New Milking Machine. This Upgrade Was Long Overdue! Melasty Milking Machine

[@chrisa1146]

Many people fantasize about living glamorous lives like celebrities or highly paid athletes. Not me. I live my fantasy through you two. I admire you both so much --- first and foremost your relationship with each other and with God. But the life you lead is the most wonderful thing, and yes, i confess, I do battle a bit of envy!😂. You work so hard to care for your land, to grow your food, to lovingly tend to all your animals. I watch your videos from my suburban apartment, living vicariously through you, and for me, they're like watching the very best lifestyle documentaries. I thank you both for sharing your life with us. Wishing you a happy, Merry Christmas and a healthy, blessed New Year! And I have to end with: "....and God Bless..."😊

[@allenmiller5963]

Have you considered freeze drying some of your milk and cream? We freeze dry our extra milk and cream based on daily need to cover our drying off period so we always have milk and cream during off milk months. With the dry milk and cream we are no longer in need of store bought dairy products, it's still good quality and it uses up a good deal of our extra milk. Good luck!

[@jamesking1033]

Great idea!

[@coramdayo]

Yes, and yogurt freeze dries exceptionally well, too!

[@allenmiller5963]

Most dairy freeze drys well even cream cheese!

[@allenmiller5963]

Also would add that you can make yoghurt, cream cheese, mascarpone etc from freeze dried milk reconstituted if course. Throw couple tablespoons of freeze dried milk into your bread recipe too for extra soft bread! And active yogurt culture survives the freeze dry process too!

[@AllOuttaSpoons]

How are you doing it? Every bit of cream in mine turns to butter when rehydrated

[@peacetutor2012]

You need to add an acid wash to your cleaning process. This will clean "milk stone". It is calcium and other minerals that build up in the system. Milk stone harbors germs if not cleaned regularly. We also use Mitty products.

[@kendavis8046]

I now appreciate how easy it is to just go to a grocery store and pick up a jug of milk! Thanks for showing this process.

[@kassondracable6192]

Man, what a process....and that was the easier version. But nothing beats knowing exactly what you're eating or drinking. And how adorable are Babe and Ralphie!!! 💕

[@allenferry9632]

Now you need a little water heater in the barn so you don't need to carry 5 gallon buckets of hot water.

[@msmyramorgan751]

I watch for sheer joy. I'm a senior and this reminds me of when we left our farm and moved to the town with only a dozen chickens. We would go to my Gramps farm every weekend and help with farm chores. It tickled me and my lil sister to watch Dad and Gramp squirt the kitties while milking the cow. I loved farm life. Thanks for sharing. This was my favorite video by far!💜

[@jeanburgin160]

Ralph is really cute! Babe is doing really well with coming to the barn. Very Nice set up for milking. This is really rather quiet, so nice. Babe seems so calm ... Yes, raw is so much more healthy. Good for you.

[@mimsiemiser]

When I was helping my dad on a small dairy farm in Southern MI (over 60 yrs ago) 😊 what you call inflations we called suction cups.

[@sandraengstrand2784]

Interesting video! Babe is such a beautiful cow, and so good-tempered!! Ralph is a fine fellow, so cute! 💕♥️

[@debbiepaquin8842]

That is how i was told to clean my portable milker for my goats. It had the claw also just with 2 inflations. Knew some one who had one of those old belly milkers and bought a vacuum pump to run it and ended up over filling the can and swamped the vacuum pump. I never understood why anyone would want that little of a milk can. My goat unit had a 7 gallon can. Their cow was giving many gallons of milk when she swamped it. Thats what the vacuum chamber is for to catch any moisture or milk that over flows the milk chamber. I wouldn't look forward to draining or cleaning any milk out your vacuum chamber but with one cow you shouldn't overfill the 6 gallon bucket. Mine had a switch on each inflation so i could turn it on as i put it to the animal. I used it once on their cow just took longer with 2 inflations.

[@farmermom]

I've been eyeing a melasty milker! They look like great systems. We have the same sort of claw/bucket/pump just a bigger (and older) system. I know you'll enjoy the ease in cleaning this style. Do your own research, but we have a little different process/order. We run a sanitation rinse BEFORE milking. Then after milking, we rinse (we just use the same sanitation water for convenience), then the wash, then a final rinse with acid -- you can use vinegar, but we like using a dairy acid because it's stronger and takes less, which is more convenient. The acid rinse prevents milkstone from forming over time. Also, to avoid hauling buckets of hot water from the house, you can get one of those camping hot water heaters if you have pressurized water in your barn. They are the BOMB! My favorite $200 upgrade to the entire milking process. Just following instructions to drain during freezing weather (we're in Maine) -- you just unscrew a little plug but don't forget, lol. One last suggestion -- an extra milking bucket will prevent having to transfer milk in the barn. Just swap out the bucket, pop on a travel lid, and you're good to go. Only the bucket with milk in it has to go back to the house for cleaning.

