Feeding Calves on a Dairy Farm! Life on a Farm Day 2!

[@TimKrenz-j8t]

That was the style of milker My uncle used for 40 years 😮

[@kellyjean3175]

That little Brown Swiss is the cutest, doe-eyed heifer! I'm so happy she finally decided to eat. My Dad switched from Guernseys to Holsteins in the late 70's before I can remember. So, seeing a calf that isn't black and white instantly increases the cuteness factor. Lol.. 😊

[@GierokFarms]

Oh for sure they are a beautiful breed! Thanks for watching Kelly!

[@mikebrown1188]

Famous last words of any farmer. Check cattle one more time. Check the dryer one more time. Check the water one more time. Just goes to show the passion all farmers have.

[@GierokFarms]

I like the way you put that! It's so true!

[@colemaliszewski6986]

Very nice operation! Just like old times! Not many small farmers around this area anymore. Keep bringing great videos!

[@GierokFarms]

Thanks Cole, Will do!

[@benburns5995]

Glad to hear the Brown Swiss calf finally decided to have her bottle of milk. Even though the feeding of the baby calves takes a lot of time in your day, it is probably the most rewarding when they take their bottle. When you were milking that new mother, you can see a cat off to the left of the screen. They probably try to steal some fresh milk when they can. Enjoying this weeks series, keep up the good work.

[@GierokFarms]

It sure is satisfying once she decided to cooperate! The farm cats are smart they know where the good stuff is! Glad you are enjoying the series so far!

[@joelwindsor525]

That surge Miller brings back some great memories

[@GierokFarms]

We are glad we could bring back good memories for you!

[@joelwindsor525]

@@GierokFarms memories of some of the best times of my life

[@lorenplock8244]

Just enjoy 😊 watching dairy cows 🐄 videos. I was a Dairy farmer but never had brown Swiss . I milk Holstein Holstein/Jersey crosses. Thank you for sharing. Have a good week

[@GierokFarms]

Glad to see a dairyman watching our videos, Thank you for watching!

[@keithrobinson1331]

Great to see the Swiss calf finally decided to get some grub 👍 🐄

[@GierokFarms]

I'm so happy about it!

[@jamesbrown8718]

Beautiful calf’s I really enjoy your channel watching the days in the lives of dairy farmers. I have always enjoyed working on the farm growing up we use to have a dairy farm. I worked my entire summer everyday in the dairy milking and cleaning and working with calf’s. So I admire what you all do. Thank you

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you James we appreciate that you watch our videos and are enjoying the channel!

[@jamesbrown8718]

@@GierokFarms I do truly enjoy each one of them, love learning about cows and different farm animals all together. But I think dairy cows are my most favorite to learn about I watch 10 generation dairyman but he mostly does more farming and stuff and all. I want to see what goes on inside the dairy. One video could you go over what all you do with your milk? Where it goes and how it’s processed and how much your family keeps for yourself. What all you do with the milk? Cheese? Butter? What you do with the butter milk? Do you feed it to other animals

[@GierokFarms]

@@jamesbrown8718 Great video idea!

[@robertmarino2158]

Caring for the animals , doing a great job , keep up the good work , congratulations , stay safe !

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you Robert!

[@sparhawkable]

Love watching your channel. Reminds me of my younger days growing up on a farm in Michigan. Great way to live but it sure is a lot of work! Thank you.

[@joeyheatherjosephprice1520]

Don't know if you have tried the vitamin B12 complex yet on the Swiss calf . I forgot to mention that it might be a good preventative idea to give 3cc of penicillin along with the vitamin B12 every day until she starts eating. With her not sucking the bottle like she needs to, if she starts it can give them the scours and the penicillin really helps offset that. I have got them to start on a bucket sometimes when they are that stinking stubborn. It can sure get on your last nerve. All of this coming from over 40 years in the dairy business.

[@GierokFarms]

That is a very good idea! We will have to try that with the next stubborn calf! Thank you for the advise! Also thanks for watching!

[@GierokFarms]

@Weaver Cattle Company thanks for the info! All Helpful!

[@larrystockwell8994]

Oh Yes I remember the surge buckets We had 2 called Jersey buckets and then a larger one. Us kids got to carry the milk to the milk house. Memories.

[@GierokFarms]

I didn't know they made different sizes, glad we could bring back memories!

