How to milk a cow by hand correctly for first time beginners

How to properly milk a cow is an important issue, because the productivity and he alth of the farm depends on this process. The procedure should bring comfort to the animal, it is necessary to treat the cow affectionately, otherwise it will become rude and shy, which will create problems with milking. Proper milking preparation and completion is as important as the process itself.

How to milk a cow with your hands

Getting familiar with the correct technique of milking a cow will be useful for novice farmers. It is easier for people who grew up on farms or in families where cattle have always been kept to adapt to the milking process - parents and grandmothers teach this from childhood.If there is no one to learn from useful experience, you should carefully read the recommendations below.

Preparation

Why is it important to cook a cow - despite their large size, these animals are very shy. Before starting milking, it is recommended to calm and stroke the cow, because she needs affection no less than people. It is also important to approach her from the front so that she sees the owner, does not get scared, does not buck.

If the cow is in a stall most of the time, you should first remove the barn, cover the paddock, tie the heifer. In the hot season, cows are constantly disturbed by flies, which, during milking, can wag its tail and knock over a bucket of milk or hit a person. To avoid this, it is worth tying the tail to the hind limb, but not very tight.

Before you start milking, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and clean clothes (robe, which is important to wash regularly).

The preparation for the process itself includes wiping the limbs and belly of the cow with a clean cloth. The udder must be washed with water heated to 40 ° C, then dried with a clean towel. This is necessary not only to clean the udder, but also to improve milk flow.

Massage

A key point that all milkmaids should know is that it is important to massage the udder before milking. Gentle kneading will help the production of oxytocin, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, which is responsible for relaxing the nipples, the flow of milk and its easy discharge. With the help of massage, it is possible to milk out the entire volume of milk accumulated in the udder.

The massage technique is simple - you need to make stroking movements along and across the udder with both hands. At the end of the strokes, you should push the udder, as calves do. After that, you need to express a stream of milk from each nipple. This is required to reduce the volume of microbes in the fluid and diagnose udder diseases.If the milk is clean and passes easily, the cow is he althy. You can start milking when the nipples have become elastic and large in size.

If you do not massage the udder before milking, each time milk will come out less and less. This increases the risk of developing mastitis (a pathology in which blockage of the milk ducts occurs, and an inflammatory process begins in the udder).

Milking technique and rules

Manual milking of cows can be done with two fingers or a fist. The first method is suitable for young heifers, whose nipples are often not yet developed and short. Fist milking is recommended for cows who have already given birth, as their teats are larger and the risk of mastitis is lower.

Two Finger Milking

Finger milking is more commonly used in cows that have calved for the first time, they are milked gently, without strong pressure, using only the fingertips.The technique is not difficult, but it takes some getting used to at first. On both sides, the nipple is clamped with the index and thumb, at the very base, closer to the udder.

Fingers move up and down, sliding over the nipple. Often such movements cause pain to the animal, and with frequent manual milking with fingers, the nipples can stretch out a lot. Milking starts from the front teats, then goes to the back.

Pairs change quickly - the first, then the second again, and so on until all the milk is milked without a trace. Movements are slow at first, then accelerate, but jerks are unacceptable. It is impossible to interrupt the movement, no matter how tired the owner is - the cow can be squeezed, and it will be difficult to milk it to the end.

Fist milking

The method of milking with a fist is suitable for beginner farmers - it injures the tissues of the nipples less, and allows you to get a continuous stream of milk.But in the end, each owner decides for himself how best to milk. To milk with a fist, you need to take the nipple with the whole five, the thumb is above the index finger, the rest are located below.

The nipple should be straight and the milk should not get on the fingers when milked properly. The hands are held in place and do not move them up and down, only squeeze the fingers so that the milk comes out. After each portion, the fingers open and close again, but do not separate from the nipple. First, the front part of the udder is emptied, then they proceed to the back.

The process lasts about 6-7 minutes, after which the milk supply stops, and the rest is milked sluggishly and slowly. Therefore, it is important for every farmer to learn how to prepare for milking within one minute and complete the process itself in the allotted time.

Milking frequency

Depending on the frequency of milking, farmers need to learn to do it at about the same time, since milk is collected in the udder evenly throughout the day.Three times milking is recommended for individuals producing large volumes of milk and with insufficient udder capacity. Breaks between milkings should not be longer than 7 hours, and at night - more than 10 hours. Most often, the process is carried out at 5, 12 and 19 hours.

Double milking is recommended for cows that give 2.5-3.5 liters of milk at a time, do it at 6 and 18 hours. It is necessary to accustom animals to it from the first calving. If the time is distributed correctly, there will be no decrease in productivity. How to determine whether it is worth transferring an animal from three times to two times milking? Extend the interval between evening and morning milking from 10 am to 12 pm. If in the morning the cow gave half the daily allowance, then she can be milked twice a day.

Common mistakes

Many cattle owners make classic mistakes at first:

do not treat the nipples after milking and washing the udders with petroleum jelly - this contributes to inflammation of cracks and skin lesions;
do not examine nipples for swelling and cracks;
treat the animal before milking with hay, straw and food with a pungent odor - hay particles can get into the milk, it also absorbs strong aromas well.

It is recommended to do the final massage by stroking and examining the udder for milk residues. Ignoring the correct completion will result in the fattest milk not being milked.

For milking, you need to prepare and do the right things. It is advisable to accustom all family members to the process. Getting used to one person, a cow may not give the entire volume of milk to a stranger - the animal is able to distinguish the appearance, voice and even the smell of its owners.