[@thisorthat7626]

@farmermom, Awesome tip about the portable propane hot water heaters! Thanks for sharing. We all benefit when people share their tips to make things easier. Merry Christmas.

[@ForTheGreaterGood9]

That is awesome and happy for y'all. Have you thought about using Young Livings Thieves Household cleaner to clean the machine and it would be safer, as well as disinfects your equipment, without the harsh chemicals from the bleach. I love it because it doesn't harm animals or people, very safe...Thank you for sharing and hope this helps y'all with making everything natural...Love your channel and have a very blessed weekend and blessed 2024...Love Hugs Happiness and Prayers...💗😇🙏🏻

[@hosephine1]

Great uncle had a dairy farm m in Northern MN. 29 head and he won awards for highest dairy fat each gallon. He had names for each cow, stroked their heads and talked to them. Knew which one preferred which mix (and which lived sugar). They were queens of the barn. I remembered watching him wean the calves. Fond memories. LOTS of work.

[@swianecki]

Very interesting video. Like you said, even us people without cows can learn something new. 😊

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

Beautiful milker. We have a Capralite for our goats and love it. A good milk machine is such an improvement to quality of life!

[@brendastratton1306]

I absolutely love your videos. My Dad and Grandpa were farmers, and I remember growing up on the farm. I loved it. As I am about 25 years older than you, it’s not likely I will ever again live on a farm, but watching you helps keep those memories alive. I also very much enjoy your kitchen videos, because I have the same interests…cooking, canning, and I recently bought a freeze dryer. ❤️

[@missouribroad978]

Perfect time of year to name a calf Ralphie! I wonder if he asked Babe for a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas?

[@tamararobinson2069]

🤣😂

[@marycountry]

👍🏻🎄🎄🎄

[@janiefox3458]

My teenage boyfriend was the son of a dairy farmer - would guess they milked 20 head twice a day. To impress his mother I would help out as often as I could - for the life of me I can't remember the cleaning process. Remember the milkers, cleaning the bag (which my main job). Thinking that maybe it was his mother's job to clean the milkers. You brought back a lot of memories. I thank God for unanswered prayers. That would have been a failed marriage.

[@KS-ts3le]

It is still much work. But more so time consuming. You two are so hardworking. God lives you.

[@mindycollier9087]

Even though Babe isn't 100 percent crazy about being milked that new milker seems to be more comfortable for her!! Two gallons of milk a day would be too much for me to have a milking cow!! Unfortunately it's illegal for local farmers to sell raw milk in many areas so buying organic milk at the store would be the best that I can do!!

[@tammylemoine3019]

I love learning new things. You never know when it might come in handy. 😊. When my uncle had a milk dairy in the 70s I don’t remember how they cleaned the milkers. I know he took a garden hose and just cleaned off the teats. The milk was transferred by clear big pipes into a huge aluminum tank It was huge and fun to watch that giant stirrer in the milk stirring it around. The room where it was kept was ice cold. I love how y’all explain things and show how or is done. Have a very Merry Christmas to you all. ⛄️🎄💝🧑‍🎄🤗🥰😘

[@gretaknebel8495]

I remember when you used to milk the Nigerian dwarf goats and loved those cuties. Glad you have found a new Miller that works for you. Merry Christmas!

[@gemini4life851]

Ralph is adorable! ❤

[@DLRyoung]

What a sweet looking calf! God bless

[@lmcarroll1]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. When my kids were small we milked cows. Started with the Surge milkers, then the Delaval, finally got a bulk tank. Good time of my life, 50 years ago. Merry Christmas to you guys.

[@mimsiemiser]

That was my experience as well.

[@lmcarroll1]

A lot people milked cows back in the day on small farms. A pay check every 2 weeks. lol @@mimsiemiser

[@maryschmidt6945]

My dad used Surge milkers when I grew up on farm. He lugged a large can full of milk from the cow to the traditional milk can. Then carried those milk cans to a refrigerator to wait for the milkman to come and pick up the cans. No trip to the gym necessary for farmers.

