The great thing about mini Jerseys is that you can train them to be milked only once a day. This can’t be done with the milk production of full size jerseys.

I simply start off by just milking once a day. When her milk comes in it is sort of a supply and demand type thing. The more you take the more the cow will produce up to what her genetics allow. I don’t rush into milking a cow after she calves.

When to Take All the Milk

It may be a week after she calves before I take all her milk. A calf will only take a little milk several times a day. So Nature says ok I have to replenish that milk. It kinda works like that.

That is usually when I remove the calf. I bottle feed the calf 3x a day to prevent scours. Some people bottle feed 2x a day. I feed the same amount as those people, I just split it into 3 portions a day.

Each situation is different. Some sooner some later. Each cow is different. Each lactation is different as well.

Milking Time

I milk whenever I get to the barn. I’m old… I usually do the AM cause it is easier on old people. They have more energy at that time of day.

Here are pictures of Virginia, 4 months into lactation. Producing 20lbs of milk per once a day milking (about 2.5 gallons):