mama24
Ridin' The Range
I have a very young first freshener who is not very tame. She kidded yesterday and I milked her this morning and this evening. I got barely anything this morning, but this evening, we found that if my friend held her baby in her lap and sat in a chair directly in front of the milking stand, and we filled up the feeder with oats instead of mixed grains, she was ok with being milked. She still kicked a bit, but I got it done. I milked a cow as a child maybe twice and I was pleasantly surprised at how easily I remembered how to do it. Anyway, the issue is that her teats are VERY small. I mean like the size of my pinky finger, but shorter! They are itty bitty! I figured out a technique, but I'm wondering if there's a better way. Right now, I am just using my pointer and middle finger and rolling my thumb down. Her teats are way way too small to do the regular circle with thumb and pointer, then roll the other fingers down. So I just wasn't able to get much. I got about a cup total, but by the time I got that, she was freaking out again b/c all of my kids and my friends kids had gotten fed up with waiting and came in and were milling around making too much noise, etc. Even if that hadn't happened, I think with how little I get at a time, it would take me an hour to milk her out. Her udders still felt full and hard after I was done, and I want her to keep making lots of milk and not get mastitis, so I need to be able to milk her out!
I appreciate any advice! She's a great little goat, even if she isn't completely tame. I think she's going to settle in and be a decent milker though. Today was the first day and she was already calmer the 2nd go round.
I appreciate any advice! She's a great little goat, even if she isn't completely tame. I think she's going to settle in and be a decent milker though. Today was the first day and she was already calmer the 2nd go round.