[@MillyRue]

Ohhh that brings back memories.. I soo miss spending time on aunt and uncles dairy farm.. they had that kind of milkers then went to a pipeline.. I'd LOVE to live on a dairy farm!!! My dream!

[@toddcaskey9984]

Glad she finally came to her senses and drank

[@GierokFarms]

Me too!

[@toddcaskey9984]

@@GierokFarms I think it's great you guys are making it as a small farm , we use to have hundreds around here and now their are like 4 or 5 real big milking farms .

[@GierokFarms]

@@toddcaskey9984 It's sad to see! Seems like that's happened in all industry's.

[@8tomtoms8]

She was waiting for her mom so she could nurse from her. The calf finally got hungry enough and gave in and drank.

[@stanhensley3082]

It can be a long long day when you are working alone.Good thing you have a lot of company while working. Between the cats and the chickens you at least have company to talk to. Bad part of that is if they talk back? Great fun to watch. I know I miss having lots of animals to be around. Kind of cold 🥶 out there know. Stay warm. Thanks 😊.

[@GierokFarms]

Thankfully me brothers were home in the evenings! Thanks for watching the videos!

[@ardurbin2]

Brings back good ole memories, learned how to milk helpin' local Mennonite farmer. Even had to carry milk to cooler house. 👍💪🙏

[@GierokFarms]

Glad we could bring back good memories for you!

[@farm2655]

Its been a long time since I seen a milker strap.

[@GierokFarms]

No kidding, not very common any more!

[@charlesjenkins8078]

Thanks I really appreciate seeing everyday life on the farm

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you for watching!

[@johnthompson4162]

Thank you for sharing!!! It is appreciated. John T.

[@GierokFarms]

Thanks again for watching John!

[@cordulainauen4764]

A shot of selenium helps sometimes when the calf is not drinking.

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you for the tip!

[@JamesDedmon]

I see you use the old surge system, most of the older system around here was DeLeval, even though I’m not in the milking business the bucket system is less cumbersome because of not needing a strap. Now the newer pipeline stuff is awsome

[@GierokFarms]

I have used that DeLeval Bucket Before when I milked on the weekends for our neighbors! It is nice not needing a strap! But I thought it was easy for a cow to kick the bucket over! Pros and cons to both!

[@33pearlqueen]

Lovin’ your videos. Great to see the boys helping their big brother while dad gets a much needed break. Keep on keepin’ on.

[@jeffreyhall5679]

Good old surge bucket . We used those till we changed to a pipeline and what a change it was lol.

[@GierokFarms]

Don't think I could milk the whole herd like that!

[@charles4940]

So I grew up in central Illinois, i worked for many grain and beef farmers. I've always wanted to work or visit a small dairy farm.

[@GierokFarms]

It's a lot more different than you think!

[@tinashields9599]

Okd farmer in NYS here! Is the calf passing manure? She may have a blockage or partial blockage so her stomach is not emptying out as it should. My neighbor has Swiss, feeds all of them on a bottle for some weeks. We milked jerseys here for many decades, used those old Surge buckets before going to a pipeline with the original mini cup units. I still use one with a pail to milk the one cow I have now- good luck with the weather, been beastly cold here in Otsego county.

[@GierokFarms]

She wasn't backed up but that's still a helpful tip if she was! Milking a herd of cows with just a bucket sounds time consuming!

[@jerryrobson9309]

Great video!s. You are doing a awesome job

[@GierokFarms]

Thank you Jerry!

[@atticuskilby515]

Very nice looking hay for the girls outside, grass/alfalfa? Nice video, thanks for sharing.

[@nathandukelow1863]

Cute calves we actually just had a brand new lineback heifer calf this morning

[@GierokFarms]

Oh sweet!

[@jamesryan9206]

Thank you again for a great video. You are right it is nice to work and accomplish things as a family. Take care

[@alanjantzi4102]

We tube new born calves with 2 quarts of milk, our vet won't even look at a sick calve unless you tube them as new born, we found it helps a lot to give them a good start

[@GierokFarms]

She nursed her mom for the first couple feedings! But yeah if she didn't drink right away after being born that would be a big problem!

[@8tomtoms8]

@@GierokFarms I think you answered the question why she doesn't want to drink from the bottle, she wants her mom back. She finally got hungry enough that she gave in and drank from the bottle.

