tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post5958238818776267972..comments2023-10-21T16:38:35.007-05:00Comments on Thoughts from Frank and Fern: A Simple Non-Electric Milking MachineFrank and Fernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-52488000072174135072015-08-31T17:32:34.274-05:002015-08-31T17:32:34.274-05:00Really enjoyed your article. This may sound silly...Really enjoyed your article. This may sound silly but shouldn't these milking machines be as gentle as the ones we use on people. I had a co-worker that I sometimes traveled with and we would pull off the side off the road so she could use her breast pump that she plugged into the cigarette lighter plug. If these breast pumps caused tissue damage they would be off the market. I love my goats and feel they should get the same kind of consideration, it should be reasonable cost, do the job, and not hurt or damage the teats...or be taken off the market. Cuso-lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09438715278777452796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-34656823084850936172015-08-22T17:22:36.738-05:002015-08-22T17:22:36.738-05:00I don't know about kicking things around, Tews...I don't know about kicking things around, Tewshooz. (-:<br /><br />We've tried MSM as well, but didn't notice any difference. I'm going to have to see if I can get a couple of cases of canned cherries and see how that goes. Thank you for sharing.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-35775988625602550442015-08-22T17:20:56.989-05:002015-08-22T17:20:56.989-05:00Thank you for the pointers on the milker.
We trie...Thank you for the pointers on the milker.<br /><br />We tried tumeric last year, but had really bad heartburn with it. We tolerate the ginger okay, though. Thank you for the recommendation.<br /><br />FernFrank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-41549167359046073792015-08-20T22:45:39.558-05:002015-08-20T22:45:39.558-05:00I've learned so much from these comments, and ...I've learned so much from these comments, and will be trying dark cherries myself to see how it helps my own pain, but the last two lines of this comment made me smile so big!!! *chuckling still*Meloniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09218572127310877215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-54247002623598602622015-08-20T22:42:24.997-05:002015-08-20T22:42:24.997-05:00Thank you, Frank - and I agree, we can definitely ...Thank you, Frank - and I agree, we can definitely hope for that positive future. Knowing what may come and being able to learn from folks ahead of me on this is making me more hopeful. We will definitely be looking at the calendar to make the most of the summer months the way y'all do as well. It makes great sense!Meloniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09218572127310877215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-57378147647785904342015-08-20T11:37:04.581-05:002015-08-20T11:37:04.581-05:00Have you tried MSM for your arthritis? I take on...Have you tried MSM for your arthritis? I take one or two 1000mg pills every day, and if I happen to run out or forget to take it my joints sure know it. My thumbs especially hurt. My mother used to eat dark canned cherries, too. Also 10 almonds a day. I read once that arthritis was caused by suppressed anger and to take a pillow and kick the heck out of it to release it. I can think of other things to kick the heck out of, but I don't think it would be legal. Tewshoozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564577459982968771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-54654114119827890872015-08-20T00:19:13.122-05:002015-08-20T00:19:13.122-05:00rats Fern - i was hoping that you had not tried c&...rats Fern - i was hoping that you had not tried c&g as i hoped it could really help you. now i am at a loss of what to recommend. i'm sorry.kymberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02607117635648274823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-46096910832551118882015-08-19T23:12:32.047-05:002015-08-19T23:12:32.047-05:00Fern, I totally sympathize with you. I have arthr...Fern, I totally sympathize with you. I have arthritis in my hands also and milk 3 goats (nigerians) daily. I use the Henry system and only milk once per day. My original pump to the Henry broke and I replaced it with a Harbor Freight brake check pump (which is what the Henry pump is- a brake check pump) I had to change to a smaller pump cup (its actually a syringe) to fit my goats teats. I have not have any real issues with the teats being stretched. Remember to not pump above 10. The milk really flows at about 7. I always have to finish milking by hand. I find that i can massage the udder and get more milk to come down before i finish out milking by hand.<br /><br />As for supplements, consider tumeric. It is a strong natural anti-inflammatory herb and I think it does help me. <br /><br />Hope this helpsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-68619225224431806972015-08-19T22:02:08.422-05:002015-08-19T22:02:08.422-05:00Taylor, thank you, and thank you for your kind wor...Taylor, thank you, and thank you for your kind words. Right now I'm going to continue milking by hand, but instead of milking four goats, I'm going to cut it down to two and then one. I will research your recommendation, I'm always looking for a way to be pain free. Thank you again for your recommendation. Happy milking!