The methods and solutions to increase dairy milk production very depending on the type and conditions of each dairy farm. This is because numerous management, nutritional and environmental factors affect the milk production. A high average milk production, coupled with health and economic indicators of a herd, signifies of the success of a dairy farm. Dairy cattle production is an economic activity, and its profitability relies on the optimal utilization of resources with maximum productivity. This article will discuss the techniques and strategies for increasing cow milk production.
Strategies to boost milk production in cow
Dairy cows breeding has evolved into a sophisticated industry that incorporates the latest technologies. As a result, it is imperative to seek guidance from leading experts in the fields of nutrition, veterinary medicine, breeding, and reproduction. Overall, productivity of a dairy herd is influenced by precise statistics on milk production and its constituents, consistent and systematic consumption of animal feed, reproductive indicators, animal welfare, and health considerations. It is important to note that in order to effect positive changes and increase profitability, it is essential to first focus on accurately measuring these indicators. Long-term and short-term solutions exist to increase milk fat, and by planning to optimize each of them, success in increasing herd milk production can be achieved. Milk production is based on the genetic and physiological capacity of the animal’s body, as well as the optimal feeding and rearing conditions of the animals.
Fast solutions to increase milk production may seem attractive, but their implementation requires caution and insight. These solutions include measures to improve the nutrition and health of lactating animals, allowing them to showcase their genetic and physiological capacities for producing higher milk yields.
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Dairy Cattle Feeding Management
The cattle management should be sufficient to prevent animals from competing with each other for feed intake. Each cow’s feed trough should have a length of at least 60 cm, and it should not be allowed to remain empty. Feeding should occur at least three times a day, after each milking, and it is recommended to change the feed in the trough three times a day. Increasing the feed intake of animal has been shown to increase milk production. The previous study indicated that every 1 kg increase in dry matter consumption leads to a 2 kg increase in milk production. It is important to remove stale feed from the trough daily, and avoid giving feed contaminated with fungus such as silages, forage, and grains. Therefore, to prevent the risk of mycotoxins, it is recommended to use a suitable multicomponent binder toxin.
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Dairy Cattle Feed Consumption- How Much Dry Matter Does Eat?
The feed intake of dairy cows can vary between 25 and 50 kg depending on factors such as milk production, weight, stage of lactation, season, and use of wet feeds like silage. However, to ensure precision in determining feed intake and meeting nutritional requirements, dry matter is used to express feed intake. Overall, the dry matter consumption of a dairy cow is between 22 and 28 kg, but this can vary depending on the cow’s condition. The amount of grain and protein sources under the title of concentrate increases in more milky cows compared to the level of fodder. Additionally, forage should have adequate nutrient levels and physical quality, including effective fiber content of dairy cow diets.
Survey of the nutritional recommendations and management practices should have adopted by feedlot cattle nutritionists. Additionally, continuous measurement and analysis of input raw materials, are important points to make feeding more precise because amount and quality of nutrients can cause damage to the proper functioning of the rumen, ultimately leading to a reduction in milk production. Therefore, following these tips will help to make the feeding of cows more accurate.
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Water Quality and Requirements in Dairy Cattle
The water consumption per lactating cow of will vary between 100 and 150 liters, depending on factors such as body weight, milk production, nutritional conditions, and season. It is important to ensure that cow water use is free from microbial contamination and harmful chemicals, as well as excessive hardness, which can reduce water consumption and affect the nutritional performance of dairy cow. Proper management of the water trough is essential that including providing adequate space, ensuring a continuous flow of fresh water, and preventing the growth of algae and biofilm on the walls water trough.
In general, there is a direct relationship between proper water use and feed intake. The ruminal fermentation of feed occurs in an aqueous environment, and cows produce saliva to regulate the conditions of rumen fermentation. Additionally, cows remove a significant amount of water from their bodies daily through milk, urine and perspiration in hot seasons. During winter, it is advisable to avoid giving very cold water to dairy cows, because it may lead to a shock to the present microorganisms in rumen.
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What Is Dairy Cattle Welfare – in Milk Production?
Generally, cows experience a decrease in milk production or milk fat when subjected to environmental stress. During stressful situations, cows tend to consume more energy than usual to counteract the effects of stress, which in turn it reduced energy for milk production. Moreover, stress weakens the immune system and making cows more susceptible to diseases that can further decrease milk production. Additionally, the depletion of body reserves due to stress can lead to a decline in milk production in the days leading up to lactation or during lactation in dry cows and heifers.
