tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post7993407688249454804..comments2024-03-28T19:35:24.365-07:00Comments on Rural Revolution: Milking questionsPatrice Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06012022335047974670noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-56591107131477944992012-05-31T07:30:32.850-07:002012-05-31T07:30:32.850-07:00I never wean calves -- I let the mamas wean, which...I never wean calves -- I let the mamas wean, which they'll do naturally shortly before their next calf is born. Lambchops comes from a lineage of heavy milk producers, so you could certainly milk twice a day if you want and she'll have plenty left over for the calf. But you should easily be able to settle into a once-a-day schedule (my preference is to milk in the morning after separating the calf at night).<br /><br />Good luck, let me know what happens.<br /><br />- PatricePatrice Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06012022335047974670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-37941888792336516332012-05-18T11:22:41.591-07:002012-05-18T11:22:41.591-07:00Hi, Pat. Your blog has been a great source of inf...Hi, Pat. Your blog has been a great source of information for me. We live in South Central Alaska on just under 5 acres with good field grass for our single cow. <br /><br />Lambchopis a 2 year old Holstein/Brown Swiss mix. She's a BIG girl and about to deliver her first calf. We're very excited. I like the idea of once a day milking and letting the calf spend the day with Mom. But how long until you wean the calf, or until Mom does it for naturally for you?<br /><br />Thanks for sharing what you've learned!<br /><br />Deb<br /><br />Thanks, your blog has been a great help for us as weDebnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-20851729716600399262011-02-11T07:06:43.773-08:002011-02-11T07:06:43.773-08:00A good resource is the Keeping a Family Cow websit...A good resource is the Keeping a Family Cow website. It is a proboard and very helpful. There is also a book by the same name by Joann Grohman,a moderator of the site.<br />http://FamilyCow.proboards.com or google family cow. I have learned a lot from the people there.<br />PaintedmooseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-20800279325018942432011-02-10T09:39:38.043-08:002011-02-10T09:39:38.043-08:00Oh I do strain the goat milk. Twice actually. An...Oh I do strain the goat milk. Twice actually. And we have no buck on the property. I think the taste comes from the starter for the soft cheese. I tried a different starter and the goaty taste was absent.<br />@ Husband of the boss, I was thinking along those lines as well. If I got a bottle cafe and the cow would allow it, it would give me a little freedom if I had to go to Houston on business. Plus you could sell the weaned calves! $ back is always good. <br />Thanks again for answering my question.<br />JaniAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-66025417772817836342011-02-09T22:33:43.121-08:002011-02-09T22:33:43.121-08:00Just an extra to Patrice's comments about too ...Just an extra to Patrice's comments about too much milk. There is another alternative if your cow is relaxed about who gets to belly up to the bar (so to speak). Matilda isn't too particular about which calf(s) she will allow to nurse. This allows for an interesting opportunity. If you go to a feed lot or a cattle auction you can often pick up a young calf or two for very little money. If the nursing cow will accept them, you can raise a couple of beef cows essentially for free for quite a bit of their first years growth.Husband of the Bossnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-84587714071641437182011-02-09T18:03:57.878-08:002011-02-09T18:03:57.878-08:00As far as the Nubian goat milk original questions,...As far as the Nubian goat milk original questions, goat milk does not separate from the cream like cow's milk, but you do have to strain it. Secondly, the male goat must be kept FAR away and then goat milk will not taste 'goaty.'<br />K in OK, under 2 feet of snow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-15819835434675084112011-02-09T17:04:21.943-08:002011-02-09T17:04:21.943-08:00Yes, I stop milking about two months or even three...Yes, I stop milking about two months or even three before a cow is due to calve. Actually many cows tend to dry themselves up in order to marshal their resources into the growing fetus, in which case it all sort of takes care of itself.<br /><br />With mastitis, the more you milk a cow, the better. That's why having a nursing calf is a help in keeping mastitis at bay - the calf will nurse throughout the day rather than just morning and evening (which is when people milk their cows).<br /><br />- PatricePatrice Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06012022335047974670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-26394166289377285372011-02-09T16:27:59.724-08:002011-02-09T16:27:59.724-08:00Patrice,
Do you stop milking her before she has a...Patrice, <br />Do you stop milking her before she has a calf? If so how long before? To stop milking her without a problem with mastitis, do you just not milk her all the way out for a while or is that a problem? <br />DawnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-1563687907472688502011-02-09T15:20:51.103-08:002011-02-09T15:20:51.103-08:00OPCCook, a Jersey might indeed provide too much mi...OPCCook, a Jersey might indeed provide too much milk for just two people. They're good for families. There are a couple ways around this. One, you can "cow share" with neighbors. For about a year, we milked our neighbor's Jersey in exchange for the milk. Or, if you kept a calf on the cow, you would only have to take the amount of milk you want, and the cow will adjust her output to what is taken.<br /><br />- PatricePatrice Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06012022335047974670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-87573816515837686172011-02-09T13:00:46.310-08:002011-02-09T13:00:46.310-08:00Great post! I've always wondered about stuff l...Great post! I've always wondered about stuff like that. I'm trying goats for now. Moving up to dairy cows soon. I have beef cattle now. We will see how things go.small farm girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01485314092236803411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-60618430305654591612011-02-09T12:35:11.424-08:002011-02-09T12:35:11.424-08:00Boy, this is really helpful and interesting! I'...Boy, this is really helpful and interesting! I've only dealt with beef cattle and have always wondered about a milk cow. Our neighbor has a Jersey and we have thought about getting one ourselves, but not sure if we are getting a little too old for such a thing. There are just the two of us and I wonder if we would be able to use all of that milk. Is one cow too much for two people?OPCCookhttp://www.oklahomapastrycloth.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-49494175665636845582011-02-09T11:20:42.917-08:002011-02-09T11:20:42.917-08:00I milk once a day with a Jersey, but I don't h...I milk once a day with a Jersey, but I don't have a calf on her. <br /><br />The way I did it would be the same way you would do it with a human nursing infant: cut back a little bit each time until you drop the milking. I've done this with two Jerseys now and never had mastitis. Good luck!Amy Scotthttp://humblemusings.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-65585753337943095062011-02-09T10:49:23.331-08:002011-02-09T10:49:23.331-08:00Your posts have been the salt to our homeschool le...Your posts have been the salt to our homeschool lessons today. Very informative!<br /><br />TanyaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-82419057255630485162011-02-09T09:13:09.839-08:002011-02-09T09:13:09.839-08:00WOW!!! Thank you so much for the pictures! This ...WOW!!! Thank you so much for the pictures! This explains a lot more.<br />JaniAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com