<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-9965512573003109892015-08-19T21:59:16.321-05:002015-08-19T21:59:16.321-05:00Thank you for the information. Something is going ...Thank you for the information. Something is going to have to give here in the near future. You're the second person to recommend the vacuum pulsator unit. Thank you for taking the time from your busy day to comment.<br /><br />Frank<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-25423228206381261032015-08-19T21:56:06.255-05:002015-08-19T21:56:06.255-05:00CB, thank you for the detailed information and tha...CB, thank you for the detailed information and thank you for taking the time to put it together. I'll take a look at all of these links, it may take me a few days, but I will look at them. I genuinely thank you for taking the time to put this together.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-34701333767556658702015-08-19T21:53:17.764-05:002015-08-19T21:53:17.764-05:00Annabel, I love cherries. I'm not familiar wit...Annabel, I love cherries. I'm not familiar with black tinned cherries, but I will give them a look. Thank you for the recommendation.<br /><br />FernFrank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-80805558454846043912015-08-19T21:51:41.842-05:002015-08-19T21:51:41.842-05:00I'm glad this information was useful, Sandra. ...I'm glad this information was useful, Sandra. I still haven't figured out what I'll do in the long run.<br /><br />FernFrank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-67178795920446243982015-08-19T21:49:51.557-05:002015-08-19T21:49:51.557-05:00Hi, Sandy, thank you for the recommendation. I'...Hi, Sandy, thank you for the recommendation. I'll certainly do some research and look into it. Thank you again.<br /><br />FernFrank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-12008340557427072472015-08-19T21:48:31.991-05:002015-08-19T21:48:31.991-05:00Hi, Kymber, thank you for the recommendation. Yes,...Hi, Kymber, thank you for the recommendation. Yes, I have taken various types of glucosamine for the last 20 years, and I have taken chondroitin for lengthy periods of time. I've also tried shark cartilage. In my particular case, none of them really seem to make any big difference, but that's just my case. Frank just reminded me that we've taken Cod Liver Oil for years in the gel cap form. I've also tried colloidal silver. I've tried vinegar, internal and external. And all of the above I've tried for long periods of time. Thank you for your recommendation.<br /><br />Fern<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-21238077185459896512015-08-19T21:41:38.866-05:002015-08-19T21:41:38.866-05:00Melonie, we can only hope for a positive future. F...Melonie, we can only hope for a positive future. Fern has known this day was coming for a long time. We tried the manual milking machine one time and it is now dried and back in the box. We try to do the bulk of our milking during the summer months, and make as much cheese and other dairy products as we can during that period. Then we take turns, depending on the animal, giving them a break and letting them dry up. The cold time is hard around here, too. We don't know what the future is going to hold either. But instead of milking four goats, we'll cut it down to two and then one. There have been a couple of winters that we drank store bought milk. Enjoy summer while we have it, Jack Frost will be here soon. Thank you for sharing.<br /><br />Frank<br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-58573414795604793592015-08-19T11:34:37.754-05:002015-08-19T11:34:37.754-05:00Hi, Fern,
thanks for the article. I milk by hand,...Hi, Fern,<br /> thanks for the article. I milk by hand, and am older than you :), and when I was recently milking three times daily (dairy goat, + cow had mastitis so had to milk her out often) my hands were having a fit. Pain. Lots of it. I remembered that taking bromelain helps, so that's what I did. Looks like others have good suggestions as well, I have heard of taking cherry juice for arthritis. Good luck with the milking, I share your concern about damaging the teats. Hope you can find a good solution. Thanks as always for your excellent and helpful articles!Taylorhttp://www.loomhall.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-8172392904498735962015-08-18T18:10:29.966-05:002015-08-18T18:10:29.966-05:00Not sure who posted the last comment but it is cor...Not sure who posted the last comment but it is correct. I have multiple milkers, hand, vacuum only and pulsator. The vacuum only type will never completely drain the udders, and will always need to be completed by hand.(but will alleviate arthritic pain) Also be careful that vacuum never exceeds 11psi for any extended period or you will damage the teats. You can run a small electrical vacuum pulsator unit off a battery and 12V vacuum pump. (or an Inverter) This is the best option in the long run if you can do it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-52078451107169002292015-08-18T08:27:55.458-05:002015-08-18T08:27:55.458-05:00We started with the EZ milker on our cow, but used...We started with the EZ milker on our cow, but used it only twice because we didn't like the constant suction and it would only get about 1/4 of what it should have and we would end up milking by hand anyway. <br /><br />We just happened to c be offered a bucket milker for an excellent price when buying our last 2 cows. With the pulsation and vacuum gauges, etc., it works much better and I'm more confident in not doing damage with it. It's main downfall is it does require power.