Tips For Improving milk production and quality in dairy cows
Everyone knows that producing milk and calves generates most of a dairy farm’s revenue. For this reason, controlling lactation and fertility is crucial.
It would help to calve every cow in your operation at least once a year to maximize milk yield and fertility rates. That being said, no operation can quantify or track this. Vanishing earnings occur in many operations because the average interval between two carvings exceeds 360 days.
Which Factors Affecting Milk Production?
Dairy cow genetics have changed dramatically over the last few decades, enabling us to breed animals with better genetic attributes to increase milk production and enhance feed conversion rates.
Better udder form and placement brought about by improved genetics have also decreased mastitis, increased ease of milking, and decreased the number of calving-related deaths.
Larger farms, more living quarters for each cow, larger feeding troughs, more comfortable bedding, simpler access to water and feed, and improved climate control to prevent heat stress.
Better care for transition cows is a characteristic of modern dairy production.
Because of all these advancements, cows are now more comfortable and experience less stress, particularly during calving, which raises milk output and lowers illness rates.
Best Tips to Increase Milk Fat Production
Focus on forage quality
Instruct your group on the value of gathering and conserving premium forages. Make sure you harvest forages at the right moisture content and on schedule. Take precautions when packing and storing to safeguard those efforts. For instance, apply an inoculant and two layers of plastic. You aim to ensure the ensiled forages ferment correctly and are free of wild yeasts and mould.
Unfortunately, little can be done to reduce the detrimental effects cost-effectively if the forages are of low quality or are not stored correctly. Mould, for instance, hurts rumen fermentation. Maximizing rumen efficiency and improving milk fat production will probably be difficult if you have to cope with mould forages.
One Calf for Every Year
Every cow that gives birth begins to produce milk. As a result, it’s critical to maintain the highest possible milk yield. Maintaining your cow’s reproductive health at the best possible level is important.
It’s important to time your inseminations and monitor the pregnancy properly. You can monitor your animals’ preparedness for insemination using Milking Cloud Cattle Tracking Software. By doing this, you can ensure timely calving and, as a result, higher productivity.
Provide Calcium Supplements
Dairy cows need calcium supplements during lactation to produce more milk. They ensure optimal muscle function and continuous milk production by preventing hypocalcemia, a typical problem during lactation. Also, dairy cow calcium support supplements are required to meet specific nutritional needs, ensuring balanced calcium levels for improved milk output and herd health.
Provide Comfort
To protect the well-being of cows, each one should have a stall with enough bedding, a weekly clean, feet trimmed annually, foot pain treated, safe walks, enough ventilation, and protection from drafts and storm penetration.
Another way to protect cow welfare is to use doable alternatives, such as access mats. These mats provide safe and cozy pathways, improving the administration of the cows’ living circumstances while guaranteeing their general safety and comfort.
