How many times a day and a day a cow should be milked and what affects the number of milkings
Compliance with the technique and milking regimen is considered one of the most important factors in cattle breeding, ensuring the productivity and health of dairy animals. Milk yield depends on how many times a day farmers milk a cow, along with the physiological parameters of livestock, nutrition and housing conditions. The correct milking schedule allows you to competently stimulate the lactation of the animal, avoid milk stagnation and the development of udder diseases.
How many times a day should a cow be milked
Among the parameters for determining the frequency of milking, the lactation phase and productivity of the animal should be distinguished. Within two weeks after calving, the cow is milked, milking 4-5 times a day. Then the cattle are milked 3 times a day. It is necessary to milk the cow by the hour, maintaining equal intervals of time, the longest of which should not exceed 9 hours.
Gradually, with the establishment of lactation (with an average daily milk yield of 8-10 liters), they switch to a two-fold morning-evening schedule. If there is a lot of milk and it is hard for the cow, a three-fold regimen is left.
There is a “morning-lunch-evening” scheme, which is mainly used in a consistent format on high yielding dairy breeds. In some cases, such a schedule allows you to increase milk yield by 10-20%, but sometimes it does not significantly affect the amount of milk, which is determined by experimental and calculated methods.
What can affect the number of milkings per day
The frequency of milking, as well as the volume of milk yield, is determined by a combination of factors.
The number of milkings is influenced by:
- stages of the life cycle (after calving, the frequency is increased, then gradually reduced);
- physiological characteristics of cattle (udder size);
- the severity of lactation (the formation of a large amount of milk, its leakage require additional manipulations);
- diet (an abundance of juicy food stimulates lactation);
- health status (cracks on the nipples require a gentle regime, and the spreading of the udder - timely emptying).
Milking frequency is established by rationally evaluating all parameters. Observe equal time intervals. When milking twice a day, it is recommended to maintain an interval of 12 hours, with a three-time scheme, the animal is milked after 7-8 hours. If additional milking does not bring results, it is advisable to switch to the "morning-evening" schedule.