[@beckiepatrick6900]

I’ll never own or milk a cow but I still really enjoyed learning about your new milker. I found it very interesting. I’m super happy for you guys, now to have one that’s more user friendly and easier to clean. I think it’s just going to add value all the way around. You deserved that early Christmas present for sure!! Happy cheese and yogurt making! Yum 😋

[@ht6684]

Good morning, have a blessed Christmas.

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

Good morning and Merry Christmas to you too!

[@Leiannev]

I grew up on a family dairy. I never knew how lucky I was to have fresh milk daily. Now I have goats. I froze 25 gallons this summer & am on my last 1/2 gallon. Best milker to kid @ the 27th. So excited for that fresh milk again. Having the right, dependable equipment makes a huge difference in enjoying the process.

[@livininhistruth9257]

I have the same machine, it has to have a lot of maintenance. We ended up buying a different machine from Flory Dairy in Marshfield. I keep that one in my milk barn and the Melasty in the garage next to my laundry room door so I have one pump for milking and one pump for cleaning! Even with the cart on Melasty it was too much work getting it back and forth to the house for cleaning, nor could I bucket clean water to clean it at the barn. Gotta love Missouri Hills! I recommend keeping your tools along with papertowels and a small piece of steel wool handy. I have to take my Melasty apart fairly often to clean the carbon pallets. I softly wipe them with steel wool. A little bit of a pain but worth it. My machine from Flory dairy is 💯 all the time! It does have oil so I keep a heat light with a thermostat plug at the ready. Have a great day!

[@susanvaughn741]

1500$. It will take a while to break even. But getting older, this will make it possible.

[@organicgal7751]

Very interesting. I will never own a cow but it was interesting to learn about milking

[@medaily57]

When you named the calf Ralph, it didn't hit me, but when Kevin called him Ralphie, I had to chuckle. My brother gave all his grandchildren nicknames, one of which is Ralphie. My brother passed just before Thanksgiving last year. It is a blessing that I will hear you calling the calf Ralphie, it brings a smile to my face.

[@bellyakinfarm9442]

I've had mine for about a year now, and I love it. It's still labor intensive as far as cleaning though.

[@staceygresbach8695]

Oh my heart, that calf is too cute!!! Thanks for sharing him with us!!

[@lindamckeny876]

I thought the milking machine was pretty cool. I am impressed by how well you explained the process. I always enjoy watching your channel.

[@HorseyGal4ever]

Wonderful gift to you and your milk cow. Blessings and good wishes!🥰

[@denisesummers3107]

This a great video to people decide on a milking machine. Extremely helpful, thank you

[@darlajohnson2020]

Have the happiest of Christmas holidays! Thank you for the gift of your videos this year!

[@galeprivett5180]

I’ve enjoyed your videos so much this year, May you and your family have a merry Christmas and a very happy new year ❤️🙏

[@wallaceloper637]

It's funny I live very close to a Dairy the cows milk themself. a very long time ago it took longer to sanitize everything than to milk the cows. yep! I do miss the cream

[@crazyhorse5163]

Merry Christmas. I hope you are blessed this upcoming year.

[@markeholbrook]

My grand paw used to milk the cow by hand into a milk bucket. It seemed a lot less work for just one cow than a milker. There was no electric in the barn to power one too.

[@almamoore8446]

Like the pretty cows an calf. So glad you are feeling well.

[@jamjar5716]

What an interesting face pattern little Ralphie has!🥰

[@stanleygallman7800]

How time flies, and it's really hard to believe that I have been following you on KZbin for the number of years I have and I must say that it has been a long wonderful inspirational information filled journey. Kevin and Sarah thank you for being so consistent even through the changes and growth of the channel. Merry Christmas to you and your family. May the Peace and blessings 🙏 of God continue in your life 🙏🕊️❤️

[@doug779]

With your Keto diet, has that changed your plans for your orchard? If not why not?

[@judyellen4412]

Great tutorial. It’s a process but I am sure it is all worth it. Kind of like how gardening is a lot of work but all your work pays off and it’s delicious!

[@nancyscott-smith636]

She sure is a pretty lady cow!

[@kcs.farm09]

Good evening! Milkers make homestead easier for sure!!

