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 Expert
Posts: 4121
 
Location: SE Louisiana | I used to be night manager on a 7,000 cow dairy in Idaho, scattered out over 4 farms. My duties were many. I would start on #1 at the close-up pens. Those were 7 pens of cows that were getting close to calving. After this was done I would go over to the main barn and set the wash on the 90,000 pound milk silo. In the course of doing this I was required to check the other silo (We had two of them here) and make sure the plate-cooler was on and the the milk in the silo was as cold as it should be. I would then check to make sure all the milkers had shown up to work in the double 34 milk barn and then go start pushing the silage at the feed bunks closer so the cows could reach it.The bunks on dairy #1 were almost 1/4 mile long.
Then I would head over to dairy #2.
I would do pretty much the same thing there but we only had one big silo to milk into. The other tank was a smaller, older tank like you see on most small farms. It might hold 25,000 pounds and sat inside the milk house. This is the one they would be milking into while I set the silo up to wash. The silo would have just been emptied by a milk hauler a few hours before and would need to be clean when the next hauler showed up in a few hours to pick up from the smaller tank.
These farms milked 3 times/day and they worked 2, 12-hour milking shifts, so they always had to have a tank to milk into while one was being drained and washed. Now,when you walk into the tank-room the very first thing you see is the huge tank in the middle of the room. The wash control boxes to both tanks hang on the wall to the right of the tank. After hooking the wash apparatus to the silo I would go to the wash control box. This box has two screw-on jars hanging under it. One for the soap, and the other for the rinse acid. I would take the soap jar and walk into the supply room just to the left of the wash-control boxes. In there we stored lots of things from the soap, to the towels we used to clean the cows, to the vacuum pumps we had to have to operate the milkers and on and on and on...
But we didn't have room for the 55-gal. drums the acid came in. Those were on the other side of the tank in the main room. After filling the soap jar and returning it to it's place I would take the acid jar and walk around the tank to the barrel it was stored in. This barrel had a hand pump with a short spout on it. The spout was too short to use conveniently so a 6 inch piece of pulsater hose was stuck onto the spout to make things easier. While filling the jar, I had made it a habit to look up at the main control box to the tank to check that it was both on, and that the temperature of the milk was within desired parameters. After starting the wash I would go out and check the 3 pens of close-ups and push the feed up and continue over to dairy #3. Over there I would do pretty much the same thing except when all the outside work was done I had to milk the hospital cows. These were all the cows from dairies #2 and #3 that had drugs in the milk. (dairy #1 having it's own hospital barn which I would have to attend to on my next trip over there.)
..and so it went through the rest of the 9 hour night shift......
I had worked on other dairies in the area and had eventually returned to Missouri, only to be summoned back for this job because I was known for two things. I had received my original dairy training on small farms where every life counted. I was also known to be able to solve problems without needing help. Both of these things were much sought after on this place because before I got there, virtually every night, the night guy had to wake a day-person up to have help for something... and because they were getting lots of dead calves they thought should not have been dead. (I'll tell you more about this some other time)
One night after having been here for almost 5 months I was in my first round and had arrived at dairy #2. I went into the barn and started my usual routine and when I went around to fill the acid jar... I pulled the handle up on the pump to start filling the jar and the hose popped off, spraying dairy acid all over my hand. Well... I set the jar down on the tank and went over to rinse it off and went back, picked the hose up, pushed it back on and tried it again.... and the hose pops off.... I screwed with this for a few minutes, finally cutting the end of the hose off, heating it up with a lighter to soften it up to go over the slightly wider spout, only to have it pop off again,when I decided it needed a clamp. I knew I had a few very small radiator type clamps in my truck, so I set everything down, went out to the farm-truck I was using and went to get one. When I got back and tightened the clamp over the offending hose and filled the acid jar. I breathed a sigh of relief and went on with my work....
Well folks....... In the whole year I worked there, This was the only time I forgot to look up at the control box to the tank that was being milked into to check that it was both ON and the milk was cold, while I pumped acid.... and wouldn't you know it, This was the only time it had NOT been turned on.
In the end it was decided that I was only accountable for a few thousand of the 20,000 pounds that had to be dumped because that's all that had been milked into the tank by the time I made my next round to #2 and the milk hauler flagged me down to explain the problem. The final conclusion was the rest of the milk had already been spoiled when I made my 1st round. In all the years I worked on dairies this was one of my biggest screw-ups and it taught me the dangers of falling into a routine and never stopping to double check yourself.
