machine is giving one big suck.  It should suck and release, suck and release.  Yeah, uncomfortable is all I can think.  So, he takes it off and we are trying to see what is causing the issue.  We had spent about 3-4 minutes fiddling with the machine by this time.  Suddenly I see DH lung forward.  SHE KICKED HIM!  Now, if you have ever seen a cow kick you know they can kick in any direction unlike a horse.  They kick in front, behind, and to the side.  DH was standing about a foot away from her to her left and about half way up her body.  So she kicked forward and out to catch him.  I have to admit, it was a well placed kick.  I am torn between laughing from the stunned look on his face and seeing if he is ok.  Of course I do both.  DH isn't very pleased.  He moves slightly farther away and goes back to checking the machine.  No sooner did he get involved with the machine and ignoring the cow, she did it again!  This time he popped her back (it is a light slap on the hip to say "no").  She stood there a bit stunned that she was reprimanded and no sooner did he turn his back, she did it again.  By this time DH is getting very agitated and I am trying to respect him and not fall on the floor laughing.  He stood there facing her.  She just stood there chewing her cud.  So he again turns his attention to the milking machine.  And again, within seconds of turning his back, she kicks him.  Now I have to give the cow a bit of credit here.  She is not hurting him.  She is lightly kicking.  A cow can break bones if they are really pissed or scared.  These kicks are more like she is telling him "come on, get this going".  Sort of a hurry up thing.  DH gets pissed and takes the machine out side to work on it.  No sooner does he leave then she stands there chewing her cud again.  I am laughing so hard inside by this time.  You know, it really is hard to laugh inside without showing it on the outside.  So, he figures out what is wrong and goes to get a tool.  I go right next to her and start to brush under her chin and down her neck and over her dewlap (that part that hangs in the front of a cow).  She stretches her head out as far as she can and leans in to the brush really enjoying it.  So, now I know her soft spot.  Grain and a good scratch.  That is the way to a cows heart!  After getting things fixed milking now goes well.  But this first milking sure left an impression.  I like this cow!

And so, here is Lily, our new cow.


1 comment:

  1. Sorry Dan for the kicks but....when the udders are full.....LOL

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