So, we have all of our sparkling clean equipment, all the cows have filed into the barn and taken their proper places and are happily munching away at their food. We bring our cart down to the end of the line, and we are ready to begin.
The steps of actually milking are these:
Prep Dip- This is the iodine dip I talked about before. It is simply a quick dip for each teat, to begin to cleanse the area and it also starts the process of the cow "letting down" her milk. (Letting down is a biological process where the milk is released from the milk ducts.)
Wash- We use our warm, soapy towels to thoroughly clean any dirt or foreign objects from the teats.
Strip- Simply stripping the first few squirts of milk from each teat. This dislodges the waxy plug that forms after milking to seal up the milk channel, and also discards any bacteria that might be lingering in said channel. The yucky-looking picture above is of the strip cup revealing mastitic mucous from one of the cows, which is another thing stripping accomplishes.
Milk- The reason for it all, and the most simple part of the process. The claw attaches to the udder by suction, and by the same suction milks her out. You simply need to keep an eye on it and take it off when she's done.
Post Dip- Another dip with the clean dipper to stave off the bacteria until the milk channel can close up.
It seems like a complicated process at first, but once you do it a few times you find the rythm and it feels much more natural.
Below you can see the claw milking away, and an example of what it looks like when you have only three working quarters (looking at you, Joy.)
The steps of actually milking are these:
Prep Dip- This is the iodine dip I talked about before. It is simply a quick dip for each teat, to begin to cleanse the area and it also starts the process of the cow "letting down" her milk. (Letting down is a biological process where the milk is released from the milk ducts.)
Wash- We use our warm, soapy towels to thoroughly clean any dirt or foreign objects from the teats.
Strip- Simply stripping the first few squirts of milk from each teat. This dislodges the waxy plug that forms after milking to seal up the milk channel, and also discards any bacteria that might be lingering in said channel. The yucky-looking picture above is of the strip cup revealing mastitic mucous from one of the cows, which is another thing stripping accomplishes.
Milk- The reason for it all, and the most simple part of the process. The claw attaches to the udder by suction, and by the same suction milks her out. You simply need to keep an eye on it and take it off when she's done.
Post Dip- Another dip with the clean dipper to stave off the bacteria until the milk channel can close up.
It seems like a complicated process at first, but once you do it a few times you find the rythm and it feels much more natural.
Below you can see the claw milking away, and an example of what it looks like when you have only three working quarters (looking at you, Joy.)
The whole setup of the pump is fairly simple, as shown in this picture. You can see the can, which we know has two hoses attached. One goes up and connects to that white vacuum line by a spigot, and the other to the claw. The rubber gasket inside the lid allows a seal to be created, and the vacuum pump creates suction inside the can. This suction extends through to the claw, and the fancy regulator thing inside pulses, mimicking the pulse of suction created by a nursing calf. The milk then flows out, and follows the suction back to the can. (Yes, if the can gets too full the milk will start going up the vacuum line. No, it's not fun and everything has to be taken apart and cleaned immediately.) It's really important not to overmilk them, as this can cause issues like bruising and mastitis.
Once you have completed the milking ritual, after pretty much each cow, the heavy milk can gets lugged back to the milk room. It is sometimes possible to fit two cows into one can, but you have to be really careful with that because of the whole overflowing-milk-into-the-vacuum-line thing. Also, a really full can is super heavy. (I must note that it's also possible for one outstanding cow to overflow the can by herself, as Kristin did when she first had her calf. She produces a lot of milk.)
The milk then gets poured through the filter into the bulk tank, where it quickly cools down. Or sometimes right into a jar, and drunk for breakfast because you were too lazy to get up early and fix yourself something to eat.
The milk then gets poured through the filter into the bulk tank, where it quickly cools down. Or sometimes right into a jar, and drunk for breakfast because you were too lazy to get up early and fix yourself something to eat.