Someone implied a few weeks ago that I didn't know as much as they did about cows.... I accept that challenge and have many stories to tell about time spent on this farm and others before it.
Edited by komet. 2015-03-04 4:11 AM
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Posts: 1343
 
Location: Oklahoma |  | |
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 The BHW Book Worm
Posts: 1768
| That after reading all that I feel very stressed out lol | |
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 Peecans
| You sure get your panties waded when sombody does to you what you do to others..... | |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Pretty interesting stuff!! | |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6437
Location: Montana | Pretty interesting...of course I don't know the first thing about running a dairy...except that milk comes from cows. :) | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 742
| I don't know a thing about dairy cows either but when I watch the Dr. Pol show those dairies he visits seem kinda dirty or all the way gross. Is that normal? | |
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Expert
Posts: 1314
Location: North Central Iowa Land of white frozen grass | Komet I have the utmost respect for you for doing this job. We milked up to 1977 at our family farm. It is the last thing that I would ever do farm. We went into stock cows after that. | |
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 Ones with the Hotties
Posts: 1451
Location: Centerburg, OH | I grew up on a small dairy and milked for to others. These huge dairys blow my mind. I would lovto visit one. But I can't imagine how everything ever gets done. So many cows and so many things to go wrong. Now I'm stressed | |
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  Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place |  | |
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25351
Location: Bastrop, Texas | I obviously don't know the first thing about dairy farming, except that it's notoriously demanding. You worked 9 hour shifts and they were obviously stressful, but the thought that crossed my mind was, just imagine the kind of stress that smaller dairy farmers must endure. For them it's their life, their net worth, and their entire family security. They have roller coaster markets, over which they have no control, along with a narrow profit margin, and oftentimes a substantial amount of debt obligations. For many of them, their life exists in a virtual house of cards. Not meaning to belittle the stresses you had to experience, but at least you could usually walk away at the end of your shift.
There's no such thing as a "shift" for many dairy farmers. Their entire life is one big huge "shift". | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | I also grew up on a small dairy farm. Us kids were left to the operations numerous times. But there was one time in particular that I forgot to turn on the milk tank agitator/cooler. Fortunately we caught it before the milk spoiled. The work on a dairy farm is endless and holds so much responsibility both for the animals in your care and the lively hood of many. I admire you Komet! | |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Bear - 2015-03-02 8:49 AM I obviously don't know the first thing about dairy farming, except that it's notoriously demanding. You worked 9 hour shifts and they were obviously stressful, but the thought that crossed my mind was, just imagine the kind of stress that smaller dairy farmers must endure. For them it's their life, their net worth, and their entire family security. They have roller coaster markets, over which they have no control, along with a narrow profit margin, and oftentimes a substantial amount of debt obligations. For many of them, their life exists in a virtual house of cards. Not meaning to belittle the stresses you had to experience, but at least you could usually walk away at the end of your shift. There's no such thing as a "shift" for many dairy farmers. Their entire life is one big huge "shift".
My husband grew up on their family Dary and it was the largest in the Rio Grand Valley and Scott your very right on about the stress that it puts on the family when its their only income. | |
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Location: USA | Bear - 2015-03-02 8:49 AM I obviously don't know the first thing about dairy farming, except that it's notoriously demanding. You worked 9 hour shifts and they were obviously stressful, but the thought that crossed my mind was, just imagine the kind of stress that smaller dairy farmers must endure. For them it's their life, their net worth, and their entire family security. They have roller coaster markets, over which they have no control, along with a narrow profit margin, and oftentimes a substantial amount of debt obligations. For many of them, their life exists in a virtual house of cards. Not meaning to belittle the stresses you had to experience, but at least you could usually walk away at the end of your shift. There's no such thing as a "shift" for many dairy farmers. Their entire life is one big huge "shift". Very well stated, Scott! My husband is the herdsman/everything man at a small (they milk 180 cows) family operation. My husband works anywhere from 12-18 hours a day, 7 days a week, as does his boss, who, before my husband worked there,never left the farm. The extent of his responsibilities is astounding. His knowledge in regards to farming, cattle, markets etc is amazing to me. But he is looked down upon by "educated" folks who don't EVEN know where milk comes from! (I have seriously had this discussion with many a college grad who have admitted not knowing this!) I have helped milk and worked on this farm and all the steps involved in ONE milking is extensive and a crucial step is easily forgotten and can results in wasting an entire days milk. The things we take for granted in our daily lives, that "other" people do, and makes our everyday lives mundane, is what makes other people world go round.
