Keeping a cow on an individual farm or farm is not only profitable, but also very responsible. The cow feeds the calves with her milk. A significant part of the most valuable product ends up on people’s tables. But what to do if a cow gradually or suddenly loses milk? Is it possible to restore the previous milk yield or will the cows have to be sent for meat?
Reason for loss
The main condition for eliminating the problem is to understand why such a disaster happened.The reasons are very diverse.
Poor nutrition
After birth, the animal’s body must recover. The lactation process itself, although familiar to cows that have given birth, also requires a large set of components that are taken from the milk several times a day. Uneven feed supply and periods of starvation do not immediately affect milk yield, but the cow’s exhausted body will eventually fail.
Experiencing a stressful situation
The life of animals is measured and monotonous. The following unusual events may cause problems with the functioning of the body:
- long haul;
- rough loading onto vehicles and long trips;
- change of owner;
- inept and painful milking;
- unusual food and environment.
Poor conditions in the stall
If the room where the cow spends the night and is not grazing is drafty, excessively cold or hot, not enough air, dirty and humid, the animal will inevitably reduce milk production, or even stop milking. Unsanitary conditions provoke diseases. The cow doesn't want to lie down in the mud and stands a lot and doesn't sleep enough. This exhausts the animal.
Too much use of the cow
If the cow does not stop milking 1.5-2 months before calving, she will approach childbirth and the next lactation period weakened. It is normal for a cow to give milk 3 times a day. More frequent milking may harm her.
Udder injury and disease
Injury to the udder can be caused by a blow from a horn or hoof, a fall, or overcoming an obstacle while grazing in the forest or in an area cluttered with debris and branches. Shovels and boxes should not be left in the barn where animals are kept to avoid accidents. A severe bruise can lead to forced culling of the animal. The most common diseases affecting lactation:
- mastitis;
- cracked nipples, leading to the spread of infection deep into the udder;
- inflammation of the genitourinary system;
- diseases of the digestive tract that interfere with the complete absorption of food.
What to do if a cow loses milk
You need to react to an empty udder immediately. As soon as the cow has stopped giving milk, a thorough examination of the animal is done, starting with the udder.
Nutrition
If no diseases are detected, the cow does not show signs of weakness or agitation, the cow’s diet is radically revised. Most of all, the productivity of dairy cattle is influenced by the caloric content of food. A cow weighing 500 kg per day needs to consume 6300-6700 kilocalories to be healthy, plus 590 kilocalories in order to produce 1 liter of milk. Carbohydrates provide this energy. A large amount of fiber interferes with the digestibility of food.
Calorie table:
| Type of feed, 1kg | Energy value, kcal |
| corn | 1894,76 |
| barley | 1597,82 |
| potato | 438,34 |
| sugar beet | 339,36 |
| grass | 2828 |
| carrot | 197,96 |
| fodder beet | 155,54 |
Water must always be available.
Comfortable conditions
The temperature in the barn is maintained at least 15 °C. The floor is always dry. Manure is quickly removed. The walls are lined with dry straw. In winter, the drink is served warm and installed so as not to wet the floor. There are no cracks in the walls.
Eliminating other causes
After stress, they increase nutrition and show affectionate treatment.After a day or three everything usually goes away.
If the diseases mentioned above or more alarming symptoms are detected, contact a veterinarian.
How to prevent a problem from occurring
To prevent a possible decrease in milk yield or loss of milk from a cow, it is necessary to care for the animals constantly and not leave them unattended for a long time. Every livestock breeder must adhere to the following rules:
- Provide cows with complete feed at the same time.
- Before milking, wash your hands with soap. Wash the udder with clean water and wipe dry with a towel.
- Constantly inspect the cow, especially carefully after grazing.
- Prepare the heifer in advance for milking by massaging her teats.
- Keep the udder clean and dry; immediately treat any cracks with iodine or hydrogen peroxide. If there are no signs of healing, consult a doctor immediately.
- Do not ignore ulcers and inflammations.
- Before each milking, massage the udder for 1 minute and immediately begin milking.
- Regularly undergo veterinary examination.
The animal will definitely thank you for your kind treatment with increased milk yield.
