I’ve had a number of milk cows, and milked even more, from guernsey, Jersey, brown Swiss, and Holstein, and this is the first I’ve felt the need to use a milking machine. . Using a machine is not hard - in some ways it’s easier than milking by hand. . BUT, if hand milking is important to you, here are a few things I would suggest: . 🐮Buy a cow that is hand milked, or whose parentage is hand milked in the case of a heifer. . 🐮 If the cow is in milk, set an appointment to look at her during milk