Milk is a storehouse of useful vitamins, minerals and trace elements. The most accessible to consumers is cow's milk. It has been mined for quite some time now industrial scale. Have you ever wondered how much milk a cow produces per day? The answer may pleasantly surprise you.
When does a cow produce milk?
A cow will be able to please you with milk only after she reaches puberty. By six months, the heifer’s reproductive system is ready for conception. But at such an early age, the cow is not yet able to bear healthy and strong offspring. Therefore, insemination is delayed until 1.5-2 years. By this time, the animal has already fully formed and reached the body weight necessary for bearing a calf.
After a cow carries and gives birth to her first calf, she will need to feed it. It is from this moment that the female’s lactation period begins. The calf will sooner or later switch to adult food, after which the cow will need to be milked regularly. Otherwise, lactation will fade and will not recover until the next calving.
How long can a cow produce milk without a calf?
On average, a cow's lactation period lasts about a year. The animal produces the most valuable and useful product in its composition in the first months after calving. The more time passes after childbirth, the less nutrients there are in milk. Therefore, the cow must be inseminated every year. The animal also needs time to rest. Dead wood should last approximately 1.5-2 months. During this time, the cow will gain strength and energy, which she can direct to bearing the next litter.
What determines the amount of milk?
There is no clear answer to the question of how much milk a cow gives per day. Milk production is influenced by many factors:
- Breed. There are “meat” and “dairy” varieties of cows.
- Age. The older a cow gets, the more milk she begins to produce.
- Nutrition. Variety in an animal's diet has a beneficial effect on milk production.
- Health. Lactation begins to fade if the cow is sick. Therefore, you need to systematically show her to the veterinarian.
- Season. If calving occurred in the autumn winter period, then milk production is 10% more than in spring and summer.
Main breeds of cows
Dairy cow breeds produce larger volumes than meat breeds. How much milk does an Ayrshire cow produce per day? Its volume is incomparable to the productivity of the Hereford breed. There are three types of cows:
- Meat.
- Dairy.
- Meat and dairy.
There are a lot of dairy cow breeds. These heifers are constantly setting records for milk production. The most popular of them:
- Kholmogory breed. Individuals of this species are distinguished by well-developed muscles and a strong and powerful skeleton. The color of the animal is brown with large black spots, the shape of the skull is narrow. Its weight is about 500 kg. Annual milk production ranges from 4 to 5 tons.
- Holstein breed. This type cattle originating from the Netherlands. Individuals of this species are characterized by the presence of a large udder, which indicates the production of large volumes of milk. The weight of an adult animal is about 700 kg. This breed is rightfully considered the record holder for annual product production. In 1985, a twenty-year-old cow produced 211 tons in one year. 570 liters - this is how much milk a cow produces per day at record levels.
- Black and white breed. She comes from the USSR. It is still popular in the CIS countries. The weight of an adult cow is 400 kg. The skeleton of the individual is quite strong. The cow feels great in a temperate climate zone.
- Red steppe cow. Representatives of this breed can be seen on the territory of Ukraine. They are unpretentious and do not require special care. They can produce about 4 tons of milk per year. The weight of an adult is 400-500 kg. But their build is light. And the skeleton cannot be called strong.
- Yaroslavl breed. These chicks are wildly popular in Russia. Their uniqueness is that they eat sparingly. But milk production is more than impressive. One individual produces about 6 tons of milk per year. Most often they are black in color, sometimes they can have a red tint. The weight of the animal reaches 500 kg.
- Aishir breed. She is originally from Scotland. The animal's color is red-and-white, and its average weight is 450 kg. These individuals are distinguished by a thin bone system and flexible joints.
Average daily milk yield of common breeds
Daily milk yield depends on many factors, as noted earlier. But there is a certain period when lactation is at its peak. So how much milk does a cow give per day? You can find the average milk yield (assuming that the lactation period is 10 months) in the table below.
Breed | Daily milk yield, kg | Annual yield, t | Fat content, % |
Kholmogorskaya | |||
Holstein | 3,8 | ||
Black and white | |||
Red steppe | |||
Yaroslavskaya | |||
Aishirskaya |
During the period between calving and the next pregnancy, milk production rates exceed the average daily norm.
