How to properly milk a cow after calving at home
Razda is a set of measures to increase the milk production of cattle. It includes the correct milking technology, udder massage, feeding. This process of caring for the cow is important as it helps to get more milk from one animal and keeps it healthy. Consider how to milk a cow after calving, a video about it on YouTube, how to handle the udder before and after milking, the influence of various factors on livestock productivity.
Features of milking first-calf heifers
After the birth of a calf, only colostrum can be obtained from a cow, which is completely intended for the calf. The calf should drink it, it should not stagnate in the udder. After a week and a half, milk appears, which can already be donated. It is then that you need to start crushing.
In cows that have calved for the first time, in the first 2-3 weeks after giving birth, the activity of the mammary gland normalizes, and appetite increases. From this time on, the first heifer is fed, she is given the main diet and feed is added to it in the amount of 2-3 feed. units per individual per day. Enhanced feeding allows the cow to receive additional energy. This pattern continues for 90-100 days of lactation.
Concentrates (0.4-0.5 kg per 1 liter of milk), fodder beets (1 kg per 1 liter) are introduced into the diet of first-calf heifers. The approximate composition of the diet: 15-17% - hay, 13-15% - haylage, 15-20% - silage, 12-15% - root crops, 35-40% - concentrated feed. With a milk yield of 30 liters, the grain can be up to 50-55%. If the cow is still growing, then it needs to be additionally fed, giving 1.5-2.5 feed. units per animal.
Udder Care Before Milking
Before starting to milk, wash the udders with warm water to prevent dirt from entering the milk. Then wipe it off with a towel. This should be followed by a massage that helps to relax the udder, prevent swelling and better milk yield. It is necessary to rub the udder with your hands from top to bottom, start from the sides and move to the middle (in the direction of the blood and lymph vessels). Massage the right and left lobes alternately. The massage is useful for all milking cows, but especially for first-calf heifers or animals with tight udders.
How to milk a cow after first calving
Within 2 hours after the birth of the calf, he must be allowed to the cow to drink colostrum. Then it is allowed in after 6 hours. During the first milking, care should be taken to avoid edema, which is often found in first-calf heifers. The possibility of edema formation persists up to 10 days after calving.
Machine milking
It is recommended to manually milk the cows for the first 2 weeks, and then to train them to the milking device. Preparing the udder should be the same as with manual milking - first wash it and massage it, then put glasses on the teats and turn on the machine.
In the early days, you need to carefully monitor the reaction of the animal, if it is uncomfortable, it is better to distribute it manually.
Machine milking is considered more thorough and is recommended when there are several milking animals on the farm. It is also used for milking cows, which is carried out in between the main milking.
Hand milking
In order for a cow to be milked, she must be taught to the process in advance, before calving. For a few months before giving birth, touch the udder regularly and do a little massage. So the animal will not be frightened, nervous, will willingly give milk. Training is especially necessary for highly excitable animals, which may resist milking if not trained to do so.
Manual milking is performed with a fist: the nipple is taken in the hand, the base is clasped with the index and thumb, and the nipple is rhythmically squeezed with the rest of the fingers.
First, 2 shares are removed, then the next 2 shares. The first trickles are poured into a separate container, dirt and bacteria are present in the liquid. It is important to ensure that milk is completely removed from the udder. This stimulates further milk secretion, prevents stagnation and the development of udder diseases. The duration of manual milking should not exceed 5 minutes. Massage should be done both before and after milking. Then lubricate the udder with a special cream so that the skin remains soft, elastic and does not crack.
How to milk a cow correctly can be seen in the video.
Recommended frequency of milking
You need to milk the cow 2 or 3 times. If the animal is not too high-yielding, 2 times will be enough - in the morning and in the evening. It is necessary to milk a young cow at least 3 times, because the udder is still stiff and not stretched, it fills up with milk faster.
At home, this is done before feeding. You need to milk according to the regimen, at certain hours, at equal intervals.
First heifers are milked 3-5 times a day. It is recommended that you first milk with a machine, this milking will be more thorough. Massage the udder should be light, you don't need to press hard and for a long time. You can switch to deep massage after 2 months of milking.
What affects the milk production of a cow
Hereditary potential and breed. If the heifer comes from cows that have produced a lot of milk, it is hoped that she will also perform well. Health and fitness are also of immediate importance. A weakened or sick animal dramatically reduces milk flow.
From external factors, productivity is influenced by feeding, the conditions in which the cattle are kept, and the climatic conditions of the area. It is clear that a cow needs nutrients to produce milk, and she can only take them from feed. But, besides this, she needs to support her own body, as well as spend energy and substances on the growth of the calf, if she is pregnant. If the feeding is insufficient, this will primarily affect milk production.
A lot of milk is given by those individuals for whom the owner has created good conditions for life: they stand in a warm, clean, bright barn, go out to the pasture or at least to a walking area. Unkempt animals or those raised only in stalls have less milk.
Possible problems
Udder edema is possible after calving, both in first-calf heifers and in adult cows.This problem can be dealt with by letting the calf close to the udder and then manually milking the remaining milk. If the swelling has turned into mastitis, you will have to treat it. For the prevention of mastitis, it is necessary to give the animal less succulent feed and silage in the last months of pregnancy.
The udder may be tight and massage will help. It is done every time after milking until the seal disappears. Milk will need to be removed up to 5 times a day. Skillful milking increases the milk production of livestock, incorrect milking lowers it. How to milk - manually or with a machine - does not matter. But it is imperative to carry out preparation - to wash and massage the udder, milk to the end. At the first signs of edema, mastitis, inflammation, contact your veterinarian.
