Milking and lactation are sources of income for many rural producers. And knowing the production time and milk supply is important for profit planning. And also the productivity of the entire property. So we will discuss the lactation time of a dairy cow.
However, this expert must realise that various factors determine the duration of lactation:
- Bovine breed
- the food
- nutrition
- Breeding
- The age of the cow
Lactation period of dairy cows
A cow typically lactates for about 10 months. The usual and most common time is 305 days, but it can vary between 210 and 240. And there are even more experts who manage to extend it beyond 365 days without caving. It is normal for a cow to be dry for 60 days during the year.
Also pay attention to the conditions of cow creation.
Well, we need to comment on hygiene. If it is important in livestock, imagine it in milk production.
All areas must be kept free of insects and bacteria that cause infection.
- Hygiene in cow milking: before, during, and after
- Is a herringbone milking parlour ideal for my property?
Shade is critical. Keeping spaces cool from the intense heat, on the other hand, minimises the chances of productivity loss in extremely hot seasons
Dairy Cattle Management: Thermal Tolerance
Temperature affects handling: dairy and beef
The climate moderates high temperatures for cattle.
Cows are typically dried off about two weeks before calving
Cows are usually dried off about two weeks before calving to prepare and rest their udders for the upcoming calving. This rest period is important because it allows cows to build up their energy reserves, which they will need to produce milk after the calves are born. During the dry period, the cow's udder is gradually emptied of milk and her feed is reduced so that she does not produce more milk than she can consume.
This ensures that the cow's udder is not overfilled, which can lead to discomfort in milk production and mastitis. Once a cow calves, her milk production will increase and she will need to be milked more often. This increased milk production is necessary to provide milk for the calf as well as to prevent the cow from overfilling the udder and suffering from mastitis.
Nutrition
Familiarity is to focus on heavy foods, always of good quality, and also on concentrated supplements.
If your cow is milked three times a day, you need to offer 5% more dry matter per day than if you are milked only twice. If you have questions about bulk and focus, read the tip: Bulk and Focus: Understand the Difference.
Remember to always leave the trough with food after milking, as cows usually feed after the procedure.
Mineral salts are very important in supplements. In addition to monensin, which aids in production and protects the body from disease and parasites,
To learn more about monensin, click: Difference between monensin sodium and virginiamycin.
Another important factor for efficient milk production is water. Each dairy cow uses an average of 8.5 litres of water for every litre of milk produced.
We recommend that you always have a water fountain with clean, easily accessible, odourless, colourless, and tasteless water. This means that the water must be of the same quality as that served to humans.
