Question for the ladies. Woman to Woman

[RDFF]

This is really great advice, man to woman.

Yes the cowcan'tkick is a heavy and clumsy device. My husband made a pully and rope attached to a rafter that I lower down and pull back up after use..I saw that kick-stop device but it seamed kind of whimpy. We used a tight rope around her body in front of the udder before we got the cowcan'tkick. and she could still kick the skin off my arm. Those shackles with the chain, how well to they work? Yes she is milked in a stanchion, I'm trying to picture this flank grab. Maybe there is a youtube video.

It's not my religion to not eat animals I raised, I'm just sentimental. While I'm chewing I'd lose my appetite. I have one old pet cow I will never sell or slaughter, . . . .well, thats another story. She's a kind, gentle, affectionate and typey Jersey bred for a February heifer calf and thats the one I'll keep to replace this winch.

Just grab her by that flank flap right ahead of her leg. Grab as deeply and as full a handful as you can, and squeeze, maybe pull upward just a little too. That Kick Stop does the same thing essentially, putting a pressure point upward, and FIRMLY, into that muscle. As she moves her leg forward, that pressure point becomes pretty uncomfortable, almost making it impossible to contract that muscle, which is necessary for the forward movement of her leg. And you're hand is "safe" there, not in danger of getting "crushed" by her leg movement or anything. As long as she doesn't try to pick up her leg and move it forward, it's not uncomfortable for her much at all.


This is the video this screenshot was taken from: How to stop a cow from kicking

The hobbles work good, but they're only a "restraint"... they stop her from being able to kick forward a certain amount (because one leg is tied to the other). But she will still be able to "hop" up and down with both feet! And she could hurt herself with them then too, because they don't prevent her from TRYING to move... by creating difficulty in moving the muscles necessary in order to kick. That's why the Kick Stop, or the flank grab are "better". Sometimes you have no choice though, in order to get the job done. If using the hobbles the first time, expect a "dance"... until they learn that it's not worth the fight. Be careful trying to put them on... can be "dangerous"... but once they're on, and the chain pullled up tight, they're pretty good. We only used them if absolutely necessary. One of those "special cow" heifers just wouldn't learn to stand without them, and she was happy to let you put them on... would stand perfectly after they were on, so it became "routine" for her in the parlor. So much so that we forgot to remove them once, and let the group out without taking them off... i.e.: don't ask how I know above! Quite a show trying to remove them once she was outside in the open pen! Kind of like a wild cow milking contest!

 

[sunnyblueskies]

OK here's a question woman to woman. The first calf heifer I'm milking has always kicked when the milking machine is first put on. She's been in milk for 8 months so this is not new to her. I don't put the inflations on her until the fullness of her teats show that letdown has occurred. I have to use the CowCan'tKick device to get any milk from her. She does not allow hand milking either.

My question is to mothers who have pumped milk for their babies. Does it hurt when the pump is first put on?

No it doesn't hurt. But it feels weird, strange. Maybe ticklish combined with a muscle contracting and holding. Well that's how it felt for me.
With the heifer it's probably aching and hurting a bit because that udder had never been stretched full and she hasn't figured out that you milking her actually releases that pressure and ache.

Oopps apparently I didn't read well enough that this isn't her first time of milking. See, didn't pay attention and jumped to the actual woman to woman question. Where's my coffee.

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

How about those shackles with a chain above their hock? Do they work well?

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

Sunny, thank you for the description of milk let down. I think you are describing breast feeding, not breast pumping, right? I was trying to figure if a milking machine hurts the cow at first. Now I think it's just her personality.

 

[sunnyblueskies]

Simply a "well meaning observation" from one of the men on here.

We had one of those "special papered cows" that Dad paid too much for in our dairy herd when I was growing up. We were "expanding" the herd at the time, in anticipation of building a new milking parlor... which happened about 2 years after we bought her. Great looking 2nd calf cow, beautiful udder, excellent milk maker, not much about her you could complain about... EXCEPT that we learned after bringing her home that she kicked, EVERY SINGLE TIME you'd try to put a milker on her. And I mean, she just flat out went absolutely crazy! Thought we were getting there at one point with her... she'd let you put it on (Surge buckets in a stanchion barn... so picture this then)... until you walked away. Suddenly that half full bucket of milk would go flying out from under her and across the barn floor, cats scurrying in panic, dog running for the hills, cattle on the other side of the barn ramming into the back corner, cow bucking wildly in the stanchion, hose wrapped up around things, inflations and bucket top and bucket independently going everywhere, particularly down into the gutter full of crap, or against the cement wall so it would get bent! And those Surge buckets were built to take it, but she was able to ding 'em, just the same. Pretty good rodeo entertainment for a few minutes! Ah... good times... good times!

Well, because she was just SO "special", we obviously couldn't get rid of her, so we kept her, and quickly learned to put her in that "special stall" where we could tie her leg back with a rope to a knee brace up in the corner behind her, to make it "safe" to milk her. Long as you did that, she'd be "good"... she'd stand there shaking in nervousness, and sometimes she'd still have a crazy spell, but at least everything, and everybody, USUALLY stayed whole! She was such a good cow that she had a heifer calf every time around (Yay! At least she's replacing herself!!!). And by the time her calves came into the milking string, we had moved into the new parlor. Didn't even really consider that her daughters ought to be any different than any of the other heifers in the herd... so didn't pay much attention to who they were as they came in... UNTIL EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HER DAUGHTERS WOULD JUST GO BERSERK IN THE PARLOR WHEN YOU'D PUT THE MILKER ON 'EM! We had a set of hobbles in the parlor just for them. Same deal... put the hobbles on 'em, and they'd learn to stand and let you milk 'em... and of course, sometimes you'd forget and just hang it on without thinking... turn your back and WHAM... parts flying everywhere! And of course, we were "expanding the herd", so we always kept every heifer for a replacement. It took 4 generations to get it bred out of 'em!

