Once a day milking

[Guest guest]

Ina,

Where are you hearing that once a day milking is being done? I

would not want to do that and I don't think I would want to consume

that milk, either. You are right to be concerned about mastitis,

too. That goes totally against all common sense of management.

In fact, many commercial operations are going to 3x or even 4x

times a day milking. Just recently in Hoard's there was a study

published that showed that cows milked 3x or 4x per day the first 60

days of lacation had a higher production level (even later on in

lactation) than the cows just milked 2x per day.

If you will find an explanation of how milk production is

regulated in the animal's body, you will see that as pressure

increases within udder, production is inhibited. Otherwise animals

would 'blow out' mammary!

This is why I warn folks who are dam raising a calf or kids that

they need to check the cow/doe within six hours if they are shutting

them away from the calf/kids. A constantly nursed out cow/doe will

make a lot more milk in a day than one that is only milked 2x a day.

To dry off an animal you just wait until production drops to a

level it's just not economical to keep her in milk and then stop grain

and turn dry. Using a dry cow treatment is up to the individual and

depends upon what mastitis problems you have been having. Mastitis

that occurs in the first 90 days of lactation most likely actually got

into the cow's system during the dry period. Especially when you only

have a few goats or a cow as your family milk source, doing a culture

just prior to dry off makes sense. If that culture is clear, you

probably don't need to dry treat. If it shows anything like staph

aureos, etc... then you need to clear that up first and then dry

treat. I certainly would dry treat any animal that has an active case

of mastitis during that particular lactation.

I remember reading a study done on robotic milking where the cow

was just allowed to come in anytime she wanted and was NOT fed when

milked. On average those cows would come in twelve times in a twenty

four hour period to be milked. That makes sense if you have ever

watched how often a calf nurses it's momma!

On both goats and cows, I just stop all grain and stop milking

cold turkey. I do check them twice a day and I do continue to teat

dip them twice a day for at least two weeks. I have not yet used it,

but have considered using the 'barrier' latex paint type teat dip for

that last milking. This is just a latex paint like dip that forms a

physical barrier to seal teat ends. You just dip it like you would a

regular teat dip.

I know some get overwhelmed by a dairy animal and within a very

short time after freshening they are tired of milking an hour in the

morning and an hour in the evening. These misguided souls want to do

the least they have got to do or even to turn the poor cow dry. It

just kills me to see a good cow or goat in such hands.

Donna

Safehaven Nubians

Dandridge, TN

>

> I have another question.

> I am hearing a rumor that a lot of Dairies are going to once a day

milking and getting about the same quantity of milk. IF you do milk

once a day will this cause or increase the chance of mastitis? Would

you ease them into it or go cold turkey. How would the feeding change?

If you milked in the morning, Would you feed more at night and less at

morning or vice versa? Any info will be appreciated...Ina

>

[Guest guest]

Bill,

This sounds great. I've not been able to find anybody willing to part

with bottle calves for under $125. Given the fact that I'm never real

certain if they are healthy or not, I can't see spending that much. Do

you have a secret source? <G>

Belinda in TN

>

> I have been milking once a day for several years. When

> my cow, which I use as a nurse cow first freshens I

> put 4 calves on her. (Hers plus 3 more.) I fed about 5

> in the evenings and leave the calves in with the cow

> in a 1/4 acre lot over night with plenty of hay and

> water. Then I go up about 7 AM and turn the cow out to

> graze during the day. It gives her a break and we can

> milk some for the house if we need it in the evening.

> I wean that batch at 12 weeks and put on a second

> batch of 4. When they wean I milk by had a couple of

> days, AM and PM to get a handle on production. Usually

> it is enough to raise two calves and give us plenty of

> milk for the house. Sometimes I milk her for a couple

> of weeks so she will come in heat and get bred. Then I

> continue the cycle until she can't raise calves. Then

> I milk once a day until dry up. No problems with

> Mastitis. I use only about 5 pounds of grain at

> milking and the rest is grass or hay.

>

> Bill Dunlap

> Lakeview, NC

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

I failed to mention that after 24-28 weeks, I only

turn the calves in once a day in the evening or milk

once. It has worked fine for me.

Bill

__________________________________________________