10910 replies to this topic

[KennyP]

It's still good reading. Especially since it is real life experiences. I had my share of those kind of things when I helped on the farm in western Kansas. After it was all over, we were finally able to work without laughing about some of it.

[HowardsMF155]

Today I finished dozing old tree laps out of pasture edges, then pulled a calf from a heifer needing calving help. I am tired! I have tons of things I need to do, but I may take the evening off.

Hey Daniel, glad you got away from the tire without anyone getting hurt. You mentioning the calf, have you ever run across an author named James Herriot? He was a veterinarian in Britain who wrote a number of books loosely based on his early life in Britain's countryside. His descriptions of trying to get a hand on a calf or foal that needed help birthing are great.

[olcowhand]

Don't have the time for much reading, but maybe I'll have Teresa see if our library has that book.
Just this morning, after milking, I found our milk weigh jars & pipeline have buildup inside. Checked the water temp & our hot water heater wasn't working right. Changed out the thermostat & she's percolating well now. Ran a super heavy wash following a super heavy acid treatment. Should get all clean inside.
Then I ground a load of calf corn, then tilled my un-planted area of my garden to knock down tiny weed growth. Time for lunch break.

[OldBuzzard]

How many head are you milking?

I'm assuming that they are Holsteins?

If so, that would explain the amount of poo. Holsteins are the only critters that I know of than can eat 1# and poop 2#

[olcowhand]

Yep, Holsteins, 70 milking right now. Usually between 80 & 90, but #'s low. Several heifers to come online soon though. I'd argue the poo figures. I think they eat 1lb, then poo 3!!!!!!!

[OldBuzzard]

I've been on the "shoveling end' of a Holstein more that a time or two.

I grew up mostly in a children's home in Xenia. I went then when I was 9 and stayed until I graduated in 1964,

At that time the home, Ohio Soldiers & Sailors Orphans Home had one of the best Holstein herds in the country.

They were milking right at 70 head, and had 4 herd bulls. They had 2 Gold Medal Production sires, one Silver medal and one Bronze medal. The home was run by the State of Ohio, so they had 'taxpayer money', but the farm manager really knew his Holsteins, and over the years built a really 1st class herd.

Those 70 head would produce more milk that 500 kids, and around 100 or so adults could drink. There were times when they would separate the cream from a good bit of it, feed the skim milk to the hogs, and pour the cream BACK into the milk that we were drinking....man that was some awesome stuff.

WE all had 'jobs' and rotated through them a month at a time. One of the better ones was to be assigned to the farm, as we could drink all the milk that we wanted. Being assigned to the farm in the winter had the added 'perk' of not having to go to Chapel on Sunday. BUT, offsetting that was the fact that you cleaned the milking parlor. They kept the cows in the stanchions all winter, and there was a trough at the pooing end and we were tasked with cleaning it out. On the other days the hired farmers did it, but on Sunday's they got a break.

We had our own little 'bottling plant', and bottled the milk in 1/2 pint bottles. At that time the milk was just pasteurized, and when you went to the dining hall, you had to shake the bottle to mix it up. Later, they got a homogenizer, and started putting the milk in 5 gal cans the were designed to go into a refrigerated milk dispenser.

When the "new barn" was built, it was the largest in the State, and one of the largest in the country.

Here's a link to a page that has some pictures of it...the hay mows and silos were HUGE.

http://www.photowood...65829&k=MrBCBxN

Sometime in the 70's or 80's, they decided that it was more cost effective to buy milk, and the herd was sold at auction, and the barn fell into disrepair.

ETA:
They milked at 'strange' times too...Midnight and Noon. I never did find out why they used a schedual like that, but the cows didn't seem to care.

Edited by OldBuzzard, April 13, 2012 - 06:16 PM.

[Michiganmobileman]

Thanks for the updates Daniel and thanks to OldBuzzard too for his input. I only worked on dairy farms for about three years in high school but I do remember looking forward to meals on the farm with that bulk tank fresh milk. Now I think that would kill my stomach, but we still drink our share of 2%. Saturdays in the summer breakfast and lunch and I probably could of stayed for supper if I would have wanted. I worked for some great folks.

[olcowhand]

Been sawdust bedding the stalls today, as it's WAY too windy to spray fresh planted corn ground today. Had to wear goggles to move the sawdust as well. This is my store of sawdust, and a pic of some of the stalls. Yes, more stall repair needed as can be seen. When I can get to it.......



Just some pics of the herd, youngest to oldest, milking cows in last pic on far hill.

[IamSherwood]

Great thread Daniel. You are one hard working fella. Not being around a farm, more than a couple times, I find
this thread real interesting. Looking forward to more updates, and storys. Oh yeah, nice tractors.

[olcowhand]

I had a cow go down after calving today too. I treated her for milk fever & got her sitting up. Before I set her up, she was bloated some, and that was causing her a lot of discomfort. Once I drug her around & sat her up I heard a certain sound and smelled an awful stink. Yep, she had a good fart & her ears were pointing up again! LOL Gotta go now & check on her before I hit the hay.

[daytime dave]

I heard a certain sound and smelled an awful stink. Yep, she had a good fart & her ears were pointing up again! LOL Gotta go now & check on her before I hit the hay.

I think most of us feel better afterwards, although the ears don't point as much.

I hope the cow is doing better and you get a good night's sleep.

[olcowhand]

She's not up yet, but she got close! She's gaining her strength back for sure. I think she'll be up when I go check on her 1st thing in the morning.

[NUTNDUN]

Yep, she had a good fart & her ears were pointing up again! LOL

OMG, that is hilarious.

I hope she recovers. You are a busy man Daniel.

[HDWildBill]

Gosh Daniel, you could write a book on the mis-adventures on the farm. After the poo shower and now the fart from the cow I bet very few things bother you.

Thanks for sharing with us what life is like on a farm. This old city boy enjoys it.

[MH81]

The on thing potentially worse than a cow fart is a good cow burp in the face.

We were lucky, didn't have many go down like that, but we had to drench a couple to save them.

That's a messy job.