Nowadays many children assume that milk originates from a carton or bottle and that cows resemble the cartoon versions on television.
Visits to dairy farms would previously have shown kids otherwise.
However health and safety regulations involving compulsary risk assessments have provided major disincentives, and made it increasingly difficult for farmers to become involved in such educational programmes.
And farmers cannot be blamed for nervously checking their insurance cover, prior to any farm visits.
As an educational tool, The Life Size Model Milking Cow is the perfect solution - not only do kids get a realistic idea of the scale and shape of the animal, but the rubber teats closely resemble the real thing !
Ideal for farm parks, ice cream parlours, farm attractions and city farms, the Milking Cow has proven to be a massive hit at these types of venue. Staff can fill her up, then relax in the knowledge that no-one will get kicked, stood on, or made a mess of. And at the same time, children can marvel at the scale and highly efficient operation of an animal which has been around a very long time.
Watch one of our cows starring alongside Bill Oddie on the CBeebies Green Balloon Club Xmas Song :
To milk the cow, rubber teats must be used properly to produce a steady flow. A 50 litre tank inside the animal stores the "milk".
We have found the assistance of an expert with experience in milking the "live versions" invaluable for kids to learn.And there never seems to be a shortage of volunteers...
PLEASE NOTE : As extremely minimal feeding and watering is required, The Milking Cow being energy efficient; is guaranteed not to kick, bite or make a mess, thereby minimising any insurance problems, avoiding methane gas pollution and eliminating her carbon footprint !!
Her milking "parts" while being extremely durable, are also easily replaceable.
ART ANIMALS - NOT FOR INTROVERTS...
Robert Wiseman Dairies have retained Bella the Milking Cow on their stand @ The Royal Highland Show since 2003 as an educational & marketing tool for their expansive business.
She has proved to be an overwhelming success.So much so, that in the following year a fellow famous model Nell McAndrew, assisting Bella on the stand, was heard to remark that she did not realise she would have such competition.
Bella can be seen in operation every June on her Stand at The Royal Highland Show, Ingliston, Edinburgh.
"Our Milking Cow went down an absolute storm in terms of an attraction - the kids were extremely interested and the farming community were equally impressed".
"In terms of practicality the only problem really was the high volume of kids we had using her - It really tested the durability of her equipment !"
Joanne Rae : Marketing Manager, Robert Wiseman Dairies
The huge success of Bella the Milker prompted The Royal Highland Education Trust to approach Wiseman Dairies, for assistance in purchasing her younger sister "Mabel".
She entertains visitors on the RHET stand @ The Royal Highland Show as well as being an integral part of their educational programme.
"Mabel", while acknowledging the fact she is not from "pedigree stock",has proved a major attraction for RHET !
The parents who bring along their children invariably end up milking the animal themselves...
During the 2006 season, Mabel the Milking Cow went on tour all over the country. She appeared at Glamis Castle on the FWAG stand as part of the Country Fair held at the beginning of September.
Her next gig was at the Festival Theatre in Pitlochry where the WRI National Conference being held, included an element called "Fund a Farm".
On her return she set off for Duns to appear at the Centenary International Sheepdog Trials.
At the end of her busy season "Mabel" underwent her annual MOT. (Milking Operation Test) She was overhauled (or hauled over) and had her milking parts checked and tested. Worn parts were replaced where necessary. She also had a bovine (Trinny & Susannah type) makeover, and now looks and feels like a different cow...
