So much milk! First attempts at milking our Jersey house cow

So much milk! First attempts at milking our Jersey house cow - Free Range Homestead Ep 69

Рет қаралды 9,933

Күн бұрын

We introduce you to our newest arrival on the farm and share with you our experiences milking our Jersey house cow for the very first time.
00:00 Milking fails! 😂
00:30 Introducing Beatrix
01:36 History of Astrid our house cow 🐄
05:24 Our first attempts at milking Astrid 🐮
11:33 Why we are trying to milk without restraints
13:13 Food is scarce. Moving our cow on to greener pastures.
18:21 Later experiences of milking
27:23 Wrap up and call for your advice!
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Пікірлер: 99

@woodsmn8047 Ай бұрын

if you don't keep your head pressed against her your hair makes a tickle and she thinks there's a fly on her flank and she will swat with her tail or raise her foot and slam it down to scare away the fly ...so don't be shy snuggle in there cuz she's not being ornery ...she just don't like flies ...also the milk that comes last has most of the cream in it so if you stop early the calf will get the lion's share of the cream

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

I have been sticking my head hard against her flank and she does love it. I hadn't thought it might feel like a fly but that seems likely to me now as I haven't been swatted all week and she keeps her feet nicely out of the way now. We are getting all of the milk out of the rear teats, while the calf monopolizes the front ones and have enough cream now to take care of our butter and other needs. Really great.

@nooneanybodyknows7912 Ай бұрын

She's a good judge of character. 😂 I love the fresh smell of sheets hung on a clothes line. I still do that myself. I haven't used a clothes dryer in decades. Your channel brings me such joy. Thank you for sharing.🐄

@johnansell2707 Ай бұрын

This is hilarious and adorable at the same time. I find i like the new channel format even more than the old sailing format. Allthough seeing Marool heeled over with her toerails in the water belting along faster than an old Aussie lady had a right too brings back fond memories. Best of luck to you three!

@paulsouth4794 Ай бұрын

Howdy , We always had jersey house cows . 1. Watch out for calcium deficiencies. Called milk fever 2. After calving you will need to strip her out i.e milk her regularly to take the excess milk . 3. If you do not remove excess milk she may get mastitus . 4. You will need to milk her regularly without fail . And she will give milk long after the calf as been weaned. 5. For the animals safety and your own. Build a set of bails. The romance of free milking is mythical . Yet some ,very few cows will do that . 6. Get a stiff brush and brush her .. cows love a good brush . 7. Always wash her udder before milking . Dairy supplies will have an excellent anti bacterial/ moisturiser wash . 8.strain your milk, hair skinflakes from hand milking will be in the milk . 9. A cow bail will be a good place for animal husbandry. And always have a spot to tie a leg rope . Saves getting kicked . 10. Jersey's make wounderful pets 11. Watch out for scoures in the calf from too much milk . White scour's are nasty .

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

We are onto most things on your list, as they are very similar to our dairy goats. White scour is a new one though and it does sound like something to watch, thankyou. I'm still thinking about the headbail, similar to, though bigger than, what I built for the goats. Right now, Astrid has become very comfortable getting milked in the sorting yards. I think she is at ease with a wooden fence on her one flank and leaning against my head pressed into the other. I haven't even had a tail swipe for over a week and she has become very trusting of us when handling her calf.

@chshrkt Ай бұрын

Grew up with 20+ milk goats and a dairy cow. Having your cow against a wall, tree, whatever, then putting your head right in the hollow in front of the hind legs with a bit of pressure really keeps her calm. Also the diagonal milking with an alternating pattern I found works best. Front right, back left for a while, then front left, back right. milk one teat, then the other, not both at the same time, get into a rhythm. As for the tail, we always gave it a bit of a trim in the wet season since there were not many flies, and yes, give it a good clean when she is in scour. Hope that helps.