I enjoyed Komets story, as a person who is somewhat privy to the dairy industry, it is mind boggling to think of a dairy of that magnitude. It also makes me sad that the small, family farm my husband works at, is almost extinct.
Edited by BLM 2015-03-02 9:46 AM
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Location: USA | Southtxponygirl - 2015-03-02 8:55 AM Bear - 2015-03-02 8:49 AM I obviously don't know the first thing about dairy farming, except that it's notoriously demanding. You worked 9 hour shifts and they were obviously stressful, but the thought that crossed my mind was, just imagine the kind of stress that smaller dairy farmers must endure. For them it's their life, their net worth, and their entire family security. They have roller coaster markets, over which they have no control, along with a narrow profit margin, and oftentimes a substantial amount of debt obligations. For many of them, their life exists in a virtual house of cards. Not meaning to belittle the stresses you had to experience, but at least you could usually walk away at the end of your shift. There's no such thing as a "shift" for many dairy farmers. Their entire life is one big huge "shift". My husband grew up on their family Dary and it was the largest in the Rio Grand Valley and Scott your very right on about the stress that it puts on the family when its their only income.
It is funny this topic came up today. I was just looking at our milk check right before I logged on. Milk prices have dropped dramatically. Todays check is almost 1000 dollars less then Novembers check. After I pay my mortgage and a couple of bills, his check will be gone. Luckily my slow time is over in the horse training,lessons world, because we would be without groceries for the next 2 weeks, if not for my training horses. Ugh.
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 Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | Bear - 2015-03-02 8:49 AM I obviously don't know the first thing about dairy farming, except that it's notoriously demanding. You worked 9 hour shifts and they were obviously stressful, but the thought that crossed my mind was, just imagine the kind of stress that smaller dairy farmers must endure. For them it's their life, their net worth, and their entire family security. They have roller coaster markets, over which they have no control, along with a narrow profit margin, and oftentimes a substantial amount of debt obligations. For many of them, their life exists in a virtual house of cards. Not meaning to belittle the stresses you had to experience, but at least you could usually walk away at the end of your shift. There's no such thing as a "shift" for many dairy farmers. Their entire life is one big huge "shift".
Truth be told: In Dairy Farming there are No Seasons or Shifts! 24/7/365! | |
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Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | BLM - 2015-03-02 9:37 AM Bear - 2015-03-02 8:49 AM I obviously don't know the first thing about dairy farming, except that it's notoriously demanding. You worked 9 hour shifts and they were obviously stressful, but the thought that crossed my mind was, just imagine the kind of stress that smaller dairy farmers must endure. For them it's their life, their net worth, and their entire family security. They have roller coaster markets, over which they have no control, along with a narrow profit margin, and oftentimes a substantial amount of debt obligations. For many of them, their life exists in a virtual house of cards. Not meaning to belittle the stresses you had to experience, but at least you could usually walk away at the end of your shift. There's no such thing as a "shift" for many dairy farmers. Their entire life is one big huge "shift". Very well stated, Scott! My husband is the herdsman/everything man at a small (they milk 180 cows) family operation. My husband works anywhere from 12-18 hours a day, 7 days a week, as does his boss, who, before my husband worked there,never left the farm. The extent of his responsibilities is astounding. His knowledge in regards to farming, cattle, markets etc is amazing to me. But he is looked down upon by "educated" folks who don't EVEN know where milk comes from! (I have seriously had this discussion with many a college grad who have admitted not knowing this!) I have helped milk and worked on this farm and all the steps involved in ONE milking is extensive and a crucial step is easily forgotten and can results in wasting an entire days milk. The things we take for granted in our daily lives, that "other" people do, and makes our everyday lives mundane, is what makes other people world go round.
I enjoyed Komets story, as a person who is somewhat privy to the dairy industry, it is mind boggling to think of a dairy of that magnitude. It also makes me sad that the small, family farm my husband works at, is almost extinct.
'I' have come to the conclusion that Many College Graduates are actually educated beyond Their Intelligence. Hence the term 'College Educated Idiot(s)'.
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
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Location: Kansas | | |
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Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | Reckon Komet is a 'College Graduate'? snicker snort 
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Member
Posts: 39
Location: Texarkana | I call BS.. How long did it take to research for your story | |
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