I was raised in the city and was never around farm animals. I have successfully raised most every farm animal since I started farming 17 years ago, except one- dairy cows. I can raise them, but I'm petrified of milking them. Every time they move, it scares me to death. I have a very gentle Jersey that is due to calf in the spring. Can anyone give me suggestions for overcoming my fear? I have milked goats in the past and am not afraid to handle the cow- Just to milk her. I'm afraid she'll kick or run over me (even though she's tied).

-- Gayle Smith (gayleannesmith@yahoo.com), October 01, 2001

Answers

I have found that if you lead her into a stanchion and give her some feed, you should be able to milk her in the time it takes her to eat the feed....with practice of course. Also, if you can figure out a way to firmly hold up her tail while you are milking, it sort of "paralizes" her back side and she can't move. It won't hurt her. Maybe someone could help you with this. Make it (milking)a routine. It feels good to her to be milked. If you've ever breastfed a child you'll be able to relate.....

-- Harmony Bullington (harmonyfarm57@hotmail.com), October 01, 2001.

Gayle, 99% of the time when a cow kicks, it's a "don't bug me" cuff. Which essentially means they don't kick AT you, they just move their leg to brush you away. This isn't a serious kick and it wouldn't hurt you, anyway, and in fact, most of the time you can leave your arm underneath them and ride the leg movement out or even strong arm the leg back down (all the while saying, "oh, no you don't"). You are not afraid of this! :) This is nothing! Your Jersey will most likely never do more than this slight cuff motion, and it is nothing to be bothered by. Trust me on this. :) It's very rare that a cow kicks and means it. If you are comfortable moving around and taking care of your cow now, most likely she will be an easy handler when she freshens. You might begin handling her hind quarters a little more, and getting her used to you being behind her and touching her, but I don't even think this is too necessary. Good luck with her and don't worry! You'll be fine! :)

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), October 01, 2001.

I don't know about cows, but if this were a first-freshening goat, I'd be getting her up on the milkstand and getting her used to having her udder handled while she's munching on some grain or other treat. With my skittish little yearling goats, it just seems to ease their introduction to milking.

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), October 01, 2001.

Gayle, we had jersey cows when we were kids and they were just big lovable pets!

I suggest brushing and generally 'fussing' her whenever you can so that she gets quite used to your attentions.

I don't know if you have to keep and milk her indoors but on our farm the cows spent their entire lives outdoors including milking. We just took the bucket and stool and put it down beside the cow! This really is the ideal as it avoids the trauma of 'breaking' her to any sort of restraint.

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), October 01, 2001.

Thank you all so much for all your suggestions. I have been handling her and she doesn't seem bothered by it. The previous owner has milked her the past 5 years, so she is used to that, too. I think John hit it right on the head. Milking outdoors might be just the thing. I do not like to be confined, especially sitting down near an animal that large. I will certainly try that and tying down (or up) her tail, although I kind of enjoy being gently swatted on the head.:^)

-- Gayle Smith (gayleannesmith@yahoo.com), October 01, 2001.

Harmony, I almost forgot, I CAN relate to the easing of pressure. I've breastfed 7 children.

-- Gayle Smith (gayleannesmith@yahoo.com), October 01, 2001.

gayle the only thing bad about milking her out side is that they like to walk while they eat so you are always moving your stool with her. and if she kicks you it doesn't hurt my cow kicked me 4 time on the fleshey side of my leg and it didn't even bruise. so don't be afraid of her just enjoy milking her. wish i still had my cow. gail in okla.

-- myra gail akins (dakins@cottoninternet.net), October 01, 2001.

Myra has a point, you might have to follow her around a bit but as I recall the cows enjoyed the milking and took time out for a bit of cud chewing at milking time. Some cows wore a halter and dragged a light weight chain and for them just putting a foot on the chain used to 'tether' them ok for the milking.

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), October 02, 2001.

It doesn't matter what kind of animal it is (cow, horse, llama, etc...). If it kicks at you (for any reason), you are better off close to the animal then if you were farther away (just in reach). This is because when you are close, the animal doesn't have time or room to put any power into it. Therefore it would more likely feel like she just bumped into you. However, if you were just within reach of a kick, you'd be getting the full force of the blow & will have a possibility of getting hurt. This isn't to say an animal is trying to kick you every time you feel a bump, as it may just be shifting it's weight to another leg.

I agree with the others that you should start handling her (like you were going to milk but maybe groom & pet while she eats instead). This isn't just for her benifit but, yours as well. With repitition, your confidence & courage will grow. (In the future, you will wonder how you were ever afraid of any of this.)

Good luck

animalfarms

-- animalfarms (jawjlewis@netzero.net), October 05, 2001.