Onthebit
Well-known member
Want to hand milk, she bales but kicks at me....any ideas?
Teaching a cow to milk for first time
- Thread starter Onthebit
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GMN
Well-known member
dun":1mvsexsh said:
A cant kick device works in some cases but not all, even with them on I have had cows kick. I have used double devices, one on each side, and have also, tied the tail up in the air onto a pipe, which works real good.
Best advice for new heifers, etc.. is feed the grain, and alot of patience, and really yelling at them and hitting them is not gonna do you any good, they won't let their milk down if stressed out, and its not necessary.
GMN
bigbull338
Well-known member
the best way to break emm from kicking is tie the tail straight up in the air.thus putting pressure on their hipps,an they wont kick.just dont tie the tail where you pull the switch outta the tail.
TexasBred
Well-known member
bigbull338":ik9pw3xi said:
This is what we always did as well or just have someone pull the tail directly over the back and hold it down tight (not off to the side...won't work) . Works great for castrating bull calves in a chute as well. They might dance around a bit but won't kick.
chippie
Well-known member
How old is the cow, is this her first calf, how long have you owned her, is she halter broke, how are you restraining her (tied, chute or head gate) and what is your procedure for milking?
OP
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Onthebit
Well-known member
chippie":3jm2iuom said:
2nd calf.....she has never been milked....she is bossy....horns and all and a witch in the head gate....I hand milk......I am new to this.....should get rid but she is a nice breedy cow...and has a nice set of tits! hehe ( we women can joke of this cant we?)
chippie
Well-known member
The heifers that we intend to milk are halter broken so that they will stand tied. We touch and handler the udder every day when they come in to eat starting several months before they calve.
You don't want to fight the cow and get her upset. I gather that you are just sticking her in a head gate and trying to milk. Our cows are fed while being hand milked.
Your best best would be to put kick hobbles on her and get her used to having her udder touched before trying to milk her.
You can't really blame the cow in this situation. It is best if the cow is used to being handled first.
Have you ever hand milked a cow before?
You don't want to fight the cow and get her upset. I gather that you are just sticking her in a head gate and trying to milk. Our cows are fed while being hand milked.
Your best best would be to put kick hobbles on her and get her used to having her udder touched before trying to milk her.
You can't really blame the cow in this situation. It is best if the cow is used to being handled first.
Have you ever hand milked a cow before?
OP
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Onthebit
Well-known member
chippie":3rgcm30s said:
OK, Im new to this but not idiotic! She hasn't calved yet and I have owned her 2 months and she is getting fed in the gate and she STILL WANTS TO KICK! I am just wondering if some are chronic or if there is a way I can still get what i want from her....I may end up just buying an extra calf and sticking it on her cause I still have one whom I bought at the same time who lets me do whatever I want when she is in the headgate....pick up feet etc......both were unhandled when I purchased them.....Problem is the kicking witch is due now and the other is due in june!
Yup, we had a couple hand milk cows when I was a kid....so milking isn't a forgotten science.....grown up cow psychology IS! hehe
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Onthebit
Well-known member
I been told the tail being yanked over the back idea.....can they still "cow kick" like that? "cow kick = kick sideways...and quite forward!
GMN
Well-known member
Onthebit":2vv6z11v said:
I have had a few that when they calved have gone balistic, and I wondered if they would ever be milkable in the barn, but I have never had one that did not calm down after a few weeks.(Knock on wood)
GMN
chippie
Well-known member
I'm sorry if I offended you, but I can only go by what you write.
A cow shouldn't be able to kick when you hold the tail straight up (vertically) towards the backbone.
You hold it close enough to the tail head so that it can't twist or bend. Hold it straight and push it towards the cow's head.
You can also use a soft bristled broom to touch her back legs, stomach and udder to desensitize her.
The length of the broom will keep you out of harm's way. Just keep touching and stroking her until she quits. You have to out last the cow. It is also hard for someone to help when they cannot see the situation or set up.
You never said what breed she is. Good luck.
A cow shouldn't be able to kick when you hold the tail straight up (vertically) towards the backbone.
You hold it close enough to the tail head so that it can't twist or bend. Hold it straight and push it towards the cow's head.
You can also use a soft bristled broom to touch her back legs, stomach and udder to desensitize her.
The length of the broom will keep you out of harm's way. Just keep touching and stroking her until she quits. You have to out last the cow. It is also hard for someone to help when they cannot see the situation or set up.
You never said what breed she is. Good luck.
OP
OP
Onthebit
Well-known member
chippie":3ivhj5df said:
I was not offended at all! I didn't say what breed she is cause......she is a lot smaller than a holstien.....so.....Im ashamed! lol
She is a Dexter and she is definately a witch (B)........Im a standardbred horse trainer and this cow psychology is new to me...first cow seems like she will end up being a dream to milk.....so im frustrated with this one....going to gate her and yank her tail up tonight and see if things get improving.....