How much milk does a cow give in the summer?
The diet of cows in the spring-summer period is more varied than in the autumn-winter period. Does this fact affect how much milk a cow gives per day in the summer? In fact, the cow’s diet only affects the fat content of the milk. The more varied a cow’s diet, the more beneficial vitamins and minerals are contained in the milk. The quantity is affected only by how much time has passed since calving.
How much milk does a cow give per day: norm and records
A primiparous cow produces about 8-9 liters of useful product per day. In subsequent lactation cycles, production increases to 15-40 l/day. If an adult cow produces less than 10 liters of milk yield, then you need to contact a veterinarian. Perhaps she is sick.
You will be surprised to know how many liters of milk one cow can produce. Holstein breeds are the dairy record holders. In 1983, the annual milk production was recorded at 25 tons. And in 1985, a cow of the same breed, which was twenty years old, managed to reach the figure of 211 tons! The black-and-white individual pleased its owners with 19 tons of milk. This record was recorded in Russia.
As for the record figures recorded during the day, the leader here is a crossbreed of the Holshin breed with a humpbacked zebu. Daily production was 110.9 kg. Domestic cow cows do not give up, so the black-and-white and Yaroslavl individuals each produced 82 kg of daily milk yield.
How to choose a dairy cow?
Now you know how much milk a cow gives per day. In order for the volumes of the product to continually delight and surprise you, you need to take a responsible approach to choosing an animal. Please note the following characteristics:
- Udder. A cow with a larger udder is more productive. Clearly visible thick and large veins will also be a plus.
- Legs. The animal's limbs must be strong. Walk a little ahead with the cow before purchasing. The gait should be confident, firm, and the legs should be straight.
- Breast. It should be wide and deep. It is unacceptable for it to be lowered 10-15 cm below the elbow.
- Belly. Make sure that the cow's belly is not saggy. This indicates improper care of the animal.
- Ribs. The distance between them indicates the state of the respiratory system. If the ribs are close together, this means the cow has small and poorly developed lungs.
- Head. The shape of the skull of a good milk cow should be elongated. It is also desirable that the animal's horns are small and thin.
- Tail. Its base should be thin. If the tail has a wide base, then this indicates a rough physique of the animal.
Age matters a lot. You should not take a cow that is too old. After 8-9 calvings, the cow's productivity decreases significantly. Therefore, the indicator (how much milk a cow gives per day) will differ significantly from the average figures.
We consume dairy products every day. Even kids know that milk comes from cows. But not every adult knows how much milk a cow gives per day, and when she starts doing it.
When does a cow start giving milk?
These sedate animals grow and mature rather slowly. For a long time the owner takes care of the new heifer, counting on returns only in the future. Cows reach puberty after six months, but such a young animal is not ready to reproduce. Only at one and a half to two years, when the heifer has fully developed and reaches a weight of more than 300 kg, is she fertilized. A cow's pregnancy lasts 9 months, approximately 240 to 311 days. After the calf is born, milk appears. At first, the cow produces colostrum, which the calf feeds on; it is not eaten. Thus, the owner of a cow will be able to receive the first milk only after two and a half to three years.
How many days does a cow give milk?
The cow cannot give milk all year round. Gradually, milk yield decreases, and the quality of the product decreases. In order for lactation to be maximum, every year. A pregnant cow continues to produce milk, but is started several months before giving birth. This means that the animal gradually stops being milked, and the milk disappears. This is necessary for the body to rest and direct all its forces to the development of the calf. If this is not done, both the cow and the newborn will be exhausted.
Thus, the lactation period lasts no more than 320 days, and dead wood lasts approximately one and a half to two months. Cows produce the most milk after their second, third and fourth calvings.
Important information
What determines how much milk a cow gives per day? This indicator can vary greatly from cow to cow. Let's figure out what determines how many liters of milk a cow gives per day. Firstly, the breed of the animal is of great importance. There are dairy, meat-dairy and meat breeds. Dairy breeds produce the most milk; meat breeds lag far behind in this regard.