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

I have been milking her almost to the letter of your advice here, and she is perfectly behaved for the time being. She even rests a fraction of her weight on my head while I work and has stopped swatting me. I hadn't thought of trimming the tail, but now you tell me, it seems so obvious. Theres lots of things like that in life I guess.

@margiegurner2694 Ай бұрын

Cows are very good at telling time! ...And they do appreciate pressure off the udders...and love a firm head in their flank...and you will get faster...😂❤ Possibly i would consider making one spot for her to come for milking...very much creatures of habit 😊

@campbellmj9405 Ай бұрын

This.

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

I agree to all the above. We rendezvous now at the sorting yards as it is all wooden palings, without nasty electric wires. Once she has a feed trough in front, wood to one side and my head jammed in the other, she noticably relaxes. She hasn't put a foot out of place all week and the worst we've had is her sneezing chaff into the pail. Not too bad as we strain it all anyway.

@lynnclark4208 Ай бұрын

Yes, the thought of making butter and cheese. And the left over milk from butter? Buttermilk to make biscuits , cornbread.....???

@johngroenewegen4398 Ай бұрын

Brings back memories of when I milked 55 Holsteins and 1 Jersey cow 2X a day on a farm in western Alberta CA. The Holsten's were very particular about how to be being milked . Get this wrong and it was a quick trip to the gutter. The Jersey was mostly seduced by chop mainly oats and bits. LOL You guys are looking great !! Do miss the fishing tutorials .All the best

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

I have found that by mixing a little Lucerne chaff with apples, sprouted grain and oaten chaff, she holds very still as she looks for her favourites. In the last week, she hasn't put a foot out of place and waits for me now at her designated station.

@alexisirwin956 Ай бұрын

Justin Rhodes on You Tube built a movable sled head gate to pull around the pasture. But I love your tenasity it doing it free range. Your channel if wonderful!

@carolleenkelmann3829 Ай бұрын

Beatrix/Beatrice comes from the Latin meaning "blessed one". What luck having the bull father a Charolais. The best steak meal I ever had was from Charolais beef in Rhone Valley in France, many, many years ago. It was so memorable that after 40 years it's never been erased from my brain. Good luck and good health for such a beautiful little calf that hopefully will give you milk as well, when her time comes.

@spiritflower6640 Ай бұрын

Always Fun and interesting to see what you guys are up to.I appreciate what you do and The way you do it. I've had a little experience milking both goats and cows.And I really thought they were different techniques. Pinch 123 fingers for goats. And more of a straight pull down, lubricating the teet with milk for the cows.

@rogerstone3068 Ай бұрын

There was a book I used to have, by Gerald Seymour, simply called 'Self-Sufficiency'. It was written back in the 60s or early 70s and he was doing very much what you're doing; and he filled the book with the benefits of his experience on what to grow, how to grow it, and a chapter each called 'Goat', 'Pig', 'Cow' and so forth. Very genuine advice, from his own experience. If you can find a copy, you might find some of it interesting or useful.

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

It happens that our neighbour does have a copy and I occasionally leaf through it when I visit for a chat and a cuppa.

@larryreily4736 Ай бұрын

My grandfather always tied a loose loop of cord around tail and hind leg to avoid that swatting.

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

She seems to have stopped for now. We'll see if that advice is needed in the wet season!

@Megs_farmlife Ай бұрын

The cow will be holding the cream back for her calf. Once the calf is weaned, you should get heaps more cream.

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

That is something to look forward to as the place greens up again. We did get enough to make our first lot of butter, which is a nice milestone.

@davidsears5576 Ай бұрын

Love watching you guys

@jonboyle326 Ай бұрын

a little feed of magnesium will help with any milk fever problems

@jehdwebster9152 Ай бұрын

You need to milk her in a head stanchion, we also never left the calf on due to bactira, bottle feed the calf. We milk sheep now. We make cheese, butter and all kinds with the milk. Our Jersy gave us 18L a day. Rember you can freeze milk.

@isnoo1 Ай бұрын

LOVE your ideas....... she is a wonderful Mum.......... and there is a great bonding being built here!