Is she tame? if not, spend some time working with her that way. If she is tame, then it sounds like she just has an attitude problem.
Milking in a squeeze chute is drastically different than milking in a barn where they can't really see you. In a barn it doesn't really matter if they're tame or a nutcase off the back 40. Most get used to their udder being touched, milker being put on, and then sent out of the barn afterwards. If they aren't mentally stable to begin with, mess up their routine and they can go ballistic. On the other hand, if you're milking in a squeeze chute or - like I do - just haltered and tied to the fence, they need to be at least somewhat comfortable around you if you intend to milk more than once or twice.
With the attitude you described, I'd probably tip her horns or more -- it can work wonders when it comes to modifying their disposition.
'Course, it might be easier on both of you if you just put another calf on when she calves, and leave her alone. Some cows just aren't meant to be milked. :P
Milking in a squeeze chute is drastically different than milking in a barn where they can't really see you. In a barn it doesn't really matter if they're tame or a nutcase off the back 40. Most get used to their udder being touched, milker being put on, and then sent out of the barn afterwards. If they aren't mentally stable to begin with, mess up their routine and they can go ballistic. On the other hand, if you're milking in a squeeze chute or - like I do - just haltered and tied to the fence, they need to be at least somewhat comfortable around you if you intend to milk more than once or twice.
With the attitude you described, I'd probably tip her horns or more -- it can work wonders when it comes to modifying their disposition.
'Course, it might be easier on both of you if you just put another calf on when she calves, and leave her alone. Some cows just aren't meant to be milked. :P
OP
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Onthebit
Well-known member
milkmaid":200dhrrp said:
LOL.......milking sailboat fuel out of her! Course not....
katscars
Active member
All this advice is great! I am just about to break in a cow for milking too. My first time (breaking in, not milking). I have a head bail which I plan to leave a trail of hay to, let her walk in slow. Once she is in I want to put a face holter on her. Then what? I have no lead up so can not force her in. My neighbour gets his cows and ties them up for a few days. He has feed and water handy for them then spends time with them several times a day. After they calm in a week or less he lets them out. Should I do this also? I like the idea of the broom. That sounds good.
I had a dexter also I got to where I could pull on her teets and she would stand still in the paddock but she never gave me any milk. when I tried to seperate her calf she there would be something to milk she got the shits with me so bad I couldn't go near her!
Now I have Jerseys for milking they seem happier to do it. Hope you have more luck with yours!
I had a dexter also I got to where I could pull on her teets and she would stand still in the paddock but she never gave me any milk. when I tried to seperate her calf she there would be something to milk she got the shits with me so bad I couldn't go near her!
Now I have Jerseys for milking they seem happier to do it. Hope you have more luck with yours!
iowafarmer
Well-known member
Hobble her and tail her and keep doing it till she stand quietly.
chippie
Well-known member
katscars ,
When you have a milk cow, you keep her separate from her calf otherwise the calf is getting all of the milk.
When the cow calves, we let the calf stay with the cow for several days. We have the cow come in twice daily to be fed. After her milk is good, the calf stays in a pen and the cow goes out in the pasture. She still comes in twice daily to get fed. When she comes in, we milk what we need (a bucket - 1 gallon), then put the calf in the stall with her to clean her out.
When the calf is new, you will need to check and make sure that the calf striped her out. As the calf grows, it will get the job done. When the cow is milked, all of the milk needs to be stripped out because any left in the udder will reduce her production.
Feed a good dairy feed because the protein is important.
Also when you halter break the cow, tie her in a stall and lead her to water. While she is drinking, have someone put her feed at her tie spot, then lead her back to her feed. The food and water are incentive to walk with you.
We have Jerseys too and they can be pain in the butt cows. Too smart for their own good.
When you have a milk cow, you keep her separate from her calf otherwise the calf is getting all of the milk.
When the cow calves, we let the calf stay with the cow for several days. We have the cow come in twice daily to be fed. After her milk is good, the calf stays in a pen and the cow goes out in the pasture. She still comes in twice daily to get fed. When she comes in, we milk what we need (a bucket - 1 gallon), then put the calf in the stall with her to clean her out.
When the calf is new, you will need to check and make sure that the calf striped her out. As the calf grows, it will get the job done. When the cow is milked, all of the milk needs to be stripped out because any left in the udder will reduce her production.
Feed a good dairy feed because the protein is important.
Also when you halter break the cow, tie her in a stall and lead her to water. While she is drinking, have someone put her feed at her tie spot, then lead her back to her feed. The food and water are incentive to walk with you.
We have Jerseys too and they can be pain in the butt cows. Too smart for their own good.
OP
OP
Onthebit
Well-known member
Well, the calf has arrived!