[@laddieokelley6095]

This revived a few memories. In the late 1940s and 50s I lived with grandparents and worked on a dairy milking 35-40 cows. We used DeLaval milkers in a barn, though I don't remember how many machines were in the line, probably five or six. Over the years we went from storing milk in cans in a water cooler to a large stainless steel vat-type cooler where the milk was directly pumped. I also remember the chemicals used to clean all of this equipment--a lot of potential for unsafe practices.

[@johng9487]

Thank you for the milking❤ demonstration

[@celestejohnson9227]

I love that she still has her calf instead of taking the calf from her.

[@vahneb7260]

This video was so interesting. Thanks

[@goatlady01]

We've had a melasty hybrid since April 2023. Like you in the past we had several pieced together and was never happy with. We have milk goats for almost 30 years so machines weren't a problem we could always hand milk. We did get two Jersey cows this year and then milking machine really helps out. The melasty hybrid allows us to be able to milk cows and goats. I have found those that the four-way claw is too big for my hands to be able to put on all four teats. So we closed off two and only milk two teats at a time.

[@forrestgump9576]

Merry Christmas Kevin, Sarah, and family! 🎆🎄 Well done video, look forward to each and every one! 😍 Brings back memories of being a little girl and walking barerfoot across the lawn from my house to my cousin's dairy farm. Thank you for continuing to share your faith, it does not go unnoticed😊 May the Lord richly bless you and your family this coming year and always. Thank you for all the hard work you put into your videos! It definitely is a bright shining light in today's world. GB&TC

[@MzladyGrinn]

Will you be making cream cheese? Even the top selling cream cheese is now adulterated with ingredients not used before. Pure cream cheese would be great again on my table. Thank you for all you do! All your vids are very through. And always a joy to watch! Merry Christmas 🎄🎁🎄 💞🙏💞

[@LisaB_at_Pine_Ridge]

I have a similar milking machine and love it too! One item I added was a heating element that was cheap off of amazon and it heats up my 5 gal bucket of cold water filled in the barn to hot by the time I’m ready to clean my machine. Nice little addition!

[@daveh7137]

Thanks for the tutorial! I am sure your family members appreciate the work you do to provide them with much healthier milk.

[@cherylpresleigh6403]

Babe is a beautiful cow and Ralphy is adorable! This system seems to be quite nice. Although a milk cow is not in our future, I really enjoyed seeing how this worked and how much easier having something like this makes the job. Thank you for sharing.

[@sharongiesbrecht8417]

My Dad had 20 cows at one time and just loved going to the barn to help. So I love everything to do with the farm. You guys do a good job and take care of your animals so well.

[@vickielster3928]

Ralphie’s face is just darling! Congrats on your new machine. What a time and effort saver.

[@philipmailman9995]

Omg that Raphy is gorgeous

[@kathySwan-c5q]

Don't forget you can freeze dry your milk . Whole milk, or skimmed Yummmm.

[@MisterTee2010]

Grandpa got a new milking machine every time a new Grandchild was born

[@FOMAHsince2014]

😂😂😂

[@carolynchatham6376]

You give the best instructions for general chores on the homestead. Merry Christmas to your family.

[@elizabethlink3993]

💚 Merry Christmas 🎄 to All at Living Traditions Homestead! Thanks for sharing your milking upgrade! Great information and glad itself a simpler more straightforward process for you! Ralphie is looking great! 💚

[@debbiealtman5373]

Lot of work milking a cow. Sweet little Ralph

[@ellenpeterson7864]

wow... that's an awesome milking machine..good choice..

[@watchful1168]

Well done! Your channel is sooo educational! Really appreciate you guys!

[@reneeclark9903]

Merry Christmas! Thank you for all of the information you provide. You are amazing.

[@ClickinChicken]

Right Ken, it reminds me of a Dirty Jobs episode I watched once. They flamed the hairs off. I like strawberry milk most recently..

[@muddytoesfarm]

Wow five years with that old system 😮 Bless your heart! What a blessing to get an upgrade! We bought a used Melasty as a back up and to use at dairy shows, but we actually didn't like it. It didn't do a good job compared to our E-Zee NuPulse system. So, it went to a homestead family with the next cow we sold. Nice package deal!

[@Teresa.McDermott]

That calf is a beauty!

[@margueritewarriner3706]

I really enjoy watching your videos. You bring joy to my life. May you have a blessed and joyful Christmas.

[@dwighthires3163]

That is a happy day for you. Hopefully you will get many years of service from this milker.

[@traci6728]

Good mornin from the west coast!

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

Good morning!

[@bryanlloyd1099]

That new milking machine is very nice!