Secondly, genetics, heredity and individual characteristics animal, because even among the same breed, milk yields differ from cow to cow.
Thirdly, the age of the animal has a big influence on how much milk a cow gives per day. After the first calving she gives a little milk, after the seventh calving her productivity begins to decline.
And finally, one of the most important parameters is living conditions and nutrition. Even the best purebred cow will not produce much milk if she is poorly fed.
How much milk do dairy cows produce?
There are several common dairy breeds. Dutch is perhaps the oldest of the dairy products. Some experts believe that the genes of this breed are present to one degree or another in all dairy breeds. The milk production of this breed ranges from 4,000 kg per year.
The Holstein breed was developed in the USA and Canada. Today it is the most widespread dairy breed in the world. Its productivity can be more than 7,000 kg of milk per year. Milk yield depends on climatic conditions, and in countries with milder climates it can reach 10,000 kg per year. Based on these data, we can say how much milk a cow of this breed gives per day - the average milk yield on Russian farms is from 20 to 40 liters per day.
Widely distributed in Russia. It has not only good milk production - about 5,000 kg of milk per year (in some conditions - up to 9,000 kg), but also excellent meat qualities.
The Yaroslavl breed is considered one of the best bred in our country. These black cows with a white spot on the head adapt well to different climatic conditions and can produce up to 5,000 kg of milk.
In our fields you can often see the Kholmogory breed, which performs well in cold climates and produces more than 6000 kg. The Aishir breed, which also prefers a cool climate, shows high milk yield. The black-and-white breed can produce up to 6,000 kg of milk per year, and these animals also have good meat qualities.
Meat and dairy breeds produce from 3,000 to 5,000 kg of milk per year.
How much milk does a cow give: norms and records
A cow that calves for the first time can produce 8-9 liters of milk per day, a purebred cow after the second calving can produce from 15 to 40 liters per day. If a mature individual produces less than 10 liters, this indicates poor care or disease.
But among the cows there are real record holders. For example, the American cow Juliana of the Holstein breed produced 30,805 kg of milk in a year, Linda of the same breed - 28,740 kg.
A domestic black-and-white cow named Rossiyanka produced 19,106 kg of milk per year.
Records are also recorded for daily milk yield. Cuban Ubre Blanca, a cross between a Holstein and a humpbacked zebu, gave 110.9 kg in one day. Our cows are not far behind - Black-and-White and Yaroslavl gave 82 kg each, Kholmogory - 78 kg.
Igor Nikolaev
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Milk productivity of large cattle differs in many respects. Breed, food supply, care and calving affect the amount of milk. It happens that one cow gives ten liters of milk per day, and another fifteen. Moreover, they have the same heredity and conditions of detention. But milk yield is different. Why do some cows give a lot of milk, while others give little? How much should a healthy cow produce on average?
The cow gives milk after calving. Lactation lasts about nine, maximum ten months. Therefore, experts calculate as much product as the number of liters of milk an individual can produce in a year, that is, during the lactation period. But it all starts with the daily norm, daytime and evening milking.
Cattle breed
Breeders have struggled for many years to create dairy and meat breeds of animals. They took some out and mixed them with others. As a result, today there are known and popular cows that can produce many liters of milk per day. Each breed has its own milk record.
It should be noted that this type of cattle has general signs. They are typical for most dairy breeds:
- the development of a round, smooth udder as opposed to weaker muscle mass;
- the head is small, the body is long;
- short stature, rough skeleton;
- the stomach does not hang below the knees;
- a strong digestive system, heart and lungs for digesting up to hundreds of kilograms of grass per day;
- the ability to stay in one place for a long time and eat the grass around;
- reluctance to take too long walks.
All these qualities allow dairy cows to produce more milk per day. The following are the milk yield indicators for the lactation period:
- in first place you can put the Black-and-White breed, whose record is eight tons;
- the Holshin cow is capable of milking seven tons;
- red steppe rock brings at least four tons;
- the Kholmogory breed can produce about four tons;
- Simmental cows can produce approximately 3.7 tons of milk;
- the Yaroslavl breed will produce about three and a half tons. The same amount is Tagil.
