AND so he built a milking stanchion. Because no self respecting body, except for the odd cow, wanted to be out in the gardens or the fields yesterday. The wind was horrible. Later in the morning the rain cleared out and back came Mistress Wind and she was in a Howler of a mood. Sending us all scuttling for cover. So John took cover in the barn – my barn – and built us a milking stanchion. Stanchion is a French word I think. Stand is probably a more American word?
Meanwhile- the weather was so grim that I thought I had lost the kunekune but they were both tucked up in the back of their hut. Snug – and grumpy at being bothered by me crawling into the hut and peering over their straw bale wall to see if everything was alright. “Of course everything is bloody alright,” Timatanga Moana grumbled, muttering on about the damn cold wind and can you please get that damn ugly slobbery dog out of my bedroom. (You can tell they come from New Zealand stock). I looked back to find Boo peering politely over my shoulder. He looked at me and I looked at him and lifting our paws lightly we both backed out – not wanting to tangle with a grumpy pig.
“She is looking awfully fat.” whispered Boo as we both moved in tandem, in reverse, on all fours, out of the hut.
“I don’t know why,” I said, “I never give her any grain.”
“I can hear you..!” Tima called out to us. “I am right here you know!”
“Snort.” said TonTon. Who was very sensibly waiting three steps back from the door of the Kunekune hut moving even further back to let our bottoms out.
You see John had the day off, because of all the rain, so he set to and remade the hay feeder in the milking shed into a milking stanchion. (I realise now how spoilt I was with Daisy in her good days before she got sick. She would just stand in the milking shed, I did not even need to chain her up. Though there must have been a training period. But I can’t remember it).
The Stanchion (or Stand) is a gap that the cow puts her head through, with two upright bars on either side of her neck, one of which will slide across and close around her so she can comfortably eat and move her head about, but she cannot back up. Remarkably this made a great deal of difference to Lady A. Once secured she began to eat her sunflower and oat treats. And each time she lifted her foot to kick, (only four times this session) I sung “Lift.” and John lifted her tail in warning and she put her foot back down. Then I sung”Down.” and he relaxed. Each of these directives was told in the same sing song voice I use to talk to the cow. It would probably sound quite bonkers to the outsider. But all she is learning is repercussions. She kicks – her tail is lifted by some unseen force. Foot down – tail down.
(On the right of the screen -above- will be the goats milking platform but we do not need to worry about building this stanchion and platform until this coming winter- first things first). “First things first.” is such a sensible saying, don’t you think?
This is not an overnight fix. Lady A is in training now. It takes a good two or three weeks to train a cow sometimes longer so she and I can work as a team without Our John the reluctant policeman. Cows are not dogs, they are not terribly clever, so if we do the same thing in the same order every evening we will develop our understanding. I am determined that Lady and I will work together. Her udder is lovely. Her calf is lovely. We will work it out. We have time. Milking season has only just begun!
Mr Flowers is such a calm peacock. No eggs yet though. Soon maybe?
I hope you have a lovely day.
Love your friend on the farm, (and everybody needs a friend with a farm! So do not hesitate to set up a time to visit – you are one of The Fellowship of the Farmy after all!).
love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
41 responses to “A milking stanchion”
Nice work John!
I imagine the pigs are hard at work on a tunnel to New Zealand 😉
Morning Ms Celi – yes it was cold yesterday and that wind – I thought winter was back! I wore my winter coat to walk out and get the mail and the furnace was on in the house!! I had to laugh about you checking the Kunes!!! And Boo over your shoulder and Ton close by – now that would’ve been the photo shot of the rear of the year!!!!!! John is quite the Guy!! Keep him around for awhile!!!
Celi, I would be over in a heartbeat to visit if I could but alas the oceans are just a little too big.
Have a beautiful day and happy cow training.
🙂 Mandy xo
The image in my head of you and Boo backing out of Tima’s bedroom has me laughing as I start my day. Thanks, Miss C! xo
Me too!
Your Kunekune story cracks me up!
I grew up in Wisconsin and we called them stanchions too
Wouldn’t miss my visit for anything, ever. Hope you have a calm sunny day today. Aaah Daisy, all the future cows will have biiig hooves to fill 🙂 Laura
First things first: stanchion in English meanis support, for which the French is étançon. or a cattle stanchion is “étai montant”. There you are.
I’m glad Lady A is settling down and getting educated. We can’t have her kicking our Celie!
Sorry you’re having such attrocious weather. I’ll refrain from describing how gorgeous it is here just now!
love,
ViV xox
Slow, sure, repetition certainly sounds like the way to do the milking Celi! She’ll ‘get with the program’ by and by! xo
Silly pigs 🙂
Tail up, tail down…that intrigues me…why should it make a difference to a cow…don’t they like their bottoms exposed to the air.
Talking of bottoms. I bet it was a hilarious sight with your bottom and Boo’s bottom reversing from the Kunekune house….shame there was nobody there to take a picture…..
Thank you once again for the absolutely wonderful tale of the Farmy…if I lived in USA I would definitely come on a visit….I might not be much good at work due to age but I could easily give all the animals a cuddle
Have a great day…and if by some chance the raindrops should fall upon you , think of them as gift from Heaven ( we had hailstones today followed by sunshine)
Yes, where was the camera when you and Boo were backing out of the KuneKune hut? Boo is so helpful though.
Cows can’t kick well when their tails are raised. Quite a trick.
They don’t like it at all and last night she only raised her foot once so maybe she will learn fast.. c
My dad always had the radio on in the barn during milking time. For some reason, in the back of my mind, I am remembering that cows like music, that it soothes them.
I may have missed it-Are you keeping Lady A? Sounds like you have worked it out! And I love the Kune story, is there a similar saying about letting sleeping pigs lie?
I’m so glad Lady A is willing to learn! Everyone will be the better for it, including her.
Poor John….. I hope the Lady remains a Lady and doesn’t have an ‘accident’ when her tail is lifted. 😦
Mr Flower is so dang handsome!!!!