Maintaining appropriate temperature during the summer season (28 C is the most suitable for Holstein cows), ensuring proper density in the spring bands, sufficient free stall spaces, suitable bed for rest, avoiding violent behavior with cattle by workers, preventing lameness in dairy coes…. – all these factors can significantly contribute to the well-being of dairy cows. By following these guidelines, farmers can increase milk production in dairy cows.
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Important points of milking to increase milk production in Dairy Cattle
Cows should be moved slowly to the milking stall because any stress before milking can prevent complete emptying of milk from the udder, resulting in decreased milk production and maybe lead to of mastitis. The ideal milking frequency is once every 8 hours, because increasing the number of milking per day can increase daily milk production. . At least three milking are required for high-yielding cows. However, it is important to pay attention to factors such as udder health and workforce availability. It is important not to allow cows to sit in the milking parlor. Before milking, the udder should be washed with lukewarm water and gently massaged to stimulate milk flow. The time between cleaning and connecting the milking machine should not exceed three minutes. The milking machine should work intermittently, with short periods of milking followed by rests, as continuous milking can damage the udder. Additionally, milking time should be between 4 and 7 minutes. After milking, the udder should be smeared with a special antiseptic solution because the pores of the udder are open and the possibility of contamination entering it is high. Furthermore, the feed trough should be filled after returning to the free stalls following milking, in order to prevent cows from sitting after milking.
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The Relationship between Reproduction Performance and Lactation Days in Dairy Cattle
As a whole, the low pregnancy rate of cows results in an increase in their open days, which is the interval between calving and the next pregnancy. A dairy cow usually has about 305 standard lactation days. It is observed that cows produce milk at their peak from one month after parturition until the fifth month of lactation. In the following their milk production decrease approximately approach the end of lactation. Therefore, if there are more cows with lactation days exceeding this standard amount in a herd, the average milk production is likely to decrease. Proper nutrition, prevention of transitional period problems, increased attention to fresh-calved cows, utilization of estrus synchronization techniques, correct estrous detection, accurate artificial insemination, use of precise methods like blood sampling to measure pregnancy, implementation of countermeasures against mycotoxins, and other similar solutions can improve herd reproductive conditions, which in turn will lead to an improvement in the average milk production.
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Dry and Transition Period Management on Milk Production in Dairy Cattle
Although cows do not produce adequate milk during the dry period, their milk production performance can be improved through proper management. The drying process should be done gradually and according to established principles, and dry cows should not be housed next to lactating cows, so keep in separate. Additionally, dry cows require more space in the barn or free stall than lactating cows. The dry period is divided into two stages: the first 45 days, known as the far-off period, and the last 15 days, known as the close-up period, which is the first part of the transition period. During the far-off period, cows should consume a low-density ration to maintain body weight. During the transition period, cows should be closely monitored, and their ration should gradually become more similar to lactating cows, with an increase in density. This is important because it helps the cow successfully give birth and prevents metabolic and special diseases associated with early labor, such as milk fever, placental abruption, uterine infection, fatty liver, acidosis, and flatulence. Additionally, cows should not enter milking with a low body weight or body condition score, as this can lead to a drop in milk production after milk production begins.
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Interactions between Health and Milk Production in Dairy Cattle
Overall, higher milk production can be a sign of herd health. Therefore, cows and heifers should always be vaccinated, and you should ensure the absence of infections such as fungus infections, parasites, Malt fever, etc. If any diseases are present, it is essential to consult a veterinarian and follow their recommendations. Regular check-up programs should be a part of cattle breeding activities. To prevent injury to the cows, the entry of foreign objects and sharp points into the trough should be prevented. Additionally, the floor of the stall and the places where cows move should be suitable to prevent them from slipping. Therefore, compliance with health recommendations, such as entry and exit control, disinfection of cars and people entering the cattle farm, use of clean work clothes by employees, and adherence to quarantine rules for newly purchased cows, is crucial for maintaining herd health. Furthermore, infectious diseases can have both short and long-term effects on the productive performance of cows, so making it essential to prioritize their prevention and management.
