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View Full Version : re-examined.... respect for udders...



John Lindsey
23rd February 2002, 13:14
I didn't know that milking a cow can be a life threatening experience! I ran across this exchange of information on a Dairy Farmer bulletin board. So, have you flamed any udders?

John

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I've been kicked countless times by countless cows. But the situation that got me kicked the hardest and most often was trimming the hair off udders with big noisy Stewart Cow Clippers. I would get a suit of armour like the medieval knights wore, if I thought it would stand up to the abuse. However, I think flaming udders might be a big improvement over clipping. -FWO

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Don Atkinson, 76111.2252@compuserve.com
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I'm seeking advice regarding using a propane torch for burning hair
around the udder to reduce fecal contamination, etc. I have heard of various
modifications to the burner end to facilitate this procedure.
How effective is this technique?


John S. Piwowar, vmdairy@pennet.com
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I tried flaming udders a couple years back but discontinued simply because I
was uncomfortable with an open flame in the parlor. I modified a propane torch
by blocking the ventilation holes until the flame burned with a yellow color.
It worked well although you have to be cautious in some cows where there is
more dried manure or dust than meets the eye. The cows didn't seem to mind in
the least. I found that flaming every 2-3 weeks was sufficient. I have a 90
cow herd milked in a double 4 HB parlor.


Keith Sterner, sterner1@pilot.msu.edu
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The flaming of udders to remove excess hair is a fast, easy technique. Dairy
farmers in this area have found that a piece of rubber tubing approximately
36" long -available from any automotive parts store that connects to the small
hand held type propane torch tank works best for connecting to a 20-36" piece
of copper tubing .

The tubing is bent to approximate a pistol grip and there should be no outside
air admission any where along the connections. This ensures a cool orange
flame that does not readily burn the udder skin. No special modifications of
the tip of the tubing is necessary. The tank can be carried in the "singers"
pocket and the longer copper wand affords some degree of safety from being
kicked when singeing udder hair. It is surprising how quickly and efficiently
excess hair can be removed in this manner.

Such a protocol can be performed in almost any setting parlors, stanchions
ganglocks, etc. Always keep potential fire control measures on hand.


Charley Hammond, chammond@ag.Arizona.EDU
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We first tried "flaming udders" here on our University herd about two years
ago. I was skeptical at first and flamed 2-3 cows before I turned employees
loose on the herd. It's a leap of faith to flame your own arm the first time
but it helps the employees understand that like most husbandry techniques it
is relatively harmless. We put an extra person in the parlor and were able to
do the entire herd during one milking shift.

We just covered the air inlet vents on a small hand held propane torch with
electrical tape and went to work. Workers had a glove on one hand to pat out
hot spots on really hairy udders. I'm not sure that was necessary but they
decided by trial & error to do it that way. One safety concern would be a dust
mask as there is an accumulation of soot in the air in the closed environment
of a milking parlor. The procedure works well and beats the heck out of
clippers. We liked to repeat the procedure every 2-3 months on the herd and
tried to do the fresh cows as they calved. The milkers will love the results!

Chuck.Gordon
27th February 2002, 02:27
OK, John, now that I got the beer cleaned off the keyboard, I can reply.

I have these visions of Cowzilla ...

MOOO!

(Giant Bossies stomps through Tokyo)

Moo. MOOO!

(Cowzilla rears up on hind legs and four viscous flaming jets of death lay waste to the JSDF)

MOOOO!!!!!

Oh man, I don't know what kinda drugs you're taking, but I want some.

Chuck Gordon
:toast: