I worked in dairies for five or six years. It was the hardest physical work I've ever done, the longest hours with no days off and in all weather's. I loved it with a passion and planned to do it for the rest of my life but unfortunately my life took a different path. Each place I worked had several hundred milking cows so ofcourse we used machines. We only hand milked cows who were too sick or weak to get to the milking parlour. I always volunteered to do any hand milking as everyone else hated it anyway. I'd sit on an upturned bucket, rest my head against the cow and in those few minutes I'd be more relaxed and content than at any other time in my life. Just the smell of the animal, the silence and the oneness with nature, doing a job that had been done this way for centuries.
I am impressed with your overall resourcefulness on your homestead. I grew up growing gardens, fruit trees, nut trees, raising bees (23 hives), raising rabbits and chickens for meat, and chickens for eggs. We felled and cut up trees for firewood to cook with on a wood burning range, heat our home, heat water for laundry and baths...living off the land as much as possible with 11 children in our family it took a lot of work from all of us on our 2 acres. Raising my own kids on .86 acre we gardened, had a goat for milk, a pig, rabbits, 2 beehives, comfrey, horseradish and an apple tree. You're doing a great job! I'm a new subscriber and will be with you a long time.
Oh my goodness! Your little girl is so cute! I had every intention of hand milking my jersey when I got her but her teats were so short I couldn't do it. I have a new cow that's going to freshen this fall and I'm hopeful that she will be a better hand milker. I hand milked goats before I had cows and it was very enjoyable.
Partner have you ever heard to put a piece of silver into the milk storage container to keep bacteria under control. Best wishes to you and your family. You guys are living the dream so many of us share. Blessings. ❤😊
Thanks for the tip! I haven't heard of that...sounds interesting...😊 And yes, we are so privileged. We don't take it for granted...which is why we love inspiring others to do the same!
I know right! Even after using the milker every day for nine months, I still got annoyed every time I was done and went into the house and had to clean it up yet 😏
Hi Codi, great video of the pros and cons of Hand Milking and using a Milking Machine. Would you say that the Hand Milking method would ensure emptying the Utter the most as opposed to Milking Machines? I would think with Hand Milking it would allow you to have better results by feeling as opposed to a machine process. Knowing how to Hand Milk would also be a benefit and very crucial if the machine was broken. I would think that Hand Milking also builds a better relationship with your cow. Great ending of sharing some coffee and cream with your daughter. I remember as a kid that my Grandmother on my mothers side would make us coffee with a lot of cream and small amount of coffee and my brother and I thought that was the best.
That’s a great memory 😊 I do think you’re more in tune with what’s going on when you’re hand milking, but either way you can feel her udder and make sure it’s cleaned out. It’s a little more tedious with a milker to make sure, but it does a good job. Some say it does even better 🤷🏻♂️
Since getting my first milk cow and only hand milking for the last several weeks, I am concerned about the sanitation of it. My cow comes to the Stanchion every day with manure on her legs and tail. And often times she poops in the middle of milking. Which splashes all over. So I am very concerned about the sanitation of manure being splashed about. I am afraid simply filtering the milk isn’t enough to keep it completely clean. Can you please explain your methods for cleaning your cow up before hand milking and even during the process in the even of manure drops? When do you decide to toss the milk or give it to the animals? Is double filtering enough?
If I KNOW manure got in the milk I'll toss it. Otherwise I'm completely confident in the sanitation. I just use hot water and a little soap to wash her udder beforehand. I don't do much on her legs and stuff, but I make sure her udder is completely clean. Tie up her tail so she can't swing it at you. You'll get a feel for when you can tell she's about to poop so you can get everything outta the way before she does. If you're a new milker and she's doing it every time she's likely doing it out of annoyance. Cows can be bizznitches sometimes 😏 I swat her when she does that to teach her that it's not ok in the milking stall. Once you get better at it and more confident I'm guessin she'll stop. Here's a video I did awhile back on my milking routine. I should do an updated one: ua-cam.com/video/eAKCrua2hSM/v-deo.html
A lot by feeling the udder. It should feel really empty just like when hand milking. I also pinch the lines a little and you can feel if there’s still a lot of milk coming through. Once it feels like there’s not much of anything then she’s done.
I worked in dairies for five or six years. It was the hardest physical work I've ever done, the longest hours with no days off and in all weather's. I loved it with a passion and planned to do it for the rest of my life but unfortunately my life took a different path. Each place I worked had several hundred milking cows so ofcourse we used machines. We only hand milked cows who were too sick or weak to get to the milking parlour. I always volunteered to do any hand milking as everyone else hated it anyway. I'd sit on an upturned bucket, rest my head against the cow and in those few minutes I'd be more relaxed and content than at any other time in my life. Just the smell of the animal, the silence and the oneness with nature, doing a job that had been done this way for centuries.
