How to milk a first heifer? Preparing a cow for milking

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Doctors recommend drinking milk daily for both children and adults. In the village, the problem with a useful product is traditionally solved - they give birth to a cow. If the cow turns out to be highly productive, then the family will be able to drink, and the milk will remain for sale. People prefer to buy young dairy cows, but if there is no good option, then you have to buy heifers. The owner will receive milk from her only after the birth of offspring. But the first heifer still needs to be properly milked, so the owner should heed the recommendations of livestock specialists.

What affects milk production?

Cow performance depends on both genetics and care. In the old days they said that cow milk is on the tongue. This means that if the cow is not fed, then high milk yields should not be expected from her. First-calf heifers give less milk than adult animals, but over the years their productivity will increase. The maximum milk yield of the wet nurse is reached by the fifth or sixth lactation, for several years they will remain approximately at the same level, and then they will decline.

Main factors that affect heifer productivity:

• proper feeding;
• cow breed;
• correct preparation for calving;
• he alth.

If the animal is kept on poor quality water and hay after childbirth, then there will be no high milk yields. Or in the first couple of weeks, the first heifer will give the owner 12-17 liters, but then it will slow down a lot. It will not be possible to restore milk yield in this lactation. Productivity is highly dependent on the breed of the cow and its ancestors. How to milk a first-calf heifer and get a lot of milk from it? A farmer should buy a Holstein cow. They are whimsical in content, but with good care they give a lot of milk.

Can I let the calf in?

In the villages, the method of keeping young animals under the cow is common. After the birth, the calf is left with its mother, and the hostess milks the cow little by little several times a day. This method has the right to exist, but it is more suitable for meat breeds of animals. In a dairy cow, the calf will spoil the udder. In addition, she will begin to squeeze milk for her child, so the hostess may not get anything.

It is especially harmful to keep a baby under a heifer. It will be difficult to accustom such cows to milking. A cow can kick, kick its owners, turn over a milk bucket. Then people will try to get rid of the obstinate cattle or hand it over to a meat processing plant. How to milk a heifer correctly? The baby who was born should be taken away immediately, soon the cow will forget about him. After that, the owners must empty the udder of the heifer on their own, following the basic rules of milking.

Heifer nutrition

Fromthe balance of the diet of a cow depends on its milk production. If a first-calf heifer is kept on hay and water after birth, then it is pointless to expect high milk yields from her. After the baby is born, the cow should eat a lot of high-quality voluminous feed. The basis of her diet for this period is good hay. But the first-calf heifer should also receive grain.

Immediately after giving birth, the cow has swelling of the udder. It is in the interests of the owner to get rid of him as soon as possible. Therefore, before the disappearance of edema, it is impossible to increase the rate of grain, from this it will only intensify. After the udder of the first heifer returns to normal, either s alt or mineral lick is introduced into her diet. The norm of giving grain begins to increase from 2-3 weeks after childbirth. All changes in the cow's diet should be gradual.

What can prevent milking?

Masters want plenty of milk, but their mistakes can hinder productivity. If the cow was not properly prepared for calving, then she will not demonstrate a high milk yield. Heifer births must be approached in normal condition. She should make a good external impression: not fat, but not thin either. It is not necessary to overfeed the heifer with grain, but it is also unacceptable to plant it on water and hay before childbirth. If a cow did not receive enough nutrients in the dry period, then she will not give much.

How to milk a first heifer? You need to feed her in a balanced way and allow her to walk daily. A cow can be led into a herd or released into the yard. If the owners have time, they can graze the first heifer on their own. Walking is beneficialaffect the cow's milk production.

Udder care before milking

Cleanliness starts with the cows. The litter of the cow should always be dry and fresh. Only from a clean udder can you get milk that will meet all hygiene standards.

Preparing a cow for milking starts with cleaning. You can make it in 3 ways:

• dry;
• wet;
• wet.

After cleaning, the udder is dried. In the dry method, use napkins. They must be individual for each cow. If wipes are reusable, they should be disinfected between milkings. The dry method cleans the udder well, but not perfectly.

For the wet method, paper napkins are moistened in a special solution. If it contains alcohol, the udder dries out faster. Wet cleansing is recommended for heavy soiling.

Massage

After calving, the udder is edematous, it is more difficult to milk from it. Therefore, massage is necessary for the cow. It enhances milk flow, helps to develop a conditioned reflex, improves the adaptation of the heifer to milking.

There are several technologies for udder massage:

• stroking;
• rubbing;
• kneading.

The hands of the farmer should not be cold, this can scare the heifer. Massage should begin with gentle strokes. Then you can slightly push the mammary glands, imitating the behavior of a calf. Just do not act rudely, this will lead toproblems. During massage, the hormone oxytocin is produced, it improves the return of milk. After the procedure, the blood should be milked immediately.