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

Because bleach disinfects, vinegar does not.

[@bartsexton1652]

I like the new milking system. If it was me I would have to but some kinda cove that’s breathing cloth over the four mullets . Just the thought of flys or bug’s being on them would bother me . I’m sure if I saw how they did the milk I drank would brother me to .

[@ashleyyoungdale3757]

Our Jersey Cow calved 4 days before Thanksgiving! We also bought a Melasty Milk Machine a few months back. We picked it for those same reasons, it's such a nice machine!

[@camartinwv]

Ralph is is sooooo cute!!

[@marizen2]

Babe is doing so well and Ralphie is so cute. Love how you love your animals!❤🐮🐄

[@charliejubb7024]

Have enjoyed your videos for a few years. Wonder if you can give an overview tour of all the changes you have made since moving onto your "new" homestead property. I have caught glimpses of concrete driveway and porch on your house so am curious about new changes made and/or planned in the infrastructure of your homestead. Thanks and Merry Christmas!

[@opalezell2166]

Wow she gives good milk!

[@GraceHill-p6m]

I’m so glad to see this video. I have been worried if you all were okay. I’m spoiled to your videos and expected one sooner. Merry Christmas and happy New Year. God bless you and yours.

[@gaylacrisler9818]

I saw the quick quip you posted that said you were taking a break from filming. (Don’t remember where I saw it. Face Book??). I assumed you wouldn’t be back til 2024, but am happily surprised to see a new one already!

[@HMInavydoc]

Good Morning…Merry Christmas…! God Bless you both…! ❤🎄🙏❤

[@HMInavydoc]

Bless of luck with your new Milker…..…! 🙏🐄💓

[@lorenstribling6096]

Rose has really settled into milking. She is a great asset to your farm.

[@johnkeynes8873]

Congratulations on your new milking machine merry Christmas to you both and your family I am now 2weeks over my total hip replacement and feeling quite relieved of all the hip pain cheers for now.😊😊

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

That is great news! Praise the Lord for quick healing.

[@JmarieD]

Ralphie is so cute. I'm happy you were able to upgrade- it still looks like a whole lot of work😂

[@sherryw-ponyluv-er2394]

There is an old style “inflation” in my house. My corgi puppy’s favorite toy! Now I know what it’s called! I don’t plan to have a cow but this is really interesting. BTW, your edit work in your videos is really professional!

[@lucieengen7046]

Congratulations! I would be interested in seeing a video on how you make your yogurt Sarah. I purchase my milk from the store though. Very interesting, thanks you taking us along ❤.

[@faithbuller4086]

Yay! How nice for you.

[@joeyhardin1288]

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Thank you. God Bless and stay safe.

[@storiesinstones]

I have watch you through the years with the frustration of your previous milking machine. So happy you found this one!

[@rebeccawethered6572]

Merry Christmas Kevin and Sarah from Living Traditions Homestead hope you and your family have a blessed Christmas and Prosperous New Year

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

Merry Christmas to you too!

[@lulamamie8524]

🙋🏼‍♀️ 🙋🏼‍♀️ I have a question that maybe your viewers will answer. 🌱 How do you know how much milk you can take from Babe so Ralph (ie) has enough? Calf sharing is very interesting. I am living my Homesteading Life vicariously from many KZbinrs like you ❤️ Thank You 😊 Merry Christmas 🎄

[@vickielster3928]

I have this same question…also, when you completely milk out a cow, how do you or the machine know when it’s done?

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

Generally, before we milk, the calf has had its breakfast from Momma. We take the rest of the milk and throughout the day as the calf is hungry, he drinks what he wants. Then in the evening, we take it all again because he has eaten all day. We know the calf gets enough because twice a day there is extra milk for us. Cows also have the ability to hold back milk and not let it all be milked out to save some for the calf.

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

We know she is milked out because you can see that no more milk is flowing into the inflations and milk hose. Then we turn the machine off.

[@lulamamie8524]

@@LivingTraditionsHomestead Thank You for such an amazing answer 😃 🎄

[@greenmouseguard]

New machine looks great😁 Linda from Ct

[@camicri4263]

That's awesome, blessings!

[@tanyamudd3476]

So glad you-all, are alright. Good to see ya!😊

[@martharock8377]

Nice upgrade! Why aren't you carrying all that bucket and can equipment in your gorilla cart? Any thouggts of running water lines to the barn? Maybe some hot water on demand system? Work easier. 😊