I have one Jersey Cow that gives between 4 and 5 gallons of milk a day. My husband and I both milk but he has arthritis in his hands and I just can't get the job done fast enough. I am looking for a used milking machine for a single cow. If anyone has a spare or knows where I might locate one please let me know. I do not live in dairy country and no one around here has one. Also can anyone tell me the best way to let the cow dry up. As the cow is drying up and I milk less, is the milk still safe for human consumption?

-- Marlene Leiby (mleiby@caprock-spur.com), August 06, 2000

Answers

Oh Marlene... shoot your a day too late for the 2 on e-bay but try looking there was a few more that needed work, go to everything else/farm equipment and scroll through all 33 pages as i forgot exactly where they were. Where are you located? I know a few of my goat friends have some available. Good luck, hope this helps.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), August 06, 2000.

You will also need a vacum pump to run the milker unit on the milk bucket. You wouldn't need a big one( 2hp or smaller). Most need 200 amp to run, but you might be able to find a baby 110 that will plug right into the wall. They were common years ago, when farmers first started using milk machines. Here in Wisconsin,you have to have a 5hp or larger vacum pump to legally ship milk, so there are lots of older ones around and old bucket milkers too. We just gave away our old surge hanging bucket and 110amp vacum pump to a family who has 1 jersy cow, just like you! I think if you would put a wanted ad in a good farm related magazine in your area or post a wanted ad at the local feed mill, you will find one. Don't pay too much! We bought a complete pipeline system with 4 milker units for $125 at an auction 2 years ago, but since have discovered it will cost $2,000. to install it!! So we are still using floor bucket. Good Luck. Jeni

-- Jeanette Springer (jeni@dwave.net), August 07, 2000.

DEFINITLY post a note at you local feed stores. I got my vacuum unit for free (of course it is about 50 years old LOL) but it works. I got all 4 of my Jersey buckets for $2.50 @ at auction. Then I got my inflations and regulator used from my local dealer. I have 2 complete buckets (one with 4 inflations for the cow, one with 2 for my goats) complete for about $75.00 - I had to invest more for my 'cow can't kick' and the cersingle (sp?)for hanging the swinge pail. Of course the folks at the milking center laugh every time I come in with my antiques (BTW only service I have had to do was due to mischievious goats!) Dianne

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), August 08, 2000.

Thank you all for your advise. I got on several auction sites and found a few milking machines so I e-mailed those folks but haven't received any replies yet. I will keep shopping, maybe I will find one someday.

-- Marlene (mleiby@caprock-spur.com), August 10, 2000.

Marlene I have a barn full of old milk equipment. Can price a complete unit or parts.

-- Nathan Harris Sr. (barnyard_mini@yahoo.com), April 29, 2001.