Learning to Milk a Cow

In order to start to build a community up here, I made the offer to neighbors, Steve and Melissa, to learn how to milk their two cows so that I can help them if they are sick or out of town.  In turn, they are very willing to assist us caring for our cats and any future animals when we want to go on vacation.  Mark will assist me, but caring for animals are not his strength (he likes his on a plate with gravy), while I LOVE animals!

So at 7:30 yesterday morning, I drove to Steve and Melissa's nearby farm.  They are a great young couple who are getting married this summer and really want to be successful small farmers. They own about 120 acres and want to grow into their farm slowly and successfully.  We've also offered to assist them with haying their fields if their they mow and bail our fields, so we will be able to feed our animals, our hay.  You will see that post next year during the summer and fall - with photos.

When I arrived yesterday, the two cows were already in their milking stalls:

After showing me how to assemble the clean equipment; they have a suction pump and enclosed buckets for food cleanliness and safety.  Steve explained how he brushes the cows and their milking parts well (utters and teats), then he cleaned the milking parts with a soapy clean cloth to ensure clean milk.    Now comes the cool part:

A leather strap goes around the cow's back and rests right next to it's back bony section and that connects to a metal hanging rod which holds the milking bucket.  These items do not come in contact with the ground or hay, it hangs from that strap and rod.  The cow and the suction machine does all the hard work, you just have to start the milk flowing in each teat, attach the cups to the teats, and stay close to test for completion so the cow does not become uncomfortable.  There are no open buckets to become contaminated or be kicked over - cool! 

These two cows are both pregnant and are very used to being milked, so they were quiet and compliant - no fuss!  It only took about 20 - 30 minutes to milk two cows and I got to take home a gallon of fresh whole milk - sweet milk!  It is WONDERFUL to see where your food comes from and be part of it creation, growth, and collection.

Our life here is definitely an adventure!