How To Milk A Cow

How to milk a cow? That's the question for today.  While I would never call myself an expert on milking cows, I did grow up on a farm and we had a milk cow. And yes her name was Bessie. My parents taught me how to milk Bessie. They thought everybody needed to know how to milk cows. Now to be honest, I haven’t milked a cow since those early childhood days many years ago. So I did have to do some research for this article to refresh my memory.

For the most part, it takes about 10-15 minutes to milk a cow by hand, however, variations in time may occur depending on the person and the cow temperament, proper stimulation, and on the stage of lactation. When milking a cow, one should make sure that the cow is comfortable and relaxed. This is important because if the cow is agitated or uncomfortable, it will take longer to milk her. Proper stimulation is also important, as it helps the cow to release the milk. This can be done through gentle rubbing of the udder and teats with a warm cloth. Additionally, the experience and skill of the person can also affect the time it takes to milk the cow.

Production of milk will vary according to the breed, health, age, nutritional management and stage of lactation. On average, a dairy cow produces somewhere around 6-7 gallons of milk per day. But keep in mind, certain breeds of cows may produce more or less milk than this, depending on their health and nutritional management. Also, the amount of milk a cow produces can also vary depending on the stage of lactation. In the early stages of lactation, cows may produce more milk, whereas in the later stages, they may produce less.

Most dairy cows today are milked twice a day at a 12-hour interval. This helps to keep the cow's milk production consistent. Some people may, like we did back on the farm, choose to milk once a day and let the calf nurse the rest of the day. This method is sometimes used as it helps to keep the cow calmer and more relaxed. Additionally, it also allows the calf to receive the necessary nutrition from its mother's milk.

How To Milk A Cow

1. First you take the cow to the milking area and secure her with either a halter or neck collar. Offer her some food such as grain or hay while being milked. Ensure that the milking area is quiet and sanitary for the cow's comfort.

2. To clean dirty udders before milking, use a dry paper towel to wipe them down with. If possible, avoid using water, as any residual water may drain down into the teat opening and potentially contaminate it.

3. You want to begin milking by squeezing with your thumb and first finger as high up as possible on the udder. You need to sort of trap the milk with those fingers and then close & squeeze the remaining fingers while continuing to drain the milk. This should force the milk out of the teat. When the udder "feels empty" and the milk isn't coming out of the teats, stop milking the cow.

4. After you finish milking, you will need to drain the milk through a filtered strainer into a clean glass jar.

Now that you have milked the cow, is it OK to drink raw cow milk? Drinking raw cow milk was something we used to do while living on the farm during our childhood, and some people still do it today. However, you should be aware that it can contain dangerous bacteria that can cause severe illnesses such as diarrhea, cramping, vomiting or even worse. It was because of the health risks that in 1987 the FDA mandated pasteurization of all milk and milk products sold for human consumption and effectively banned the shipment of raw milk in interstate commerce with the exception of cheese made from raw milk, provided the cheese has been aged a minimum of 60 days and is clearly labeled as unpasteurized. 

And lastly, here are a few interesting random facts about cows: There are six main breeds of dairy cattle that are used in the dairy industry. The most common breeds in the United States are, Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernseys, Holsteins, Jerseys, and Milking Shorthorns. 

Also, after eating spicy food, you can cool your mouth with milk, this helps much better than plain water.

I hope this was helpful and thanks for reading.

Tom