[@GierokFarms]

@@8tomtoms8 yup

[@Sean-fb7cy]

Enjoyed your video Regards from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@bapasrcadventures3619]

Enjoyed this video so much thanks

[@GierokFarms]

Thanks for watching it!

[@benburns5995]

You mentioned in the video about mother's being too protective. It seems like your cows really trust you as they don't get defensive when you handle their calves.

[@GierokFarms]

It helps that they grew up with constant human contact! Plus dairy breeds are typically less aggressive!

[@mountainman9664]

Nice to see ya'll video's, just found ya and really enjoy. I'm at college right now and missing home and animals, hoping to turn my parents beef operation into a small dairy as well when I'm done with school. Hoping to milk around 25-30 head. Thanks for the great videos!

[@tederdmann2993]

Always hated the Surge hanging pail milkers!

[@GierokFarms]

Defiantly would milk the whole herd like that!

[@tederdmann2993]

I remember seeing a few friends milking 60 cow herds milking that way!🤢🤢

[@BeingMe23]

Add a "soft start" converter on the plug to the motor.

[@GierokFarms]

Thanks for the tip!

[@bayareasparky9180]

@@GierokFarms, would a heater for the milk pump help (like an engine block heater)?

[@GierokFarms]

@@bayareasparky9180 I think its more the electric motor than the pump! It wasn't designed for that but we make it work!

[@charles4940]

I love your videos. please please please please don't ever get political!

[@GierokFarms]

Thanks, don't plan on it!

[@SN-qh4gr]

The common meaning of "Politics" are just a social construct kept alive by arguably the most rich and influential people in America behind the scenes. That being said, there are some form of politics in everything including farming and every video ever made. There is a direct relationship between agriculture and "politics" and always will be. Can't spell "culture" without "cult" homie.

[@rogerhenry2870]

I have raised brown swiss and guernsey calves for 40 years and I can tell you that you have to let them drink in their own sweet time they will drink when they get hungry enough

[@anthonyhengst2908]

We have a couple of Surge BB-2 vacuum pumps we can pick up and carry them around or put them in a coaster wagon. Handy little things.

[@GierokFarms]

It's nice to have for a situation like ours!

[@anthonyhengst2908]

@@GierokFarms oh yes. We had a cow go down in the middle of the yard after calving with a pinched nerve. We carried the vacuum pump outside ran some extension cords and milked her in the middle of the yard. Now we have a Minneapolis Moline Z with a petcock on the intake manifold if we are outside of extension cord range.

[@GierokFarms]

@@anthonyhengst2908 I didn't even think about how useful it would be for that!

[@ivicavugrinovic1163]

it is not a small farm. a lot of work for one person, several categories of work .... it is good to have associates. and there are vacations, days off ....

[@jerrybowe5917]

Great video I like your videos because it’s like being back on the farm when younger where are you located state

[@GierokFarms]

Thanks Jerry!

[@CarnivoreCurin]

Please tell us about the mortality rate of your calves. 10%?

[@dsvidhill3409]

Try feeding the milk a little on the warmer side than usual that work for me. I think it might stimulate their mouth more

[@williammalone4072]

Where is the Brown Swiss's calf's mother?

[@GierokFarms]

In the milking barn!

[@Dave-if5qj]

Brown Swiss is a breed that is Not.seen often in the US

[@gerryheckmann3167]

I did not pick up any disappointment of bull vs heifer?

[@GierokFarms]

A Mix is good!

[@joshtaylor1053]

Swiss calves are stubborn as hell don't ever let them suck the cow and you will have a lot better luck with them taking the bottle.

[@GierokFarms]

Thanks for the tip Josh!

[@fullers1966]

most important thing you can do never let them suck on the mother take it away right away from the mother it helps Brown Swiss are just stubborn wife family when she grew up had registered Brown Swiss the biggest complaint was feeding him from a bottle takes lots of patience

[@TimKrenz-j8t]

Then dump it in a STEP SAVER !!!!

[@justforfun4623]

Put honey on the nipple, we had a swiss calf that would not eat took two days to get her to eat and they only got her to because they put honey on the nipple boy did she take it down then

[@BeingMe23]

Change your description "young baby calves" 🤔

[@GierokFarms]

Thanks lol!

[@Emg2463]

......she wants her MAAWWWW !

[@GierokFarms]

LOL

[@henrymichaelwilson8107]

If you know they are stubborn why do you keep them.