Based on the above data, how much milk does a cow produce per day? The numbers in the table indicate figures from fifteen to thirty liters (rather a record). In general, these are average standards, but they are very high and also depend on the duration of the dead wood.
Age after first calving
A cow can have her first calf between one and a half to two years of age. At this age, she is able to bear and give birth to healthy offspring. First-calf heifers show the lowest results in terms of milk yield.
Their udders are just starting to get used to the milking process. You need to approach the milk supply of a young female carefully and thoughtfully. The calf should be allowed to develop an udder for several days. After this, it can be taken from the mother, but milking must continue every day. Milk should not be left in the udder, otherwise it will lead to a decrease in fluid volumes.
If after the first calving the animal is not given the correct birth, then you will have to wait for the next birth and repeat the complex after the second. Every year productivity will increase. Already by the fifth calving, the cow produces milk per day three or four times more than the initial indicators.
Thus, a Holstein heifer can only produce about six liters per day. After four or five calvings, productivity increases to six tons. By the way, this breed set a record more than thirty years ago. During the lactation period she produced twenty-five tons of product.
The Black-and-White cow's maximum volume was six tons less.
The humpbacked zebu cow demonstrated a record for daily milking - more than one hundred kilograms.
It is worth adding that from approximately the tenth or twelfth calving, depending on housing conditions and health, milk production decreases. An old cow is not able to produce as much milk per day as a young cow.
Winter and summer
The figures presented above are the exception rather than the rule. On average, an ordinary Russian cow produces ten or twelve liters per day.
But milk yield depends on the time of year:
- in summer, cows can produce milk in large volumes due to the abundance of feed, fresh and juicy grass, and regular walks. A good feed supply is the key to a daily influx of product;
- In winter, the cow begins to milk worse. This is primarily due to the upcoming birth. If the livestock breeder monitored the insemination of the female in time and calving occurs in the winter, then the launch will occur in late autumn or early winter. It turns out that in winter the cow gives little milk per day. But if the calving period is different, you should feed the cow well in cold weather and give it water, and also walk it for three hours every day. She should receive hay, concentrates, succulent feed, root vegetables, silage and other feed.
The cattle owner must provide the cow with proper care and then count the liters of milk per day. You need to take care of a pregnant woman even before giving birth. To do this, you need to gradually prepare the udder for future milkings.
The time after calving is the most important time for the farmer. How much milk a cow produces throughout her lactation period depends on his competent actions. After all, the first three months are the most productive for milk. The cow gives up almost half of its total volume for the year. Then the numbers gradually drop.
It is believed that to be productive, a cow should become pregnant within the next one to two months.
If successful mating does not occur, then the cow becomes barren and will reduce milk yield every day. Soon the milk will disappear altogether.
But if a cow’s milk supply suddenly decreases, you should pay attention to her health. This is necessary if the levels drop below ten liters per day. Many diseases, including inflammation of the udder, lead to a drop in daily milk yield and the disappearance of milk.
Even children know an animal like a cow. But many questions regarding milk production remain a mystery to some. In this article we will talk about the process of obtaining dairy product and how to increase its quantity.
When does a cow start getting milk?
To obtain cow's milk, the heifer must reach sexual maturity, become pregnant, and calve. The animal’s body begins to produce milk to feed its offspring, so it appears after the first calving.
From what age
The most suitable age for mating is 1.5–2 years. It is not advisable to do this very early, but it is also not recommended to delay it, so as not to reduce productivity. In the first days after the baby is born, the cow produces colostrum - this is a very valuable and healthy product for calves.
Therefore, from the first days you need to let the baby near the mother, this will be useful both for him and for massaging the cow's udder, so that mastitis does not develop. If you do not immediately allow the calf to approach the cow, then she may not allow the milkmaid to approach her. 
The cow begins to produce milk suitable for consumption only 5–7 days after calving. If the calf does not drink everything, the product obtained before can be fed to other animals.
How is milk formed?
From the above, it is clear that a cow that has not given birth will not have milk; it will begin to be produced after the calf appears. Let's figure out how this happens.