I have to explain my laughing meme to your story so I don't get misunderstood. =D
The picture of that bucket of milk taking off and the chain reaction of all the other critters just about made me pee my pants. Thanks for that good laugh, needed it.

 

[RDFF]

How about those shackles with a chain above their hock? Do they work well?

I edited the post above to answer...

 

[sunnyblueskies]

Sunny, thank you for the description of milk let down. I think you are describing breast feeding, not breast pumping, right? I was trying to figure if a milking machine hurts the cow at first. Now I think it's just her personality.

Kinda sorta.
Breast pumping doesn't hurt. You are right, I was describing more the milk let down, but breastfeeding a baby and pumping milk isn't really all that much different. Pump might be a little stronger pulling sensation, but it really is like muscle contractions plus the feeling of milk let down.
Yeah your cow might have that personality now. Some women don't like to pump either. =D

 

[Spot & Bubby]

Understand what part?

Remember when you said the men didn't know any thing about the women's issues on here. Well, here is yours, , for the few comments you have made amount men, so far.

The part about the desire to have more desire for a desire unfulfilled at the lower level of desire... I don't understand that.

If I wanted someone else to take over the grocery shopping for me (I do), but that only happened two or three times a year (it happens, but I still have to start and finish the job by taking inventory, making a list, putting everything away, and going back for what was overlooked on the list) I would would want to want that less. I would want to want it so little that the thought never crossed my mind. To want what I'm already not getting enough of and only part of it when I do get it sounds like self-torture.

Thanks for the . Which comments, though? I believe I've made two, and one I've already apologized for. Are you saying men would like to suddenly lose their testosterone? That is enlightening.

 

[Spot & Bubby]

I'm 55 and had a similar path. I ate clean for over a decade, no added sugar or dairy of gluten. But I fell off the wagon and it was hard to get back on. I'm no longer completely off any of those. If I was you, start with sugar and milk and see if that changes anything. For face soap, I like Image Vital C hydrating facial cleanser. You can find it on Walmart.com (It's relatively cheap and feels nice. Double wash your face and pat dry with a paper towel or a never used wash cloth. I used a sulpher soap for years but it got harder to find and I really didn't need it anymore. Good luck!

Thanks for the advice! I'm working on cutting out sugar (I don't conscience much dairy), but it really is like trying to get off drugs. I wasn't expecting that.

 

[Spot & Bubby]

I knew I shouldn't have read any of this....

5 will get your 10 that near half the men here have tried a breast pump just goofing around when the parents first got one for the wife to use.

I'm going to have to pass on that.

 

[Spot & Bubby]

Personally I just can't eat an animal that I raised.

My grandfather raised hogs, keeping one for slaughter every year. It was a challenge for me when I learned who the Easter ham was one year. Papa explained to me that our meal was raised and cared for with real love and never knew real fear or distress up to the very last moment. I was better after that. Love makes the meat taste better. I'm silly, but sometimes I think about the calves we raise being scared and I don't like it. For the "special" calves, I'd much prefer to put them on the grill than load them into a pot.

 

[Spot & Bubby]

OK here's a question woman to woman. The first calf heifer I'm milking has always kicked when the milking machine is first put on. She's been in milk for 8 months so this is not new to her. I don't put the inflations on her until the fullness of her teats show that letdown has occurred. I have to use the CowCan'tKick device to get any milk from her. She does not allow hand milking either.

My question is to mothers who have pumped milk for their babies. Does it hurt when the pump is first put on?

I've never experienced breast feeding or breast pumps, so I have nothing to contribute.

 

[Ouachita]

Now I'm feeling like Peppermint Patty. Good grief Charlie Brown.

 

[AmandaQ]

Thanks for the advice! I'm working on cutting out sugar (I don't conscience much dairy), but it really is like trying to get off drugs. I wasn't expecting that.

Yes it is!

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

I'd have no problem eating delicious pork and pigs if I raised them but I'm not going to raise them They are ugly dangerous animals obsessed with food and they stink. The people down the road got a pet piglet for their kids who wheeled it around dressed in clothes in a baby carriage. It grew up big and aggressive and the kids were scared of it. The hog rooted up cement slabs and escaped. Came over to my house and knocked on the door with it's trotter. Its sounded just like a person. I opened the door, the hog barged in, no way to stop it, went to the kitchen, opened the fridge door with it's snout and ate all my food. After that the hog was invited as the guest of honor at a biker barbeque.

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

The cow I'm milking produces 25% cream. Tons of sugary ice cream are made and consumed here, big bowl fulls every night after dinner There's 5 kinds of ice cream in the freezer. Also the butter and the cheese. Yet my weight is holding steady at 135lb. with no health complaints. Hooray for sugar and dairy products. Doing actual physical work every day is the key.

 

[mwj]

The cow I'm milking produces 25% cream. Tons of sugary ice cream are made and consumed here, big bowl fulls every night after dinner There's 5 kinds of ice cream in the freezer. Also the butter and the cheese. Yet my weight is holding steady at 135lb. with no health complaints. Hooray for sugar and dairy products. Doing actual physical work every day is the key.

If your cow is producing 25% cream you need to start flushing embryos and become wealthy!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

She's already pregnant for an April heifer calf.
HoneyDew is in the last month of her lactation. Apparently this is normal. They make less and less milk but more and more cream.