<br /><br />Here's a little research on various types of milkers. <br />This article is a quick synopsis of the history of milking (I wonder how much direct experience they have, though, as they call the cow's udder an "utter"!)<br /><br />www.bccdvt.org/benningtonashistory/Lapenta-McDonald/technology.htm<br /><br />This article mentions the damage that continuous suction milkers can cause:<br /><br />www.americanartifacts.com/smma/milker/milker.htm<br /><br />If you REALLY want to educate yourself about all things udder and teat related, read this article (one of THOUSANDS!) that describes teat health and the bad things that can happen with high vacuum , over- milking , and use of liners with stiff mouthpieces or liners that are mounted at high tension. <br /><br />www.uwex.edu/uwmril/pdf/MilkMachine/TeatConditionEval/AABP_NMC_paper1_with_refs_July01.pdf<br /><br />This came from a website sponsored by the Milking Research and Instruction Lab at the University of Wisconsin. I would consider them a valid resource.<br /><br />fyi.uwex.edu/uwmril/milking-machines/<br />CBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18441082544900346431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-22037897296433382782015-08-18T07:47:07.423-05:002015-08-18T07:47:07.423-05:00Dear Fern, for your arthritis eat black tinned che...Dear Fern, for your arthritis eat black tinned cherries every day. Please try this it works. The former Prime minister of Australia Bob Hawke got bad arthritis in his hands. I heard him say this. He had access to the best doctors in the world! He was told to eat tinned cherries (dark cherries) daily. It worked and completely fixed his arthritis. He eats black cherries daily to this day. I heard him say it in an interview this year. With love Annabel.Annabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027539528156492413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-7105751545111124382015-08-18T06:36:22.837-05:002015-08-18T06:36:22.837-05:00Thanks for posting! We have considered the EZ milk...Thanks for posting! We have considered the EZ milker, but right now feel it is not worth the extra fuss. Good to read others experiences with the different milkers.Sandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14643387947219993819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-75681153237493791392015-08-17T22:36:30.808-05:002015-08-17T22:36:30.808-05:00I also suggest mms which has really helped my arth...I also suggest mms which has really helped my arthritis pain. I buy the granular form and add it to my morning coffee.Frugal in the USAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14378893788109034092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-15156679989939179072015-08-17T20:11:56.417-05:002015-08-17T20:11:56.417-05:00Fern - i agree with Melonie above. i am glad that ...Fern - i agree with Melonie above. i am glad that you published this article and have learned much from it. whether we ever have goats or not, i liked all of the details about the teets and udders. i would think that using the machines would extend their teets and that is something that i hope others with extra information and read here would comment on. <br /><br />Fern - do you take chondroitin and glucosamine? if you are so inclined, try to find a good source in liquid form as it is easier to take than pills (that's what i find). i used to feel arthritic in my hands and hips during the winter and if i missed only one day of taking my c&g, i would feel it. i felt that taking it really helped with the pain. i would recommend that you try some. it could help you. and i hope it does.<br /><br />your friend,<br />kymberkymberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02607117635648274823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-91436272933699880142015-08-17T17:22:08.353-05:002015-08-17T17:22:08.353-05:00Thank you, Fern, for *not* deleting this post! We...Thank you, Fern, for *not* deleting this post! We do not have goats at this time, but we do plan to invest in them when we are able. I developed rheumatoid arthritis about two and a half years ago; so far it is a very mild case, but I'm only in my early 40s. With no clear idea of whether my case will stay mild or potentially get much worse in the coming decades, I'm always on the hunt for insights and ideas of how to adapt for my current abilities AND to prepare for how the future might hit me. So far we know that my pain and fatigue increase in cold weather and as a precursor to thunderstorms (but in this drought, I'll take some pain if it means I know we'll get rain!) - we also know that it lessens in the summer warmth, so I make the most of the hot days as long as I can. Reading your review of this milker helps me to understand that when my milking days come, I may well be 'fine' some days and need the help of a milking machine and my husband or one of my kids during the colder weather. Forewarned is forearmed, right? :DMeloniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09218572127310877215noreply@blogger.com