A useful product appears from the mammary gland (udder) by selecting the necessary substances from the blood and converting them into the necessary components of milk. From this it turns out that these two liquids are related to each other, but differ in composition.
Compared to blood, milk contains:
- 90 times more sugar;
- 14 times more calcium;
- it is 20 times richer in fats.
To get 1 liter valuable product, up to 500 liters of blood must pass through the udder. The whole body participates in this process. Rumen (forestomach) enzymes produce acetic acid from food, which is necessary for the formation of fat in milk.
Important! If the udder becomes full of milk, milk production stops and nutrients begin to be absorbed. This reduces milk yield. This is why it is very important to maintain a milking routine. If breaks exceed 12 hours, this can cause inflammation, swelling of the udder and other painful processes.
Some alveoli of the glandular tissue of the udder produce fat that enters the milk fluid through the channels. 
Does a cow give milk without a calf?
Lactation lasts up to 7 months after calving. The largest amount of nutrient fluid from the animal can be obtained in the 2–4th month after the start of milking.
Lactation consists of 3 periods:
- milking lasts from 10 to 50 days. At this time, prolactin is intensively produced. This hormone is formed when the nipples are stimulated, and the more there is, the more milk. Therefore, these days it is important not only to milk the animal well and regularly, but also to allow cubs near it to improve milking;
- the main period for obtaining milk;
- 2 months before the next calving, the launch period begins, when the animal must rest and gain strength. At this time the cow is not milked.
Sometimes, if there are problems with insemination, the period of milk production can last up to 2 years, but milk yield at this time is low. If insemination does not occur, the cow becomes barren. This means that her milk production stops. From this it follows that in order for a cow to milk, she needs to regularly give birth to calves.
How many years does a cow give milk?
Cows live from 10 to 15 years. During this period, they can produce offspring up to 10 times. At the age of about 15 years, the cow stops becoming pregnant, and therefore stops milking. The most milk can be obtained from an animal at the age of six, after which the milk yield begins to decrease. 
Average daily and annual milk yield of cows
To get an idea of how much dairy product you can get, let’s look at the indicators of different breeds.
General indicators
From a good cow you can get approximately 5000–6000 liters of milk per year. On average, up to 15 liters are obtained per day. Experienced livestock breeders claim that the most ordinary cow can milk up to 20 liters per day. However, this is a controversial statement, since milk yield depends on many factors.
An ordinary heifer gives from 7 to 15 liters per day, and the record-breaking heifer gives up to 25 liters. With age, the amount of dairy products increases.
Did you know? The meat of Japanese Wagiu cows, which is called marbled, is considered very expensive. These animals were treated like royalty: they were fed with the best food, rubbed with sake every day and given beer to drink.
Scientists have developed a method for determining milk content, which is based on the physical characteristics of the blood. From 3 months of age, blood samples are taken from heifers and their viscosity level is determined. Animals with a higher viscosity are classified as highly productive, and those with a lower viscosity are classified as low-productive. 
Milk yield of some breeds
The most common animal breeds are:
- belongs to the universal breeds. She has high milk yields and high-quality meat. From such an animal you can get from 5000 to 9000 liters of dairy product per year;
- The most widespread breed of American selection throughout the world is . Its productivity is 6500–7000 liters per year. This is a dairy breed, which, when crossed with black-and-white representatives, increases milk yield by 200 liters. Her record daily milk yield is 110 liters of milk per day;
- The popularity of cows is explained by their high milk production and quality of meat. Their annual milk yield is 5500–6000 liters. The fat content of milk is low - about 3.5%;
- has good milk characteristics (5000 l per year) and fat content up to 4%. The record for this cow is 82 liters per day.
What determines the amount of milk?
The productivity of cows depends on many factors:
- primarily on the breed (meat, dairy or meat and dairy);
- from proper nutrition and diet;
- depending on the time of year;
- from skillful milking;
- from following the milking schedule;
- maintaining animal health, etc.
Cattle breed
To get enough dairy products, you need to purchase an animal of a dairy or meat and dairy breed, since meat breed you won't get as much milk. 