@gertboerman3666 Ай бұрын

My conclusion is that Astrid has full trust in the Bearded Pink Panther. BPP. And thus BFF. And BTW.....Chapeau how you guys treat your animals.

@lynnclark4208 Ай бұрын

I saw one woman put a bucket behind the milk cow to catch the pee and poop. She keeps the stanchion area as clean as possible.

@elliekennedy2952 Ай бұрын

Milk some from each quarter and the calf can finish up that way if the calf misses one quarter, she will not be uncomfortable. You need a lower milking stool. You are a little to high. A cow can hold her milk up and you cannot get milk from her.

@woodsmn8047 Ай бұрын

cows like consistency in their diet because the bacteria in their stomachs grow and change to accommodate what she eats so it takes a few days for her digestion to settle on her feed choices so if she gets hay ...try to keep her on hay as long as possible ect

@theneverendingjourneyoflif1482 Ай бұрын

Wow times have changed! Last time you were sailing! Bob Dylan said it best! I must catch up! :)

@Bilabius Ай бұрын

It's been an interesting journey. Enjoy it! I did.

@theneverendingjourneyoflif1482 Ай бұрын

@@Bilabius Amazing family now eh!!!! From friends, to lovers, to sailors, to farmers, to moms and dads! The circle of life continues! Seems so perfect for all of us .....

@gavinmclean3174 Ай бұрын

My advice is build a roof over the place you milk the cow, it will also give her and the calf some cover if the weather is bad.

@OleNavy Ай бұрын

My grandmother had a milk cow that was Jersey. She was a reddish-orangish color. Your Astrid, I believe, is more closely related to the Brown Swiss. Also, you should milk a cow from her right side as opposed to the left side. You mount a horse from the left side. Also, keep your head pressed into her side, just in front of that leg joint. It helps to discourage her from lifting her leg or kicking.

@rolandtb3 Ай бұрын

Astrid is a good mom to Beatrix. 4L for two is lots of milk. Need some rain.

@davidstoddard9160 Ай бұрын

It appears you need to place what I call kickers on your cow, to stop her from kicking the pail and sometime for certain will tip over the pail, or even kick one of the family

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

Shes really coming along now and has pretty much not put a foot wrong all week. If she has a leg in the way, I can scratch it and she moves it back!

@richardp4544 Ай бұрын

Congrats on the new calf. There's not much I can add about your milking program or methods. You seem to have that under control. As far as building that milking stall I think you might want to consider something along that line in your shed for milking in inclement weather. Also, LOL, it's nice that you are getting Constance involved.

@dirtknocker2587 21 күн бұрын

Teats are definitely not good for hand milking!😂

@alanrobinson5109 Ай бұрын

Hi Troy & Pascale, love your videos, wishing you all the best from the UK.

@GMAN-nq5tz Ай бұрын

Hi you should make a home made vacume Pump to milk your cow

@lightprint348 Ай бұрын

i wonder if you had a feed tub that had 3 higher walls and a front slots for her head, that way she would have to orient herself to the slot and you if she wanted to feed. it also might remove visual distractions and a head visiting while you milked. it may also increase anxioty they she cannot see as easily... enjoying speculating how i might do it. with your aims inmind.

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

I found that by mixing different treats all together with apples, she has to nose around for her favourites, working down from best to least liked. It seems to keep her occupied and not eat too quick.

@americanbornwalkaway9110 Ай бұрын

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍🤣🤣🤣🤣SO AWESOME al you do is cool !!! and ALWAYS fun to watch its aways a learning experience GOD BLESS and THANKS

@johnwalker6711 Ай бұрын

I only ever saw people placing a milk pail or bucket under the udders and using two hands to squeeze the milk

@monicacasella3812 Ай бұрын

Y si le pones una manea en sus patas traseras se quedan quietas no patean y te dejan ordeñar más tranqui 😂😂 saludos desde uruguay 🇺🇾

@malcolmcoward7480 Ай бұрын

I've certainly got no experience, apart from farm holidays in Cornwall years ago where they milked Jersey and Guernsey cows. They always started off milking by passing initial squirts through a fine sieve to check for mastitis.

