Cow whisperer has to walk the talk

I have been dreading this moment for about 8 months.  I have to train my heifer to milk.  The last time I had to train one of my own, was 7 years ago.  I was 43, now I’m 50.  Somehow fear has crept in, maybe because my own mortality just jumped up and slapped me in the face last summer.  I had been waiting for menopause to kick in and shrink a uterine fibroid that I been dealing with for some time.  It just decided to prolapse, when that happened I started losing blood rapidly.  After going to the hospital, and going through triage, we waited and waited.  The time passed very slowly, finally my husband had to leave me there and go home and do the chores.  We figured if I passed out, at least I was in the hospital.  It took 5 hours, before they admitted me – I had lost 1/2 of my blood volume.  I was so weak I couldn’t even stand up.  Luckily,  with a transfusion and a D & C, I was on my home  the next afternoon.  My doctor also informed me that since my Mom had her last period at age 60, that I probably would too.  So much for no more PMS anytime soon…

The other thing was seeing my husband totally flattened this winter after surgery.  Weak, doesn’t even begin to describe his condition.  If you live an active life like we do, you don’t feel old.  I’m sure if you’re 35 or 40 and reading this, you think I’m an old duffer.  Well, I’m not.  We hire young men to help us from time to time and I can usually work harder, for longer periods of time than they can.  But, no matter how physically strong I am, I’ve worked myself into a frenzy over this heifer for no reason.  I realize it is all in my head, which I know is a very strange place. 

I’m hoping if I post about this – I will be forced to write about the time I spend training, and what I’m doing, and I will quit procrastinating.

Jetta, a sweet one week old.

Jetta, at 2 1/2 years.  She looks big!

Yesterday, I caught her and tried to put a brand new halter on.  Too small, all I did was piss her off.  Go get an old halter and try that.  It fits, but barely.  I will have to get a new one this week.  She has been with her 18 month old brother for the last three months, and they have got along OK.  But, he needed to go with the herd, who got moved to pasture on Friday.  Which meant catching him and hoping he remembered his leading lessons from when he a baby.  I tied Jetta up, and caught her brother, and my daughter and I led him across the road to the pasture.  He went like a fair calf, even though we hadn’t handled him for at least 8 months.  We then put Jetta in the pasture with her Mom.

Today, and for the next month, I will put her in at the same time that I milk.  She will get used to the idea and the routine.  She came when I called this morning, but was skittish when I had to reach for the halter to put a lead on her.  It has been so muddy that I was scared I would slip and fall and pee my pants, while the heifer just took off.  But, she remembered I was boss, and came right along.  Right away, I will start brushing her and trying to make friends with her.  I usually train them to kickers (hobbles) before I have to try to milk them.  Just in case. 

Hopefully, in a weeks time she should just come to her stall, without me leading her.  Which will simplify things quite a bit.  I lead the milk cow out after milking, but I expect them to come when I call and go to their respective milking areas.  Having her in close proximity, will allow me to observe her for any health problems, and learn her ways.  It took me a few years, but I finally realized on her Mom, that her letdown was uncomfortable for her.  She would be fine for a couple of minutes, (just long enough for me to relax) and WHAM, she would kick out.  Her milk comes down with a bang and I’m sure it doesn’t feel all that good with someone grabbing your teats and daydreaming.  (Although, I’m just guessing on that one).   Now I don’t daydream while milking her (very often).  Getting her minerals adjusted helped her mood considerably, and I know where she’s coming from on that one.

Now, Cow Whisperer is going to be Greenhouse Whisperer, the sun is out.