You can determine the type by appearance, namely along the length of the tail:
- if the animal has a long (almost to the ground) tail, then it is a dairy breed;
- individuals of the meat breed have a short (knee-length) tail;
- The universal (meat and dairy) representative is indicated by a medium-length tail.
Important! If the amount of milk decreases to less than 10 liters per day, you need to pay attention to the health of the cow. Many udder diseases lead to a decrease in milk production and even to its complete cessation.
Time after first calving
In order for the heifer to produce enough milk, after the first calving she needs to pay enough attention, and also follow some rules:
- you need to immediately let the calf near its mother. He better than any milkmaids will milk the udder. He must continue to be allowed near the cow during morning and evening milking;
- compliance with the milking schedule (at certain times and at regular intervals) increases the amount of dairy products by 10%;
- it is necessary to provide warm water and succulent food in sufficient quantities;
- Swelling often occurs in first-calf heifers; to avoid this, milking should be combined with udder massage. If swelling is very severe, you need to reduce the amount of water and succulent food.
Season
The time of year largely influences milk yield:
- in summer, when there is enough succulent food, sunlight and walks, milk yield is slightly higher than in cold weather;
- In winter, the amount of dairy products decreases. Animals spend part of their energy maintaining body temperature, and there is a lack of walks, sunlight and succulent food. The owner of the cow needs to provide a warm barn and bedding, adequate food and drink, and, if possible, take the animal for walks.
Nutrition
A cow will produce a tasty product in sufficient quantities only with a good and varied diet. Feed should be given several times a day in sufficient quantities. The diet should be such as to ensure the supply of all necessary substances.
The more varied, nutritious and juicy the feed, the better the quality of the milk. It is also necessary to provide the required amount of warm water, since cold water reduces milk yield.
Cow nutrition should consist of:
- hay, straw and grain;
- feed and bran;
- vegetable peelings or vegetables;
- carbohydrate feeds (beets, carrots and pumpkin), they increase milk yield and give the milk a sweetish taste;
- vitamins and minerals.
An animal needs an average of about 20 kg of feed per day. Productivity depends 70% on nutrition, and only 20% on genetics. Did you know? Cows not only provide tasty milk and meat; they can be heated with manure. American scientists have calculated that the manure of all US cows can provide 100 billion kWh of electricity.
Milk production records
Good nutrition and quality care ensure record milk production.
Among the record-breaking cows the following are known:
- a representative of the Holstein breed (cow Juliana from the USA) produced 30,805 liters of dairy product in 2004;
- the above-mentioned breed was also mentioned in 1994, when the Bel Jar cow produced 27,388 liters of milk product;
- in 1973, 19,106 liters of milk were obtained from a Black-and-White cow;
- back in 1941, a representative of the Yaroslavl breed gave more than 8 buckets of milk a day.
Love your little cow, give her enough good feed and give your care. For this she will thank you with a tasty and healthy product. It is often unclear to beginning livestock breeders how much milk to expect from one cow per day, per year. How to evaluate the productivity of a cow and what it depends on, read our article.
Like all mammals, cows' milk is primarily needed to feed their offspring. But in agriculture Even in ancient times, they learned to obtain this nutritious product without calves. It is important to know that for year-round milk production, the cow should be milked regularly - the cow’s body perceives the need for lactation, as if for a baby. In heifers, milk begins to form after calving, and in the first weeks it differs in composition, fat content, and is called colostrum. Then the usual product known to us is milked.
How much milk a cow produces depends on the breed and age. Breeders have developed many special breeds with high performance throughout the milking season. For conventional dairy breeds, the average production per season is approximately 5,000 liters of milk. Productivity over the period varies, but the arithmetic average for one day is 17 liters. The size of the milk yield is influenced by the individual characteristics of the cow, the quality and quantity of feed, climate, and treatment of the owner. It has been noted that the highest productivity in animals occurs at the fifth calving.
