one for the dairy farmers.

[digger]

I help a mate out at lambing time, usually do the night shift so he can sleep. I would rather do a months milking than another nights lambing.

Help a cow calf and she will look at you with appreciation. Help a ewe lamb and all she thinks is " how can i make this more difficult "

[tonker]

Yes you could learn it, it's not difficult just a bit time consuming. Although it's all automated now, you still have to know your animals, they are all different and have characters.

They like to come in one side of the parlour, sometimes to the same bay and sometimes even next to another certain cow each time.

Then you'll have the slow milkers, those that kick out hard, and those that only fidget. Some don't like the cups going on and some don't like them coming off.

As I say it's not hard, but time consuming to learn. The one thing you mustn't do is leave the milk pipe in the bulk tank when cleaning the pipes (as I did once)

Once you've got the gist though it can be very rewarding. Once 20yrs after I milked last, a farmer friend had a problem that couldn't be left, I said I'd do my best and milked his cows for him. I muddled through, and his milk was down but he got it back the next milking.

Guess what I'm trying to say in a long winded way, is if you're willing to put the time in, you'll be a godsend to him when he really needs a hand