Shit Happens
Milking cows in the sixtys and seventys32 total reviews
Comment from DonandVicki
I didn't count but that had to be the most times, a record of sorts, that I read shot in a story. I can see why we pay so much for milk. Actually I think that we are getting a bargain.
reply by the author on 01-Oct-2016
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I didn't count but that had to be the most times, a record of sorts, that I read shot in a story. I can see why we pay so much for milk. Actually I think that we are getting a bargain.
Comment Written 30-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 01-Oct-2016
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Thank you. Yeah, I didn't know how good that word was going to work but it sounds better than saying manure all the time. Don't you agree?
Comment from davisr (Rhonda)
Oh my gosh, this was a hilarious story. We have cattle, too, so I can relate somewhat. I've gotten the poopy tails in the face, and getting injured, but we don't milk, we raise to sell.
You did a great job of presenting your case of a shitty job. I wish you the greatest of luck in the contest,
Rhonda
reply by the author on 01-Oct-2016
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Oh my gosh, this was a hilarious story. We have cattle, too, so I can relate somewhat. I've gotten the poopy tails in the face, and getting injured, but we don't milk, we raise to sell.
You did a great job of presenting your case of a shitty job. I wish you the greatest of luck in the contest,
Rhonda
Comment Written 30-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 01-Oct-2016
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Thank you. I kind of miss the milking days but I don't think my old body could take it anymore. LOL
Comment from Bill O'Bier
Your story delivers a fun and interesting life story the words are sincere and expressive. Thanks for sharing this piece and good luck in this contest.
Wishing you all the best...
Bill~
reply by the author on 30-Sep-2016
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Your story delivers a fun and interesting life story the words are sincere and expressive. Thanks for sharing this piece and good luck in this contest.
Wishing you all the best...
Bill~
Comment Written 30-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 30-Sep-2016
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Thank you, Bill. The farm life was tough then but not as tough as when I was a child. We milked the cows by hand in the fifties, cleaned the barn with forks and a wheelbarrow, and numerous other back breaking jobs.
Comment from TheWriteTeach
This brought back memories and I had to read and comment on this. I grew up on a farm and then married a farmer. I started out milking by hand and putting the milk in cans. When full, the cans had to be put into ice cold water in the vat. Then we moved to DeLaval milkers, not Surge, and didn't need to milk by hand anymore. I milked a good many cows in my day, and carried a lot of pails of milk before we got the pipe line and the bulk tank. That was a change for the better! We, too, got up in the middle of the night for new calves, had bulls bust through the fence to get to the neighbor's cows, and all the rest. But I have to say, we never had mean cows, like you spoke about. All the times I was between two cows, I never got kicked or stepped on. We had tie stalls rather than stanchions, so I can't identify with getting fingers smashed either. At any given time, we had over 60 milking cows, 30 heifers, and a ton of young stock, pigs and chickens. So, we had to deal with plenty of manure. We had a barn cleaner so it didn't have to be shoveled by hand, the chain and paddles took it out to the spreader. Then one of the family, usually my father, spread it - but if you got downwind, you'd come back covered in it! There are no more animals now, and I miss it terribly. Once farming is in your blood, it's always there. Good luck in the contest.
Suzanne
reply by the author on 30-Sep-2016
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This brought back memories and I had to read and comment on this. I grew up on a farm and then married a farmer. I started out milking by hand and putting the milk in cans. When full, the cans had to be put into ice cold water in the vat. Then we moved to DeLaval milkers, not Surge, and didn't need to milk by hand anymore. I milked a good many cows in my day, and carried a lot of pails of milk before we got the pipe line and the bulk tank. That was a change for the better! We, too, got up in the middle of the night for new calves, had bulls bust through the fence to get to the neighbor's cows, and all the rest. But I have to say, we never had mean cows, like you spoke about. All the times I was between two cows, I never got kicked or stepped on. We had tie stalls rather than stanchions, so I can't identify with getting fingers smashed either. At any given time, we had over 60 milking cows, 30 heifers, and a ton of young stock, pigs and chickens. So, we had to deal with plenty of manure. We had a barn cleaner so it didn't have to be shoveled by hand, the chain and paddles took it out to the spreader. Then one of the family, usually my father, spread it - but if you got downwind, you'd come back covered in it! There are no more animals now, and I miss it terribly. Once farming is in your blood, it's always there. Good luck in the contest.
Suzanne
Comment Written 30-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 30-Sep-2016
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Thank you for the great comments. You're right, I miss the farming too. The gutters did have chain and paddles in them to carry the manure out. Our cows weren't mean, some were just a little temperamental and it was easy to set them off. They were registered Holsteins and seemed somewhat more high-strung than other breeds. We had a few Brown Swiss, and Guernsey also, and they seemed to be calmer animals.
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Our cows were Holsteins, also registered. We took a bunch to the fair, won all kinds of ribbons, and there was always one or two that went on to the next level. Memories . . .
Comment from barkingdog
It would be just like the cows to hold it in until they got to the barn. They didn't want to poop in their field.
