When breeding cows, farmers expect high animal productivity. The key performance parameter is the amount of milk yield. It depends on the quality of food and the characteristics of the content. These parameters are also influenced by age, seasonal factors, and breed. Many farmers are interested in why exactly a cow’s milk yield is decreasing and what can be done about it.
Milk yield norms
Maximum productivity occurs between birth and the next pregnancy. An animal can produce more than 20 liters of milk per day.However, this indicator depends on many factors.
Why do cows' milk yield decrease and what can be done about it?
A decrease in milk yield may be due to the influence of a variety of factors. To establish the reasons, it is important to analyze the conditions of detention.
Breeds
Under the same housing conditions, milk production parameters depend on the breed. Special breeds that belong to the dairy sector have maximum productivity.
These include the Dutch, East Frisian, and Black-and-White. The Holstein and Kholmogory breeds are also highly productive. During the lactation period they produce 4000-7000 kilograms of milk. If a cow's milk suddenly decreases, this may indicate a change in living conditions or the influence of an age factor.
Food quality
Poor nutrition may be the cause of lack of productivity. With an unbalanced diet, milk yield can decrease by 25-50%. Insufficient feeding during dry periods and at the initial stage of lactation has an adverse effect on milk productivity parameters.
To increase the amount of milk and its fat content, it is important to choose a balanced diet with plenty of proteins.
If you give a cow flaxseed, cotton, or sunflower cake, the fat content of her milk will increase by 0.2-0.4%. At the same time, the use of poppy, hemp or rapeseed cake provokes a decrease in fat content.
Quality of content
If a cow has decreased productivity, the reason may be unfavorable living conditions. The amount of milk depends on temperature and humidity. Animals also do not perceive noise from cars or other equipment well.When properly maintained, they produce a lot of milk up to 8-10 lactation.
Incorrect milking
In order for a cow to produce a lot of milk, she needs to be provided with the correct milk supply. It is carried out immediately after birth. To do this, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:
- Provide the animal with a balanced diet. If an individual produces 10 liters of milk, it requires 12 kilograms of food. The animal should be given succulent food, proteins, and hay. The presence of mineral salts in the diet is of great importance.
- Milk your pet correctly. Immediately after calving, it is recommended to milk the cow 5 or more times a day. Observance of intervals is of no small importance.
- Take care of the udder and massage. If the amount of milk has decreased to 10 liters per day, the animal should be milked in the morning and evening. At the same time, it is important to avoid swelling of the udder, stagnation of milk and the influence of other unfavorable factors.
Age
There is a specific age at which an animal produces the maximum amount of milk. This usually happens by 5-6 births. This feature largely depends on the breed of the cow and its state of health. Throughout this period, productivity gradually increases. However, after 1 year, milk production decreases.
This process is considered normal, therefore it cannot be influenced. However, it is first important to exclude diseases or the influence of other factors.
Seasonality
Productivity is greatly influenced by the calving season. Animals that calve in winter produce 7-10% more milk than those that give birth in the spring or summer.
Stress
Cows are highly susceptible to stressors associated with negative attitudes from people.It is strictly forbidden to shout loudly, hit or show other aggression towards animals. The fear that pets experience negatively affects the amount of milk. At the same time, calm individuals allow themselves to be completely milked.
Prevention measures
To avoid a decrease in productivity, you should follow these rules:
- Feed animals correctly and variedly. A cow needs 50-80 kilograms of food per day. At the same time, the diet should contain grains, succulent and roughage, and concentrates.
- Give enough water. Depending on productivity parameters, cows need 100-150 liters of water per day. If there is a lack of fluid, the milk supply drops on the same day.
- Use feed additives. The animal's diet should contain minerals, vitamins, and microelements. For this, it is permissible to use ready-made additives.
- Use probiotics. They help maintain healthy microflora. With a lack of nutrients, productivity decreases and health deteriorates.
- Follow the milking schedule. Milk is continuously produced until the udder is full. To maintain stable productivity, you need to milk your cow on a schedule. This should be done morning and evening. Immediately after calving, 3 milkings per day are required.
- Plan your calving season. Animals that give birth in winter are 7-10% more productive. This is due to the fact that the size of the milk yield changes twice. This occurs at 2-3 months during the milking stage and at 4-5 months during grazing.
- Milk a cow correctly. From a physiological point of view, it is better to use machine milking. This helps milk all quarters of the udder at once. When carrying out the procedure manually, it is worth milking the front and rear teats alternately. It is recommended to start milking slowly and gradually speed up.
A decrease in milk yield in cows can be due to the influence of a variety of factors. In order for productivity to be constantly high, it is important to feed the animals correctly and provide them with suitable living conditions.
