My plan way back in March was to immediately milk all but one cow once a day. You know what they say about plans…
When I went to get Epi for the afternoon milking that first day, I notice Annie was dripping milk. I couldn’t leave her like that, so I brought her into the barn too. Maggie came right in as well. So I had all three cows I was milking in the afternoon.
So much for my plans!
Then Maggie started drinking her own milk–an issue we dealt with last year too. Only this time around she figured out how to get the weaning ring out of her nose. Long story on her, but I’m fairly certain she’ll be meat next fall.
Unless she does a good job raising calves, which is what I’m planning on trying next spring!
Enough of a rabbit (cow?) trail. Back to the point of this post.
So now I was about a month into the milking season milking two cows twice a day and one cow once a day (when she had milk left for me).
One afternoon I went out to get Epi and she refused to come to there barn. I think I chased her around for an hour before Bryan came out and told me to leave her.
I did, and the next morning she was very full, but milked out fine. Ever since then, she’s been a once a day cow.
I’m still milking Annie twice a day to give enough milk to the calves. But only until the end of June. In July, I’ll get her down to once a day as well, and my afternoon chores will be so easy!