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

We shoot the first few squirts into the cloth we use to clean her udder and teats before milking to check for just that thing. Thanks for the advice though, I bet it would be nasty to find it another way.

@gpdewitt Ай бұрын

From long memory, back in the '60s we drank raw whole milk delivered in bottles, with the cream on top. Assuming the dairy actually gave us the whole product, your amount sounds about right. Of course, no faintest idea what breed of cows this came from. On occasion, some of that cream "disappeared" before Mom could mix it in. Hmmm. :)

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

The cream has got to be quite a bit more, now that Astrid lets me take a bit more and is more relaxed. Enough to take care of our butter habit along with plenty of milk and cream for other things.

@jameslvantrojen3059 Ай бұрын

grew up on fathers dairy and owned it. some are harder to hand milk. teats are smaller. what I noticed right away is try reaching across and place your hand on the back of the opposite leg and use your arm as a lever to stop the lifting leg. It not only works but teaches her not to step. If you can find a stripping bucket it helps keep the dirt out. Also sometimes they like to feed the calf rather than being milked. I can send pictures if you like but your doing ok . I'm 72 and still live on the dairy.

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

I used your lever technique this morning and she responds well to it. We have come to an agreement and she never tries to kick the bucket or act up. She waits till I jam my head into her flank and rests a little weight on there. It seems to make her feel relaxed to have a wooden fence one side and me on the other, without any nasty electric wire anywhere.

@traceymarshall5111 Ай бұрын

Have a look at mobile milking stanchion. Easy to build. Plenty of KZbin videos on them. Justin Rhodes is a great one

@darrylmcleman6456 Ай бұрын

A sight to behold! Me attempting to milk a "new to us" Saanan Goat ! The @#$% goat allowed me to milk a liter or so and then looked right at me and deliberately placed her foot in the milk pail! CHEERS from HERE!

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

Goats are unusually canny when they want to be.

@jonboyle326 Ай бұрын

warm water to wash the teats helps the cow to let down often as you start washing a teat the milk will start spraying out. i think its a trigger like the calf licking the teats

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

We did learn that from milking our goats. On a cool morning, they do love a soapy warm wash.

@victorbitter583 Ай бұрын

The best tip I can give is if one teat stops giving milk, you need to pull anudder one lol. cheers.

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

Our viewers can't resist milking an opportunity for a pun.

@jimilipi5493 Ай бұрын

First, you need a milking stool on one leg attached to your ass and hold the bucket between your legs to prevent it from falling. use milking grease and keep your hands clean and disinfected by not petting the cow during milking. have a goo time😊

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

I haven't made a one leg stool yet, but having it attached to my butt is a thing I wouldn't have thought of. Also, I have switched to holding the pail between my legs, and it's a game changer. Thanks for that- now when I milk, there's a nice foam growing on there from getting it in nice and quick.

@larryhill7563 Ай бұрын

I milked cows I did it morning and nite and I would feed her and milk same time worked good for me.

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

I am considering an afternoon session when I bring her apples

@deeannec2000 Ай бұрын

Lean on her... it works

@billradford2128 Ай бұрын

I am sorry but I have no udder information. 😁 Good luck!

@1014TOMCAT Ай бұрын

Guys, just be careful there is other stuff that can get in your milk bucket besides her foot. I do not know, but we always milked from the left side, not sure why. Just do not upset her or she will hold the milk. Good luck.

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

We squirt the first shot of milk onto a cloth so we can check it is sound and strain the lot before it goes into a container. We leave a lot for the calf at the moment so she never tries to hold out on us. I wonder if that will be the case in a month or so, when Beatrix is a hungrier little heifer.

@1425race Ай бұрын

I can see a cheese factory starting soon.

@FreeRangeLiving Ай бұрын

Making butter from the cream tonight.