Milking machine--I know nothing! HELP!

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A "deal" may have fallen into my lap today, but I have never used a milking machine, or even ever seen one used. A gal has one for sale, it is 5 years old. Includes a "porta-milker" unit, with a brand new motor (electric-110) and a stainless steel bucket milker assembly, 65 lb. capacity, with all new rubbers and inflations. As near as I can tell, the set-up new, from my Nasco catalog would be about $1940.00 not counting shipping. Okay, she's asking $1000. But wait! (If you call in the next 10 minutes...) no, seriously, this is a "package deal" It also includes a 6 year old Holstein cow, 5 months fresh, with 2 three week old Holstein bull (but banded) calves "on" her. Delivery may or may not be included. (A little bit of dickering is obviously gonna come into play). She says she is giving about 3 gallons a day, but only a estimate, she assumes that's what the 2 calves are taking, since she only milks her when she needs milk for the house, and just waunders out to wherever the cow is, gives her a coffee can of grain and milks out a gallon or so. (?) I'm mostly interested in the machine, I've got the money, no problem, because I've been saving up to get one of the new "belly pan" milking machines from Hoeggers'. I'm really torn on this, because I don't know if this milking machine could be converted for my goats--I have tendonitus really bad from milking, that's why I've been saving up for the machine--and I have never raised calves "on" a cow before. After years of searching, I finally have just gotten on a waiting list for a Guernsey heifer calf, but I could get a call tomorrow to pick her up, or it could be 3 months. I'm also worried about bloat, I've got about 4 acres of shoulder-high grass, clover, and vetch, and if this cow isn't used to pasture, (and I can fence her into maybe 1 1/2 acre increments at the most) will she eat too much? Hubby is gone 16 hours a day, and says it is "up to me", but he's against it because he thinks it will be too much work for me, but in my opinion, the milking machine and the calves would actually cut my work, especially if there is a way to use the machine on the goats. Here's my thoughts, please let me know--honestly-- if you think I'm on the right track. The price on the machine is very reasonable, and the cow and calves are a freebie. She says the cow doesn't need to be milked, the calves are taking it all--but that could really change on all this pasture. So even if I have to milk her out somewhat, I could mix that with the goat milk once my Guernsey heifer calf gets here. At 6 years old, her days are somewhat numbered, and I can send her for hamburger meat when my heifer freshens (minimum 2 years) and still get at least 1, if not 2 calves out of her..I would bring in a Limosine bull as soon as I know her cycle. Also, to give you a better idea of prices here, because I know a lot of you are in the midwest and down South, springing Holstein grade heifers go from $1700. to $2000 at the sale barn Once they are weaned, I already have guarunteed sales of the Holstein steers at about $250.00. If they were beef crosses, that would go to $450. But, remember, I'm paying $10.85 a bale for alfalfa. My son is gonna take me to see the cow, calves, and milking machine tomorrow, and I'm planning on taking my strip cup, and mastitus indicators, and trying to check everything out. I would really appreciate any advice before I go. Thank you, sorry this is so long.....Kathie p.s. Extra milk is no problem, between the animals, cottage cheese, hard cheese, ice cream, kids and pigs, that's the least of my worries.

-- Kathie in Western Washington (twinrosefarm@worldnet.att.net), June 24, 2001

Answers

can you set it up,, to have the person come over and walk you thru it?

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), June 24, 2001.

Huh, I wish I could get a cow, TWO calves (even if they are both Holstein bull calves), and a nearly new milking machine for $1000! Around here good milkers are going for over $1500.

Lucky!

Anyway, there's a book on refurbishing milking machines, and also converting them to use with your goats. It's called (amazingly enough) "The Goat Owner's Guide to Milking Machines". It's not just for goats though, really its a good general reference on caring, maintaining, rebuilding, refurbishing and repairing milking machines in general. You can find it at this URL:

http://www.stringalon gbooks.com/books.htm

I've been meaning to get a copy myself. It's only $7.95, and that includes postage. Guess I ought to get off my duff and actually do it ... OK, done, I now have a copy of this book coming myself. Been meaning to get it for something over a year now. I'm not slow ... LOL!

-- Sojourner (sojournr@missouri.org), June 24, 2001.


First, thank you for the help with my Guernsey cow. I still cannot leave the calves with her all day as they are getting too much milk and their stools are loose. I wish I could, but she is giving at least 7 gallons a day. Even her own calf has loose stools. I would like to know how the girl does it with a dairy cow.