A young cow produces about 9 liters of product per day after the first calving. Subsequently, productivity increases, reaching 12 liters per day. Record holders are also known - some Yaroslavl and Holstein cows can produce up to 40 liters of milk per day. It must be taken into account that good milk production depends largely not on genetics, but on feeding. If your cow produces more than 10 liters per day, you need to supplement the diet with nutritional supplements. The daily milk yield of animals is greatest between calving and pregnancy, during the so-called service period. In the middle of this period, a Holstein cow, for example, can produce almost 80 liters of milk per day.
Knowing your pet's daily milk production, you can calculate how much milk will be produced in a week. From a young cow you can get approximately 85-90 liters of product in 7 days. The monthly norm is not easy to calculate, since productivity depends on the diet. If on one day you can get 12 liters, then on others, based on nutrition, from 8 to 15.
The approximate monthly yield from a normal cow is a little more than 300 liters.
Cows of the universal breed produce 4-6 thousand liters per year. Record figures for Holstein cows are up to 12,000 liters. Moreover, on dairy farms in winter these indicators do not decrease. In the homestead, ordinary breeds have less milk in winter. This is due to the small amount of greens and succulent feed.
Farmers usually start heifers in cold weather. The time of calving is also important - for example, cows that gave birth to a calf at the beginning of winter give 500 kg more milk than those that calved in the summer. It is customary in many private farms to accept a calf in February.
How to get more milk from a cow
To obtain a large amount of milk, it is important to provide abundant, balanced nutrition to the cow and prepare it for calving. The breed and external characteristics of the animal also affect milk production. If in your household The amount of milk from a cow is an important indicator; we offer several recommendations for choosing a highly productive cow.
There are three types of breeds: meat, meat and dairy and dairy. It is best to choose the latter, although dual-purpose breeds are also suitable for medium milk yields. Among dairy animals, the following are famous for their great productivity: Ayrshire, Dutch, Holstein, brown Latvian, red steppe, red-motley, Kholmogory and Kostroma cows.
In order for a cow to produce a lot of milk, you need to stop milking her (that is, start her) two months before calving. Usually by this time it gives no more than 0.5 liters per day. During the dry period, animals need good feeding and care. If milk is still produced and the udder enlarges, the amount of succulent feed in the diet should be reduced and then completely eliminated.
Two weeks before calving, the cow is prepared for childbirth by introducing and slowly increasing the proportion of succulent and concentrated feed. This will allow the udder to develop, improve appetite and lead to good performance after calving. When the calf is born, feeding is done in advance, that is, the daily norm and nutritional value of the feed exceed the normal need of the cow. The cow will quickly recover from childbirth, regain strength and milk production will be maximum.
The product in heifers is produced by special secretory cells and enters the milk tank. Around 15 hours, milk accumulates in the udder unhindered. But if you switch from three-time milking to two-time milking, the udder becomes overfilled and stretches excessively, which leads to a narrowing of the blood vessels. In this case, the cow produces dramatically less product.
Often the owners themselves are to blame for poor productivity. For example, you need to milk your pet at the same time of day. How many times to milk is up to everyone to decide for themselves. Cows develop a reflex and produce more milk per milking. Animals should not be under-milked; the remaining milk burns out and slows down the production of the product, and also leads to mastitis. Some individuals experience spontaneous leakage of milk due to disease or weakness of the sphincter in the nipple canal. In the latter case, you need to practice milking three times.
Proper feeding is important - high-milk animals need vitamins and various supplements, since the removal of minerals from the body is high. There should always be plenty of water in the barn (in hot weather the animal can drink up to 120 liters) and fresh, succulent food. It has been noticed that milk yield decreases when moving from pasture to stall and vice versa. The animal often reduces its milk yield, but productivity will soon return to normal.
The amount of roughage also depends on how much milk the animal produces, as well as its fat content. Hay and straw should always be included in the diet. Fiber in the feed affects the physiology of processes in the rumen, the amount of acetic acid and, ultimately, the fat content of the product. Juicy foods stimulate milk production thanks to easily digestible sugars.
Concentrates are also important in the diet. By increasing their proportion in the feed, productivity can be increased. But you shouldn’t get too carried away with concentrates - a large amount of them can cause illness or early slaughter.
Video “How to milk a cow”
In this video we will learn how to milk a cow correctly
