How to milk a cow correctly is an important question, since the productivity and health of the farm depends on this process. The procedure should bring comfort to the animal; the cow must be treated gently, otherwise she will become rude and timid, which will create problems with milking. Proper preparation and completion of milking is as important as the process itself.
How to milk a cow by hand
It will be useful for novice farmers to become familiar with the correct technique for milking a cow.It is easier for people who grew up on farms or in families where they always kept cattle to adapt to the milking process - parents and grandmothers teach this from childhood. If there is no one to learn useful experience from, you should carefully read the recommendations given below.
Preparation
Why is it important to cook a cow - despite their large size, these animals are very shy. Before milking, it is recommended to calm and stroke the cow, because she needs affection just as much as people. It is also important to approach her from the front so that she sees the owner, does not get scared, and does not buck.
If the cow is kept in a stall most of the time, you should first remove the barn, cover the pen, and tie up the heifer. During the hot season, cows are constantly bothered by flies, which is why during milking a cow can swing 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 too tightly.
The preparation for the process itself includes wiping the cow’s limbs and belly with 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 production.
Massage
The 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 that is responsible for relaxation of the nipples, milk flow and its easy release.With the help of massage, it is possible to milk the entire volume of milk accumulated in the udder.
The massage technique is simple - you need to make stroking movements along the udder along and across with both hands. At the end of the stroking, you should push the udder, as calves do. Afterwards, you need to express a stream of milk from each nipple. This is required to reduce the volume of microbes in the liquid and diagnose udder diseases. If the milk is clean and comes out easily, the cow is healthy. You can start milking when the nipples have become firm and large in size.
If you do not massage the udder before milking, less milk will come out each time. This increases the risk of developing mastitis (a pathology in which the milk ducts are blocked 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. It is recommended to fist-milk cows that have already given birth, since their teats are larger in size and the risk of developing mastitis is lower.
Milking with two fingers
Finger milking is more often used in cows that have calved for the first time; they are milked gently, without strong pressure, using only the pads of the fingers. The technique is not complicated, but it does require some getting used to at first. On both sides, the nipple is pinched with the index and thumb, at the very base, closer to the udder.
The fingers move from top to bottom, sliding over the nipple. Often such movements cause pain to the animal, and with frequent hand milking with fingers, the teats can become very stretched. Milking begins with the front teats, then moves to the rear.
The pairs are changed quickly - the first, then the second again, and so on until all the milk is milked without a trace. The movements are slow at first, then accelerate, but jerking is unacceptable. It is impossible to interrupt the movements, no matter how tired the owner is - the cow may become pinched and it will be difficult to milk her completely.
fist milking
The fist milking method is suitable for beginning farmers - it causes less trauma to the nipple tissue 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 your fist, you need to take the nipple with all your fingers, the thumb is above the index finger, the rest are located below.
The nipple should be positioned straight, and milk should not fall on the fingers when milked correctly. Keep your hands in place and do not move them up and down, just squeeze your fingers so that the milk comes out. After each portion, the fingers unclench and compress again, but do not separate from the nipple. First, the front part of the udder is emptied, then the back part is emptied.
The process lasts about 6-7 minutes, after which the milk supply stops, and the rest is milked out 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 within the allotted time.
Milking frequency
Depending on the frequency of milking, farmers need to get used to doing it at approximately the same time, since milk is collected in the udder evenly throughout the day. Three times milking is recommended for individuals that produce large volumes of milk and with insufficient udder capacity. The 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 produce 2.5-3.5 liters of milk at a time; this is done at 6 and 18 hours. Animals need to be accustomed to it from the first calving. If time is allocated correctly, there will be no decrease in productivity. How to determine whether it is worth transferring an animal from three-time to two-time milking? Extend the interval between evening and morning milking from 10 to 12 hours. If in the morning the cow gave half the daily norm, then she can be milked twice a day.
Common mistakes
Many cattle owners make classic mistakes at first:
- do not treat nipples after milking and washing the udder with Vaseline - this contributes to inflammation of cracks and skin damage;
- nipples are not examined for swelling and cracks;
- before milking, treat the animal with hay, straw and food with a strong odor - particles of hay can get into the milk, and it also absorbs strong aromas well.
It is recommended to do the final massage by stroking and examining the udder for milk residues. Ignoring correct completion will result in the fattest milk remaining unmilked.
It is necessary to prepare for milking and take the right actions. 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.