Now, your deal seems great to me. The cow and calves would be worth that here. And your prices are way higher than ours. I got the cow, and both calves, delievered for 850. Now he is a friend of mine and I might have had a wee little break, I don't know for sure. But she is a perfect milk cow, off a dairy, takes other calves, any other cow might be wild, and they're not worth anything to me. We picked up 2 full stock Jersey bull bottle calves yesterday for 75 each, and they are very strong and healthy, not sickly at all. Very nice looking.

If you found out it was too much for you, sell the cow and calves and you have the milker for free. Or if the milker isn't right, sell it and have the cow and calves for free. Everywhere I had read (and I've been reading for days!) says a cow that will take any calf is priceless. Seems would be great just to have her in the family!

Can you get this deal and the Guernsey? Or do you have to choose? That is like way allot of money for hay! My alfalfa costs 2 a bale, and 20 for a huge round bale of half alfalfa and half Timothy. I am afraid to give Ginger alfalfa, I think maybe that's why the calves has such loose stools, cause she was just on pasture & weeds before, and our pasture is full of green grass. I am just giving her good grass hay for now. I am getting a quart of cream for every 5 quarts of milk. And I took off the cream before I fed the little Jerseys. That cow would pay for herself in no time short raising calves.

-- Cindy in KY (solid_rock_ranch@yahoo.com), June 24, 2001.


Could you put two goats tail to tail and use the cow claw on the bucket? :)

-- Gerry (goldrush@home.com), June 24, 2001.

Actually on rereading it it doesn't sound like the cow in question is really all that good a milker. And Holstein bull calves don't typically bring a lot - they don't fill out well so they're not much for meat and dairy bull calves are actually fairly useless otherwise (you only need 1 bull for bunches of cows, and there's so much AI done now).

But 3 gallons a day is not much, IF that's all she's giving. Holsteins typically give 10 gallons a day (production Holsteins anyway). Jerseys (production again) give 6 or more. But maybe she's just guessing.

It still doesn't sound like such a bad deal because you ought to be able to sell the cow and calves and recoup some of that $1k, and still have the nearly new milking machine.

But 3 gallons a day is not that much for a Holstein.

In my mind getting rid of the Holstein is no real loss because I don't care for their milk - too watery. Try to figure what you could get for the cow and calves. Then decide if the difference is worth it to end up with the nearly new milking machine.

-- Sojourner (sojournr@missouri.org), June 24, 2001.



I've got to go milk, but when i get done i will re read your post and try to help. I can try with the milking machine too. We just got a portable conde milking machine, needed a lot of cleaning, almost thought I got a used dud. If you can tell me what you need to know about the milking machine I'll try to help.

Bernice

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), June 24, 2001.


In my mind Kathie if you have a nice quiet cow who will stand while she is milked in a field you don't need a milking machine. In my humble opinion hand milking is a much more pleasurable experience than washing dairy equipment.

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), June 24, 2001.

John, Kathie's got tendonitis. It's no pleasure to milk by hand with something like tendonitis or carpal tunnel. And its not just the one cow, she wants the milking machine for her goats. Plus she's got a second cow coming.

How many goats have you got, Kathie?

-- Sojourner (notime4@summer.spam), June 24, 2001.


Kathie, I saw the ad too and was wishing I were already on my property. It sounds like a very good deal to me. The cow may be giving way more than 3 gallons, by the way. My goat had two kids on her that were three months old. I tried to milk her morning and night and kept getting little or nothing. I thought she was drying up because I could NEVER get any milk to speak of. Then I took the kids away and was suddenly getting a gallon and a half a day! So much for dry! I never would have guessed that two kids could drink so much and not get loose or ill. Anyway, I don't think you can really tell what those calves are taking until you take them away. She may surprise you. Also, my neighbor out on Whidbey has a holstein steer who looks quite filled out. He's no Hereford, but he's pretty bulky just the same.

-- Laura Jensen (lrjensen@nwlink.com), June 24, 2001.

Sorry Kathie, I should have read your whole post.

-- john hill (John@cnd.co.nz), June 24, 2001.


