Our Cow-Milking Adventure Begins

Just when I had given up hopes that Molly would ever have her calf (we made up a nice little song about our "perpetually pregnant cow" to the tune of "Popeye, the Sailor Man"), she FINALLY went into labor Monday evening. I figured a pre-dawn baby, but when I checked on her just before 2am, the calf was lying about fifteen feet away from her, cleaned up but wet. Must have missed it by 20 minutes. Some cow midwife I am. I discovered it was a bull calf (will be nice to have the meat next fall, but we had hoped for a heifer to sell), woke Farra (who was sleeping VERY soundly in a hammock neaby, determined not to miss the calving!), then we left them to themselves until morning. What fun to show him off to all the children before breakfast!

Apparently today's dairy stock are such high producers that one wee calf can't handle all the milk, so you must help them out from the beginning. We took Molly's breakfast and a stool to the field and she let us take turns milking some colostrum out onto the ground. Not tied or anything... she is so gentle and tolerant!


Last week we sold two of our goats, one we were milking and one 3mo doeling, downsizing in preparation for the workload that would come with Molly’s freshening. I was toying with the idea of parting with all of the goats, but Farra and Atira talked me into keeping their does (one we’re milking, the other we could be next year), and we have a handful of bucklings we will butcher in the fall. This works for now and to prove themselves (at my suggestion - I wish I could say they thought of it themselves!), the older girls have taken over the goat chores.

It was with a mixture of eagerness and some little bit of apprehension that I looked toward Molly's first real milking that evening. I had only ever milked one cow, and only for a few minutes, and found it very different from the goats. Much harder than I expected. I told myself that Molly would be easier.

I nearly cried myself to sleep that night, frustrated and disappointed. Milking Molly was nothing like milking a goat! It hurt my back to be hunched over, her tail was constantly in my face (until we tied it to her leg) and the sheer volume of milk to be expressed took it's toll on my arms... like milking four goats in a row. Not to mention, goats don't pee and poop while being milked! (At least, no goat I know of.) She never really kicked, not those quick, jumpy jabs a goat gives, but did shuffle her feet a bit. I figured some of these tricks she'd grow out of, but I was sure it was too hard for me. Bobby had to finish milking her, and even he declared it very difficult (his hands being bigger than mine, he had a harder time with her first-timer teats). I was sure we had to sell her, and quickly, before she got mastitis or something from not being milked out completely.

I posted her for sale, put up flyers the next day, and sent an email to all friends I thought might know someone who might be interested.

I might have overreacted.

Pregnant women should not make decisions.

I had quite a few people interested, no one with money.

Bobby milked the next morning. We were giving the 3qts of colostrum to the dogs, cat, chickens, compost heap. Bobby began milking that evening and seemed to be having a difficult time, and I had a couple ideas to try out, so I gave it a try again. Most of these ideas came from my re-reading of "Keeping A Family Cow." Mostly the section, "My Aching Back." It was encouraging.

The height of your milk stool makes a huge difference. I switched over to sitting on a milk crate, which was maybe two inches taller than the stool we were using. That helped my back. I try to imagine this position with an 8 month pregnant tummy and I think I can do it. I'm also considering a platform to raise Molly up 3 or 4 inches.

If you spray your cow down with fly spray first (we're using generic mint mouthwash - it works!), the tail switching isn't so bad. Also, you learn quickly where to position your head so as not to take it in the face.

Keep a bucket handy for when she urinates and place a shovel at her rear when she defecates. It helps keep the place clean, but mostly it's suppose to help break her of the habit. She definitely is disturbed by not hearing her usual "plop," and feeling these instruments against her legs, but it hasn't stopped her yet.

Relax. Breathe. This is quite a work out! It helps to breathe as with any work out - inhale deeply through the nose (ugh, my poor, pregnant nose!), exhale slowly through the mouth. And, I must remind myself that a cow isn't a goat and I'm not going to go down to the barn and "do chores real quick" anymore. But, as with anything, there's a nice quiet sort of groove you get into after a bit and it's good.

Bobby's mild exclamations over how quickly I milk (the goat experience is handy) are very energizing, too. There might not be much foam, but there's always some!

The next morning (yesterday), Bobby suggested I begin milking while he milked the goat (Atira was relieved of her duty as she wasn't feeling well), then he could take over if I needed him to. You nursing mommas known how it's harder to get your baby to latch on when you're engorged... it's like that. My hands have an easier time expressing that first bit of milk than his. Anyway, we did it this way and I finished her up all by myself, before she was even done with her grain (which is when she pulls her nasty tricks). What a boost that was for me!

I admitted it was foolish to judge cow-milking based on my first real experience on a first time cow. You really must give these things time. I went ahead and removed the ads. Don't know if I can keep this up, but I'm willing to try and Bobby is willing to cover me.

We took the colostrum from the forth milking and tried to make "calf's milk custard." It didn't work. Didn't set up. So, we got out the ice-cream maker and the children are enjoying calf's milk frozen custard instead.

I'd read that the 7th milking is the first that's good for table use, the colostrum being all done. We were pretty excited about this. And boy did her milk come in! Right on time. Last night I milked and milked and milked... about a gallon and a quart, then Bobby milked another quart and a half... Goodnight, but that's a lot of milk! Time to start calling my want-to-be customers. It took forever. My arms were like jelly.

I milked her out myself this morning, though it took a long time. It's satisfying. I admit that right now I'm of the opinion that it would be less strenuous to milk four goats morning and night, but when you see that cream rising on your milk it's worth it.