After separating the calf last night, I milked Glory Bee this morning, first good milking and first day to keep milk. Dumplin helped. She was pretty eager. And rowdy. And so was Glory Bee. She was about mooing the barn down this morning, but the calf didn’t break out of the stall and Glory Bee didn’t break in, so the separation went well. You know, for me. I don’t think they thought it went well! I intended to milk three quarters and leave one for the calf, and let the calf have her the rest of the day before separating again tonight, but the calf was so all over the place, I ended up letting her take two since she’d slobbered on them anyway. There was a LOT of kicking and I had to hold the two inflations on Glory Bee the whole time. I think she was letting me know she didn’t appreciate last night’s separation period, but she will get used to it.
I came away with 3/4 gallon, which isn’t bad for two quarters. I would guess Glory Bee will eventually be giving 3 to 4 gallons milk a day, if she was to be milked twice a day (which I won’t be doing), so should be giving 1 1/2 to 2 gallons from one milking. Since I only milked two quarters, 3/4 gallon seems about right and is plenty for me anyway.
So, for the first time in a long, long time, I’ve got fresh milk setting in the fridge to make cream! Butter, here I come.
I AM MILKING GLORY BEE!
brookdale says:
Yay! Fresh milk at last! And you didn’t have to chase GB around the field or up the mountain to hook her up to the milking machine. She and the baby will get used to the new arrangement I am sure.
New cream on your oatmeal and in your coffee in the morning! Butter! Cheese! Ice cream! Whoopee!
On December 24, 2012 at 10:23 am
marrypoppinz says:
Congratulations! And Merry Christmas!
On December 24, 2012 at 10:41 am
wanda1950 says:
Real cream!! And butter!! I envy you except for the calf slobbering part. I wish you and yours the best Christmas ever. You brighten my days!
On December 24, 2012 at 10:44 am
outbackfarm says:
Yay for you!!!! Don’t you just love nice fresh milk? I am so glad your barn wasn’t torn to pieces by that bad momma cow. Abd baby looks just fine. Even if you did milk all 4 quarters, she’d have plenty for the calf in just a little while. And the calf would be just fine too. But I’m sure you know what you’re doing.
On December 24, 2012 at 11:16 am
bbkrehmeyer says:
Yeaaaa for GB and A D!!!!! The more you milk.the more she will make. Glad the barn survived Is the calf in an area where mom can see her? That can stop the bawling…
Merry Christmas to all the humans and critters at Sassafras Farm….
On December 24, 2012 at 12:31 pm
morningstar says:
Well done I am so happy for you. Happy Christmas to you all xxxxx
On December 24, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Justquilting says:
So wish you lived nearby, I’d alleviate the extra supply for cheese making! Congratulations!
On December 24, 2012 at 5:37 pm
PattiLynn says:
Awww, Rowdy would have been a cute name. But so’s Dumplin.
I can’t feel too sorry for poor mooing Glory Bee, she was SUCH a bad baby, the stinker.
On December 24, 2012 at 10:32 pm
rhubarbrose says:
Wow – Christmas Milk!!! How wonderful. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and lots of whipped cream and cheese 😉
On December 25, 2012 at 12:13 am