Thank you so much, everyone, for all the good advice. I didn't get up to see them today, turns out the gal who has it wasn't going to be available today. That means I probably won't get up to see it 'til next weekend, and I can't see it still being available. But I'm gonna try to get up there! Found out one more detail..while the 2 calves that are on her now are 3 weeks old, when she got them, she pulled off her own calf and another one, they were 5 months old, so Laura, you're very probably right that she is giving lots more than 3 gallons a day....or is at least cabable of it. She has raised from 4 to 6 calves on her ever since her first freshening, kinda makes me shudder to think of what shape her udder might be in. I have raised Holstein steers for beef before, and I now they make very good beef, it's just that they take so long! Sojouner-I'm milking six Lamanchas right now, and the lowest producer is giving right at 12 lbs a day, the highest about 22. I've milked by hand for 44 years now, and the tendonitus just started getting really bad about 5 years ago. Do any of you other "milkers" suffer with this, and how do you handle it? I wear support bands just below my elbows, which keeps my arms from going numb at night, and helps some with the pain. Thank you again, Kathie

-- Kathie in Western Washington (twinrosefarm@worldnet.att.net), June 24, 2001.

Kathie,

I have hand milked goats on and off for 12 yrs now and this dairy operation we are starting did my hands in. I was milking 12 does 2 x's a day for the past 3 weeks til i got my machine, my hands hurt so bad, got blisters and then my fingertips went numb. It got really bad so i got the milking machine. i needed it anyways. I just used advil for pain and then tried a arthritis cream, an herbal brew. Its getting better slowly. It'll be a week tomorrow since i've hand milked and I am feeling better.

PS... i have a Surge belly milker for sale, you will need a vacuum pump and a pulsator to get it going. If anyone is interested i can give you the addy for a website for hamby's Dairy that has parts.

Bernice

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), June 24, 2001.


Kathie,

I had called her last week and went out today to see the cow and machine (I was ready to buy it).

The holstein is very skittish and has never been haltered or lead. She comes for this woman when called but did not want me to touch her- I was able to feed her greens. She put her in a stanchion (she said she doubted the cow would stand if not in a stanchion). The cow a little when I tried to milk her (I couldn't get anything). When the woman milked a little she kicked a giant kick (scared me).

Her teats are calloused, hard and short (oddly angled, too). One teat had a healing sore. She is a huge cow on lots of good grass. She had diarrhea (very loose and wet- green).

She said the calves were recovering from diarrhea (said they had never scoured). They have healing burn marks (and missing hair) on their bottoms but would not allow me to get close to them. They were skinny. She has not banded them yet.

The milking machine I would still buy for $300-$500 (perhaps). She has had it for 6 years- she bought it used, so it is older than that. The motor has piping from it to the milking area that is installed- that would have to be removed (feasible). The motor looked older but ran fine. It did look complete and usable.

If you have any more questions let me know.

I think the cow would be a lot of trouble to milk (and round up for milking. I think the calves may continue to have problems. So, at issue is it worth $1000 for a used milking machine and perhaps some hamburger.

Amy

-- Amy Richards (amysgarden2@earthlink.net), June 25, 2001.


Kathie, I also was having trouble with my milk maid hands. I started taking glucosomine and chondroiton for this. It helped tremdously but the biggest relief came when my Mom (75 and still rides her horses) told me about adding MSN to it. I will only be milking 2 through winter this year so I won't start back up on the meds until December. Taking them a full 30 days before we start freshening again next year. Not having the pain in my hands when trying to sleep has been the biggest relief. I had no luck with the hand/wrist braces I was given. They were cumbersome and got filthy very quickly, and taking them off and on to clean udders was a pain in itself! My problems were always with my middle finger and ring finger, numbness and pain, anything after milking doe number 5 was painful.

I warned Bernice to order herself a generator now! The morning the electricity is off and she is hand milking again..............yeeks Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), June 26, 2001.


The runny manure in an adult cow is normal for a couple days when they are turned out on fresh pasture, they have several stomach's and adjust to it. Calves are very prone to scours and medicine must be administered, watch for off colored stool. The milk machine will stop sucking on the teat cups that are pointed to the ground, if the cups are large enough there shouldn't be a problem, just let two of them hang down for the goats.If bulls aren't banded very young the bands will not fit around the sack.

-- Gary Benner (benner46@hotmail.com), June 27, 2001.


I am seeking a used milking machine to be used on our Jersey cow. I am in western Washington. Anyone have any information?

-- Steve Gish (redroof8@olypen.com), September 26, 2001.

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