Spread

After giving birth, a cow gives colostrum for several days. It is thicker and often has a yellowish color. After it, the cow begins to produce transitional milk. It is not so tasty, it is usually not sold, but drunk with family. Then the cow starts producing mature milk.

The first milking should be done within an hour of giving birth. This is done in order to quickly water the calf with colostrum. In the first weeks, you do not need to try to get record milk yields. Milk at this time is not quite complete, and the cow has not yet fully recovered from childbirth. If you immediately force a cow to eat a large amount of feed, then it can get sick.

There are different opinions about the multiplicity of milking. Some schemes are used on farms, and others on private farms. Livestock specialists working with highly productive Holstein cows recommend milking them 2 times a day. In the villages, this procedure is carried out 5-6 times a day in the first week. How to milk a heifer? The owner can follow any of these schemes, they are both tested on many cows.

How to train a heifer for milking?

A young cow may be afraid of the milk transfer procedure, so the owner should be especially attentive to her. How to milk a cow after the first calving? 2-3 months before birth, the owner can accustom the animal to stroking the abdomen and udder. In this case, the cow most ofteneasy about milking.

If the heifer kicks, the owner can confuse her hind legs. There is another way to pacify an obstinate animal, which is often used in villages. The front leg is tied up and lifted up. The heifer, balancing on 3 limbs, will not be able to kick, and the owner calmly milks her. Sometimes it is enough to threaten a cow with a twig, and after that she will stand still.

Manual milking method

In the village, not every family has the opportunity to buy a device. If there are few cows, then manual milking is most often practiced on the farm. This method is the most affordable and does not require the purchase of additional devices. Manual milking is done by two methods - fist and pinch. Before the procedure, the udder is cleaned and massaged.

If the nipples of a cow are of normal size, it is most convenient to milk her with a fist. Before the procedure, hands should be lubricated with cream, petroleum jelly or fat for better glide. With this method, the nipple is wrapped around with fingers, after which the fist is alternately compressed, then unclenched. This should be done until the milk is completely over.

Pinch goats are most often milked. In cows, this method is used only if the nipples are very small and cannot be grasped with a fist. This method uses only two fingers. How to teach a heifer to milk by hand if she has small nipples? You need to use the pinch method. The hostess grabs the nipple with her thumb and forefinger, and then leads them down. At this point, milk is released from the gland and enters the sump.

Machine milking

With the help of automated equipment, the farmer receives cleaner milk. The milking machine reduces the processing time of the cow, makes life easier for farm workers. The first-calf heifer can be frightened of noise, so it needs to be accustomed to it in advance. A few months before the birth, you can bring the milking machine into the barn and turn it on from time to time. Heifers will quickly get used to the noise and will not pay attention to it.

Technology of milking cows using the machine:

• clean the udder of the heifer from contamination;
• wipe it dry;
• massage the udder;
• in a separate bowl milk the first streams of milk;
• turn on the machine;
• put teat cups on teats;
• completely empty the udder;
• pick up milk and rinse machine.

After that, the nipples are treated with a special liquid that has a wound healing effect. Once a week or more, the apparatus is washed with alkali or acid.

Udder care after milking

It is desirable to complete the process of milk transfer with a massage. It begins to be done 1-2 minutes before the end of milking. After the procedure is completed, all shares are checked. If there are seals on the udder, this means that the milk was not completely given up. Then it is advisable to milk the cow again with your hands.

After that, the udder is processed. The glands are washed with water, and the nipples are lowered into cups with a specialsolution. This is done to prevent infection from entering the udder. The solution will create a protective film that will block the entrance to the nipples for bacteria. At home, you can use ordinary iodine. It will heal the nipples and disinfect their surface. If the farmer has the opportunity to buy professional products, then he can purchase Gralan.

Possible problems

After childbirth, things don't always go perfectly. Sometimes the first-calf heifers have problems associated with milk flow. If they occur, then farm workers should massage more carefully. If solid areas are felt in the tissues of the udder, and the temperature of the animal is elevated, then the owner should urgently invite a veterinarian.

Heifers that fail to be milked are always culled on farms. In villages, obstinate animals are usually tried to adapt to this procedure, but this is not always successful. If a first-calf heifer cannot be accustomed to milking for several months, then it can either be sent to a meat processing plant, or several calves can be kept under it.

Zootechnics Tips

If the owner wants to get a large amount of milk from the cow, then he must feed her in a balanced way. Grain is necessarily included in the cow's diet, but you need to be wary of an excess of concentrated feed. If there is, for example, an excess of barley or corn, then sooner or later this will lead to disturbances in the animal's body.

Don't cover a heifer on the first heatafter childbirth, she will not have time to rest and gain strength before a new pregnancy. Cows should be kept in clean, draft-free rooms. Twice a year, the first-calf heifer needs to be shown to the veterinarian, he will examine her and take the necessary tests.