I sympathize with the dangers of milking--broken hand, ankles and endless days of shit.
In the long run, I hope it was profitable. I'm glad you finally got the milking parlor.
Poor kitty was a nice bit of humor. (For me. Not for the cat. haha)
Good luck in the contest with this very descriptive story.
:) e
reply by the author on 30-Sep-2016
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It would be just like the cows to hold it in until they got to the barn. They didn't want to poop in their field.
I sympathize with the dangers of milking--broken hand, ankles and endless days of shit.
In the long run, I hope it was profitable. I'm glad you finally got the milking parlor.
Poor kitty was a nice bit of humor. (For me. Not for the cat. haha)
Good luck in the contest with this very descriptive story.
:) e
Comment Written 30-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 30-Sep-2016
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Thank you. It wasn't as bad as I maybe made it sound. I rather enjoyed working with the cattle. It could be hectic at times, but we did make a good profit.
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
My son once told me he wanted to work with cows after spending some time with his friend on his parents farm, he was only 13yrs old, so that soon changed! After reading your story, I don't think he would have lasted the day! LOL. What a wonderful life you had. I've heard that chicken poo is good for the hair, I wondered if cow poo is good for the complexion??? Excellent story, the detail was mind boggling! Good luck in the contest, I honestly don't think you'll have much competition with this one!! :) Sandra xx
reply by the author on 30-Sep-2016
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My son once told me he wanted to work with cows after spending some time with his friend on his parents farm, he was only 13yrs old, so that soon changed! After reading your story, I don't think he would have lasted the day! LOL. What a wonderful life you had. I've heard that chicken poo is good for the hair, I wondered if cow poo is good for the complexion??? Excellent story, the detail was mind boggling! Good luck in the contest, I honestly don't think you'll have much competition with this one!! :) Sandra xx
Comment Written 30-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 30-Sep-2016
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Thank you, Sandra. I think the dairy life is much easier now, and look how many cows these big farms of today have. There is a dairy near us that milks over 3000 cows. Our little 300 cow herd would be small potatoes today.
Comment from Thomas Bowling
Funny story. Someone asked Mrs. Truman why she couldn't get the President to stop saying dung.
Are you kidding," she said. "Do you know how long it took me to get him to say dung?"
reply by the author on 30-Sep-2016
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Funny story. Someone asked Mrs. Truman why she couldn't get the President to stop saying dung.
Are you kidding," she said. "Do you know how long it took me to get him to say dung?"
Comment Written 29-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 30-Sep-2016
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Thank you. LOL I like your comment about Truman. I will remember the word.
Comment from Spitfire
I can't imagine living such a life. I'll never look at a cow again and see 'gentle'. Excellent description of the hard work you did. I had to laugh about the poor cat.
A delightful read and good luck in the contest.
reply by the author on 30-Sep-2016
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I can't imagine living such a life. I'll never look at a cow again and see 'gentle'. Excellent description of the hard work you did. I had to laugh about the poor cat.
A delightful read and good luck in the contest.
Comment Written 29-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 30-Sep-2016
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Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed the story. Life was harder back then, but fun.
Comment from LIJ Red
We had two cows only, one for when the other went dry. Those old cows seemed miserable if not milked and fed on time. They were in the barn
lowing if breakfast or supper and milking was late. Ours didn't kick, but when a fly came round, that tail could slap a schoolboy like me down. Your post brings memories of old times in another world...excellent.
reply by the author on 29-Sep-2016
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We had two cows only, one for when the other went dry. Those old cows seemed miserable if not milked and fed on time. They were in the barn
lowing if breakfast or supper and milking was late. Ours didn't kick, but when a fly came round, that tail could slap a schoolboy like me down. Your post brings memories of old times in another world...excellent.
Comment Written 29-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 29-Sep-2016
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Thank you. When I was a child we milked the cows by hand. I had seven brothers so I didn't get stuck with the milking, just had to feed the calves. My brothers got the shitty tails.
Comment from royowen
A fascinating entry in this "work challenges" writing contest. Until now I never quite new what dairy farmers had to contend with, but now I certainly do. A great decriptive image plastering narrative you "painted" here, I can begin to imagine the stress that must have caused you, not to mention, the muck. Well done, excellent entry, I'll bet you still woke up early, lifetime habits are hard to kick once retired. Good luck, blessings, Roy
Typo : the walkway must be clean(ed) off
reply by the author on 29-Sep-2016
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A fascinating entry in this "work challenges" writing contest. Until now I never quite new what dairy farmers had to contend with, but now I certainly do. A great decriptive image plastering narrative you "painted" here, I can begin to imagine the stress that must have caused you, not to mention, the muck. Well done, excellent entry, I'll bet you still woke up early, lifetime habits are hard to kick once retired. Good luck, blessings, Roy
Typo : the walkway must be clean(ed) off
Comment Written 29-Sep-2016
reply by the author on 29-Sep-2016
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Thank you. Yep, I'm seventy years old now but I still get up a five in the morning. To me, seven o'clock would be sleeping in. Milking cows is much easier today.
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Well done
