Remembering Christmas on the Dairy Farm

Christmas on our family Dairy starts out like any other day with the alarm ringing at 5 am telling me its time to head to the barn. Santa’s helpers were busy late that night making sure all the gifts were wrapped and stockings were stuffed so I tiptoed out of the house to the barn as quiet as a mouse. I reached the barn and begin the daily ritual of starting the pipeline rinse, turning on the heater in the parlor and preparing the feed troughs for the cows. Next, I remind the cows what time it is as many have already made their way to the barn for the morning milking. Some of them usually decide to sleep in so it’s off to the pasture to round everybody up. It’s a good chilly walk as far as ½ mile to the back of the pasture in the cold morning air. Counting as I go so I know when I’ve got all the cows heading to the barn I head back to the barn singing Christmas carols on the way with the occasional moo approval of the cows. After the cows are locked in the holding pen its back to the milk house to finish getting ready to milk. Carrying the milkers into the parlor and connecting the pipeline to the bulk tank would complete the preparation along with getting all the teat dips and frost guard to protect the teats after each cow is milked. At 6 a.m. cows enter the parlor 4 on a side and I begin prepping and milking them 4 at a time. Milking the cows normally take about an hour. Back in the house the kids begin to stir in anticipation of seeing what Santa left. They also begin to shout to their mom asking how long they would have to wait. Back at the barn around 7 a.m. the cows have been all milked and cleaning begins. The barn is washed out, the milkers are cleaned and the pipeline begins its wash cycle. The kids get excited when they hear the silo begin pouring out silage and the conveyer and bunk feeder motors are fired up to distribute the cows forage for the morning. While the cows are being fed I continue to feed the calves and heifers their morning diet. Milk for some, feed for others and water for all of them. Real cold mornings mean taking time to bust some ice. With the silage feeding complete I make one final walk through the milk house and parlor to make sure all the work is done. Usually about 8 a.m. or so I make it back to the house and find a good seat to watch the kids run to the tree and find the one present Santa had left them unwrapped along with a well filled stocking full of goodies. Can we open more shouts the kids but mom says not till we’ve had some cinnamon rolls and milk. After the quick breakfast everyone begins opening the packages under the tree. Play time is short as there are grandparents to visit. By late morning everyone enjoys the company of all the family at grandpa’s house to open more presents and enjoy a great Christmas lunch. About 4 p.m. I head to the barn for another 2-3 hours work in milking and feeding the cows and heifers. This time some of the other family members offer some help and things go a little faster. A nice dinner of leftovers is enjoyed by all and then it’s off to bed as 5 a.m. will come again tomorrow to start another day on the Dairy.