Hi A pail, short stool, two hands and a very gentle milk cow are all you need to enjoy fresh milk every day. Once you start milking your cow, she will have to be milked twice a day every day until you let her dry up.
Steps: 1. Milk at the same time daily. 2. Sit on the same side of the cow each day. This will help your cow feel more comfortable - cows like routine. 3. Place cow in a stanchion if this makes you feel more at ease. If your cow is an old hand at being milked, this probably won't be necessary. Ask the farmer you purchased her from what her routine was with the farmer. 4. Place stool at a right angle to the cow and sit with your head resting on her flank. 5. Wash udder with warm water and clean cloth. 6. Place pail under teats. 7. Take a teat into the palm of your hand. 8. Squeeze teat at top with thumb and forefinger. Continue squeezing each finger around teat, forcing milk in a stream until all fingers are around teat. 9. Release teat. 10. Repeat until only a small amount of milk comes out and the udder is soft to the touch. Tips: If you milk your cow regularly and maintain a good feeding program, your cow can give you milk for up to 10 months. Warnings: Remember that even the nicest cow can kick, so always be aware of this. If you are nervous or too rough with her, this will cause problems. Know your cow by Judd Shearer If you start milking by just sitting down and pulling, nothing will happen. It is safer for you and the cow if you know everything you can about the cow first. Start by daily grooming. Brushing and scratching her will make her feel better around you, and you around her. You do not need to rush, you will be spending an average of 10 hours a week with your cow from feeding, cleaning and milking. Make sure you like cows. If you do not like the smell, look or feel, then maybe you should not be milking. Clean the utter and teats with warm soapy water. Again, take your time. Remember, you will be drinking what falls into your bucket, so it is best to make sure nothing but milk falls into your bucket! From my experience, it does not matter what side you milk on. I have milked on the right and on the left. Look over your barn and decide where the safest place will be to milk. Pick a area where there is a wall and do the milking on the other side. Your cow will not care. Make sure, whatever you do, you do the same thing every day. Cows like having the same events, and they will adjust to what you want. Do not let them make you do something their way. Here is a good routine to follow: Enter the barn. Get the grain ready. Tie the cow where you are going to be doing the milking. Brush the cow. Give her the grain and start cleaning her teats. Start milking slowly at first, then pick up speed. When you are done, untie her and lead her out of the milking area. This simple way will help her know what to expect and how to react. Even the most difficult cow is able to change. Never punish your cow with pain. They remember forever and they will get even. If you are just starting milking all you need is: Stainless steal bucket, plastic bucket for cleaning, bleach, soap, steal toed boots, a cooler to get the milk cold, a large pot if you want to pasteurize your milk and a cow. I hope your first time is a good time. To listen to the show archives go to link http://acbradio.org/handyman.html or ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday The Pod Cast address for the Cooking In The Dark Show is. http://www.gcast.com/u/cookingindark/main.xml Visit The New Blind Handy Man Files Page To Review Contributions From Various List Members At The Following Address: http://www.jaws-users.com/handyman/ Visit the new archives page at the following address http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man list just send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blindhandyman/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