I love it! Thanks for sharing 😊
Love hand milking. I love the bond I have with my girl and it’s just simply a relaxing time of the day❤️
Right on!
I am impressed with your overall resourcefulness on your homestead. I grew up growing gardens, fruit trees, nut trees, raising bees (23 hives), raising rabbits and chickens for meat, and chickens for eggs. We felled and cut up trees for firewood to cook with on a wood burning range, heat our home, heat water for laundry and baths...living off the land as much as possible with 11 children in our family it took a lot of work from all of us on our 2 acres.
Raising my own kids on .86 acre we gardened, had a goat for milk, a pig, rabbits, 2 beehives, comfrey, horseradish and an apple tree.
You're doing a great job! I'm a new subscriber and will be with you a long time.
Your support is trully appreciated! It sounds like we could learn a lot from your experiences:)
Your videos are the most helpful to me out of all honestead videos. Very hands on, direct, and great advice. Thank you!
You’re very welcome! Thanks for droppin a comment 😊
Oh my goodness! Your little girl is so cute!
I had every intention of hand milking my jersey when I got her but her teats were so short I couldn't do it. I have a new cow that's going to freshen this fall and I'm hopeful that she will be a better hand milker. I hand milked goats before I had cows and it was very enjoyable.
I think so too 😉
Yeah that’s definitely a thing. I can only get two fingers on the back teats, and that can be pretty rough.
Partner have you ever heard to put a piece of silver into the milk storage container to keep bacteria under control. Best wishes to you and your family. You guys are living the dream so many of us share. Blessings. ❤😊
Thanks for the tip! I haven't heard of that...sounds interesting...😊 And yes, we are so privileged. We don't take it for granted...which is why we love inspiring others to do the same!
Awesome video
Yeah, I usually use a milking machine. When I hand milk, I'm always like wait, I'm done now?! Nice! (Don't have to spend time cleaning the milker) 😊
I know right! Even after using the milker every day for nine months, I still got annoyed every time I was done and went into the house and had to clean it up yet 😏
Where did you get your milk machine? I really like it!
Hi Codi, great video of the pros and cons of Hand Milking and using a Milking Machine. Would you say that the Hand Milking method would ensure emptying the Utter the most as opposed to Milking Machines? I would think with Hand Milking it would allow you to have better results by feeling as opposed to a machine process. Knowing how to Hand Milk would also be a benefit and very crucial if the machine was broken. I would think that Hand Milking also builds a better relationship with your cow. Great ending of sharing some coffee and cream with your daughter. I remember as a kid that my Grandmother on my mothers side would make us coffee with a lot of cream and small amount of coffee and my brother and I thought that was the best.
That’s a great memory 😊 I do think you’re more in tune with what’s going on when you’re hand milking, but either way you can feel her udder and make sure it’s cleaned out. It’s a little more tedious with a milker to make sure, but it does a good job. Some say it does even better 🤷🏻♂️
Can I ask what you you to wash and rinse with ?
Soap and hot water 😁
Since getting my first milk cow and only hand milking for the last several weeks, I am concerned about the sanitation of it. My cow comes to the Stanchion every day with manure on her legs and tail. And often times she poops in the middle of milking. Which splashes all over. So I am very concerned about the sanitation of manure being splashed about. I am afraid simply filtering the milk isn’t enough to keep it completely clean. Can you please explain your methods for cleaning your cow up before hand milking and even during the process in the even of manure drops? When do you decide to toss the milk or give it to the animals? Is double filtering enough?
If I KNOW manure got in the milk I'll toss it. Otherwise I'm completely confident in the sanitation. I just use hot water and a little soap to wash her udder beforehand. I don't do much on her legs and stuff, but I make sure her udder is completely clean. Tie up her tail so she can't swing it at you. You'll get a feel for when you can tell she's about to poop so you can get everything outta the way before she does. If you're a new milker and she's doing it every time she's likely doing it out of annoyance. Cows can be bizznitches sometimes 😏 I swat her when she does that to teach her that it's not ok in the milking stall. Once you get better at it and more confident I'm guessin she'll stop. Here's a video I did awhile back on my milking routine. I should do an updated one: ua-cam.com/video/eAKCrua2hSM/v-deo.html
how do you know ,using black liners, when she is milked out?
A lot by feeling the udder. It should feel really empty just like when hand milking. I also pinch the lines a little and you can feel if there’s still a lot of milk coming through. Once it feels like there’s not much of anything then she’s done.
❤❤❤
It isnt that easy
Some cows have small orifices...
This is why you should always check the stream before purchasing any cow