Why does a cow's milk yield decrease: causes of a sharp decrease in milk and what to do

When breeding cows, farmers rely on high animal productivity. The key performance parameter is the amount of milk yield. It depends on the quality of the food and the characteristics of the content. Also, these parameters are influenced by age, seasonal factor, breed. Many farmers are wondering why a cow's milk yield is declining and what can be done about it.

Production rates

Maximum productivity occurs between delivery and the next pregnancy. An animal can bring more than 20 liters of milk per day. Moreover, this indicator depends on many factors.

Why cows have reduced milk yield and what can be done about it

Decrease in milk yield may be due to the influence of a variety of factors. In order to determine the causes, it is important to analyze the containment conditions.

Breeds

Under the same conditions of keeping, the parameters of milk production depend on the breed. Special breeds that belong to the dairy direction are distinguished by maximum productivity.

These include the Dutch, East Frisian, Black-and-White. The Holstein and Kholmogory breeds are also distinguished by high productivity. During the lactation period, they give 4000-7000 kilograms of milk. If the cow has sharply reduced milk, this may indicate a change in the conditions of detention or the influence of the age factor.

Food Quality

Unhe althy diet can be the reason for lack of productivity.With an unbalanced diet, milk yield can be reduced by 25-50%. An unfavorable effect on the parameters of milk production is provided by insufficient feeding during the dry period and at the initial stage of lactation.

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 linen, cotton, 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 content

If the cow has lost productivity, the reason may be unfavorable conditions. The amount of milk depends on temperature and humidity. Also, animals do not perceive the noise of machines or other equipment. Properly kept, they produce a lot of milk up to 8-10 lactations.

Wrong milking

In order for a cow to give a lot of milk, she needs to provide the right milk supply. It is carried out immediately after childbirth. To do this, it is recommended to follow these rules:

1. Give your pet a balanced diet. If an individual gives 10 liters of milk, she needs 12 kilograms of food. The animal should be given juicy feed, proteins, hay. Of great importance is the presence of mineral s alts in the diet.
2. Properly milk your pet. Immediately after calving, the cow is recommended to be milked 5 or more times a day. Spacing is important.
3. Udder care and massage. If the amount of milk has decreased to 10 liters per day, the animal should be milked in the morning and in the evening. At the same time, it is important to avoid swelling of the udder, stagnation of milk and the influence of other adverse 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 is more dependent on the breed of the cow and the state of her he alth. Throughout this period, productivity gradually increases. However, already after 1 year, the milk yield drops.

This process is considered normal, so 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 have calved in winter produce 7-10% more milk than those that have calved in spring or summer.

Be aware that calves born in autumn or winter are stronger and less prone to disease.

Stress

Cows are highly susceptible to stress factors associated with the negative attitude of people. It is strictly forbidden to shout loudly, beat 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:

1. Properly and variedly feed animals. A cow needs 50-80 kilograms of food per day. At the same time, the diet should contain cereals, juicy and roughage, concentrates.
2. Give enough water. Depending on the parameters of productivity, cows need 100-150 liters of water per day. With a lack of fluid, the amount of milk drops on the same day.
3. Use feed additives. In the diet of the animal should be minerals, vitamins, trace elements. For this, it is permissible to use ready-made additives.
4. Use probiotics. They help maintain a he althy microflora. With a lack of nutrients, productivity drops and he alth deteriorates.
5. Observe the milking schedule. Milk is continuously produced until the udder is full. To maintain stable productivity, you need to milk the cow on schedule. This should be done in the morning and evening. Immediately after calving, 3 milkings per day are required.
6. Plan the 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 2 times. This happens at 2-3 months at the stage of milking and at 4-5 months at pasture.
7. Properly milk a cow. From the point of view of physiology, it is better to use machine milking. This helps to milk all quarters of the udder at once. When carrying out the procedure manually, it is worth milking the front and rear nipples alternately.At the same time, it is recommended to start milking slowly and gradually accelerate.

Decrease in milk yield in cows can be due to the influence of a variety of factors. To keep productivity high at all times, it is important to properly feed the animals and provide them with the right conditions.

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