[DenisCooper]

Evening

I’ve got to cows heavily in calf and starting to fill up nicely with milk. I was thinking I may have a go at taking any surplus’s milk as I quite fancied having a go at making some truly home made cheese and dairy products.

Does anyone have any tips on how to try this. They are first time calving too.

Or should I just not attempt it?

Any advice always welcome. It’s our first time with cattle.

[macgro7]

What cows are they?
Modern commercial dairy breed? Commercial beef cross? Old school breed?

[DenisCooper]

Herefords

[Backinwellies]

how much are they handled ?

[DenisCooper]

They are pretty friendly and always come to us. Don’t mind be touched etc.

[Rosemary]

We've milked our Shetlands. Some folk can milk with the cow loose in the field, but I halter trained ours and always tied them up. We left the calves on and milked three quarters once a day - we have a wee milking machine as I found hand milking difficult. Once the calves got to about six /seven weeks, we either stopped (having made a lot of cheese) or shut the calves away overnight, then milked in the morning.

[Anke]

If these are first timers start now by getting them to where you want to milk, start to tie them up as Rosemary says and start gently touching their udders and teats.


My goats are also used to coming onto a stand (not necessary with cows) and to the noise of a milking machine from a young age.


Though the kick from a cow can be a lot more lethal than a goat....

[macgro7]

Did you know that untill WW2 there were some herds commercially milking Herefords in England? 

[SallyintNorth]

If you were asking when the cows were 4 or 5 months off calving, I'd be giving you a roadmap for getting you and them ready.  But if they're already bagging up and you've never milked a cow...  I am not sure I would even take it on myself that close to calving, not with a non-dairy breed and especially without any kind of parlour or stall they are already used to. 

But..  if you are ever going to do it, it is so much better to start with a maiden heifer than an established suckler cow.  But maybe not as a rookie yourself... :/ 

How long is there before they calve?  Any chance you can get some hands on experience milking a cow before then?  Do you have somewhere you can create a parlour or milking stall?

[oor wullie]

We have milked a couple of ours in a fairly unplanned way although our first cow was an ex dairy cow and so at least she knew what to do.

A well handled docile cow I would happily give it a go without much preparation, a nervous and jumpy cow I wouldn't go near. 

We put ours in the crush for milking as its convenient and I like them to be familiar with the crush.  Whether we are milking or not we like to get them in the crush shortly after they have had a calf to check that all 4 quarters are working and that the calf has had its first drink so we quickly find out if a cow is likely to stand for milking.

I'm sure less willing cows can be trained but have never really tried.

We use a milking machine as I find that my hands are aching after half a litre - but perhaps I'm just a weakling compared to a milkmaid of years ago!

Currently milking a Saler.

[DenisCooper]

Thanks all for the replies.

Both cows had little boys yesterday!

[SallyintNorth]

Congratulations on the two calves 

How are the cows with you, have you been up close yet?  If they are very quiet, as Herefords often are, maybe try stroking the udder in the field and see what reaction you get. 

Personally I wouldn't want to stress a new mum if it's avoidable, but if you are still keen to explore the idea of milking, there would be no harm in just taking it easy step by easy step and stopping if she seems to be becoming agitated. 

With a heifer, especially of a non-dairy breed, it's best done as soon as possible.  In my experience, the longer she is left as a suckler cow the more "my milk, my calf, my teats" she will become.