The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Cattle => Topic started by: Crofter on February 16, 2009, 02:41:26 pm
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We have a heifer (Star) who will calve later this year and as we do not want huge amounts of milk, or to bucket feed the calf, we thought we would try the "half milking" method. Seperate the calf from the cow at night, milk the cow in the morning and then put the calf back on her for the rest of the day. It sounds like the ideal solution, and some smallholding books suggest it, but I can't find anyone who's done it. Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall failed spectacularly at this. :-\
Has anyone on TAS ever done this or seen it done?
Dave
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I saw a programme - I think, in fact I'm pretty sure it was "Jimmy's Farming Heroes!" - about a chap who had a herd of Devon cows (I'm really cross about this because I had an email about it and deleted it just last week). These were traditional dual purpose Devon cows as they woudl have been 50 / 60 years ago. He milked once a day and left the calves with the cows - they actually made icecream. I wish I could remember the details.
I'm sure thsi would work, once a day milking and leaving the calf on. Lets face it, how much milk do you need for the family compared to how much a cow produces?
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Best of luck in trying it :D.
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We've done it once or twice, but now milk twice a day and rear the calf on a bucket. Doing the once a day thing is good if you only have the time to milk once a day and it does mean that if for somereason you have to be away for a whole day, it is not th end of the world as you can simply leave the calf with the cow.
Drawbacks are that the cow will probably dry off quicker, the overall milk yeild will be lower, and you may find that the cow will not let the milk down for you - she knows perfectly well you are not her calf.
It didn't work for us in the long term, but it might for you. It is a good place to start.
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It was the South Devon cows on a farm near Exeter i think they are nicknamed orange elephants. I did enjoy that program.
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Yes, that's it. I contacted the South Devon cattle society and they gave me the bloke's contact details. Must work for him if he does it commercially, I would have thought.
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Thanks all. She's not due til July so we'll give it a go then and keep you all posted.
Dave
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Please do, i for one have had the same thoughts about getting a house cow. We did it with goats and it worked pretty well. I'd love to know if it works in with a cow. Thanks Emma. :pig: :pig:
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Will do Emma. You all will be first to know when she calves. It's her first.....and ours.....hmmmm maybe not a good combination! Probably like a scaled up Goat though ???
Dave
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This website has some information on milking goats once per day (scroll down about half way )
http://fiascofarm.com/goats/milking.htm
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Very intresting site, thank you. :D :D
Only prob I'm the only one in the house that will drink goats milk. >:( >:( >:(
Not to sure about the scaled up goat bit!! our goats use to jump on to the feed shed roof, dont thinK it would hold the wait of of cow!!! ??? ??? ;D ;D ;D ;D When is she due? :pig:
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End of June/beginning of July. She's a shorthorn/Angus cross and in calf to a shorthorn bull so the calf should not be too big.
Dave
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Now I was trying to get that photo on another thread and could not do it!!!!
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Maybe you've shrunk it?
I had never tried goats milk till Belle had her puppies last year. Thought I'd try it before giving it to the pups. It was deliciously creamy! Now I buy it for a treat, as I usually drink The One
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I can't stand goat's anything. Not even fudge and I've got a real sweet tooth. Milk, cheese, yogurt - I try it occasionally to see if I'm developed a taste for it but haven't yet. It just tastes like goats smell. No disrespect to goat keepers or goats, personally - I love you all.
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We love you too! :goat: :goat: :goat: :goat:meeeeh!
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You can certainly milk once a day. The lactation will possibly be shorter and yield will be lower. The more you take milk from the udder the more she will produce to meet the demand. Many commercial farmers will milk once a day at the end of lactation to help to dry off. As said above some cows will hold milk back if she knows the calf will be along soon for his/her share. Just look out for mastitis at the beginning as this is the time most stress is on the udder. A calf suckling will often draw enough away to cure the mastitis if it is mild but if the quarter becomes swollen and hard best get a vet to check it. Udder mint massaged into the udder for a few minutes at milking time can ease a swollen udder particularly just after calving. Good luck with your cows I loved my job as a herdsman for 25 years but it really is a young mans job.
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I can't stand goat's anything. It just tastes like goats smell. No disrespect to goat keepers or goats, personally
I can't say I smelt anything except fresh clean straw when I was over at Beth's to see the kids.
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Thanks Herdsman
We'll give it a go and let you all know how we get on. We may take the calf off her when we bring them in for the winter and milk twice a day from then on.
Dave
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I milk a South Devon every morning. The calf goes into a sectioned off part of the stable by itself at night, but he is beside his mother. I milk every morning at 5AM then turn the calf out and they stay on pasture all day. This works very well for me, I have never found a problem with it. It also makes weaning go a little easier.
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Crofter,
Just remember she will be giving quite a lot of milk if she is feeding the calf and you. Make sure she is getting enough concentrates. She needs enough feed for her plus about .4 kg cake(or equivalent dry food)for every litre she produces. Keep an eye on body condition. She is likely to lose some condition in the first 6 to 8 weeks post calving but then should start to put some on especially if you want her back in calf.
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He milked once a day and left the calves with the cows - they actually made icecream. I wish I could remember the details.
So do I ! they're damn intelligent cows and calves, making ice cream and all ;D all mine do is Moo!
Sorry, I just couldn't resist!
Morgan :farmer:
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Took you a while to spot that one ;D