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cheese

I'm getting a dairy cow!

Jeff Marchand

pollinator

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Location: Eastern Ontario

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posted 1 year ago

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I raise organic grass fed beef. Very small herd, currently only 4 bred cows thats it, but hopefully calves are on the way. I know someone nearby who has an organic grass fed dairy farm based off of Fleckveh genetics and he had a first calf heifer who steals milk from her sisters . A big no no on a dairy farm. So I am getting her cheap. Hopefully she wont do the same here , if she does she will become hamburger, I cant afford to lose calves. I am excited to have my own milk to drink and make yoghurt, kefir and cheese from. She is arriving in a few weeks dried off so I wont get milk from her until May of 2025 but thats ok, gives me time to get ready. Need to build a milking staunchon , a root cellar has been on my to do list for a long time and would be a nice to have to age the cheese. Milking in winter does nt sound like a ton of fun so I'll probably let her dry off every fall.

Anyways just wanted to share my excitement.

Cheers everyone.

Do, there is no try --- Yoda
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Anne Miller

steward

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posted 1 year ago

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Congratulations on the new addition.

It sounds like you have a good plan.

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hans muster

pollinator

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posted 1 year ago

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I am astonished the farmer did not use an anti-suckling device on, instead of selling it cheaply.

If I were you, I would buy one before getting the cow, so if there is an issue you can directly put it on.
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=anti-suckling+device+cattle&t=ffab&iax=images&ia=images

Carla Burke

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Location: Missouri Ozarks

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posted 1 year ago

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Can you tell me what you mean about needing a milking stanchion? I've never used or needed one, for a cow - only goats. A cow, I've only even milked tied off to a post or fence, or in a (obviously, clean) stall - while sitting on a stool...

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Jeff Marchand

pollinator

Posts: 286

Location: Eastern Ontario

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posted 1 year ago

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Hans, the strange thing is I saw other cows there with those on in his barn. I will buy one for her if she tries that here. He told me that she only steals milk from the other heifers she was raised with. Will see.

Carla, that's my inexperience talking right there. As she is coming from a commercial farm she is probably not as tame as nice house cow so I was thinking of a stall with a head gate that I could lock her into. I will use the next 15 months or so to become her BFF with lots of grain treats. If I can get by with just tying her to a tree or post then that is a win.

I will need you all to wish me luck when it comes to actually milking her by hand! I may be in the market for a small scale milking machine lol.

Do, there is no try --- Yoda
No one is interested in something you didn't do--- Gord Downie

Carla Burke

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posted 1 year ago

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Electric milkers are great for some folks, and is most likely what she's used to. I have one that I've never used, for my goats. I've only milked, whether goats or cows, by hand. Once you get up to strength (it uses muscles you may not be accustomed to using in quite that same way) and speed, you can completely empty a cows udder in 15 minutes - maybe less, depending on you and the cow. One of my brothers used to wear his football helmet, because getting hit in the back of the head by a cow defending herself from flies is rather a lot like getting hit with a baseball bat. The cats (yours or local) will love you, and come to cheer you on, as you milk, too.

Making her your BFF is definitely the best way to go. I'd suggest - always in small amounts - sweet feed, apples, carrots, bananas, parsley, clover, wheatgrass, oatgrass... maybe even a sugar cube or two. Do learn what's ok and what isn't, so that you don't accidentally cause colic/bloat. Oh, and keep all plastic stuff (bags, soda/beer can rings, etc) out of her grazing areas and barn. You'd be surprised at what can blow into a pasture or paddock - and what bizarre things cows occasionally think might be food, that can become deadly.

Congratulations, on your new cow - they're amazing critters!!

Jeff Marchand

pollinator

Posts: 286

Location: Eastern Ontario

109

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posted 1 year ago

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Thanks Cara, Good tips on other treats. I'd much rather treat with a carrot than grain. What do you use to sit on while milking? A upturned 5 gallon bucket or a three legged stool?

Do, there is no try --- Yoda
No one is interested in something you didn't do--- Gord Downie

Carla Burke

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posted 1 year ago

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I've used both, but must admit, the stool is far more comfortable - at least with a cow. But, it's not tall enough, at my stanchion, with goats. I find that the bottom edge & pointy center thingy of the bucket bites rather viciously into my thighs and rump. Some form of pad would be much better. There are seating pads made to go on top of a right side up bucket, now, that I think would be great, because not only would it provide a much more comfy seat, but also gives storage space for handy items, like clean cloths, for washing the teats, a few shelf-stable treats, etc. That said, you'll be closer to the ground, milking a cow, than milking a goat that's standing on a stanchion, so depending on your own height, that stool will likely be the better option.

When I was milking the family cow, we put a blend of sweet feed and whole oat groats into her bucket, to give her a treat and keep her happy, while we got the job done.

Edited to add the words according to what I meant, rather than leave it as my brainfart originally dictated. Sorry...

Kate Downham

gardener & author

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posted 1 year ago

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Congratulations! I am very excited for you and hope it all works out.

We are hoping to get a dairy cow in the future, mainly so that we can produce our own butter and cream, but I certainly won't say no to homemade cow cheese if we end up with too much milk!

It's lovely that you are getting her young - gives you plenty of time to train her to follow a bucket around and to hopefully be quiet while milking.

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Jeff Marchand

pollinator

Posts: 286

Location: Eastern Ontario

109

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posted 1 year ago

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Here she is. Isn't she a beauty?

PXL_20240401_201519337.jpg

Do, there is no try --- Yoda
No one is interested in something you didn't do--- Gord Downie

Gir The Bot

taco bot

Posts: 81

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posted 1 year ago

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She is so pretty!!! Can Gir ride her?

Carla Burke

Rusticator

Posts: 9534

Location: Missouri Ozarks

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posted 1 year ago

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I'm really excited for you, Jeff! She's a beauty!

Jeff Marchand

pollinator

Posts: 286

Location: Eastern Ontario

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posted 1 year ago

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Are you a CowGir?

Do, there is no try --- Yoda
No one is interested in something you didn't do--- Gord Downie

Gir The Bot

taco bot

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Gir will be a cowgir if that means I get lots and lots of bacon. And tacos. Cowgirs eat tacos and bacon, right?

If there's no tacos or bacon, Gir will stick to riding piggies.

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