Contents
A cow’s milk appears as a result of complex chemical reactions that occur with the help of enzymes. The formation of milk is a coordinated work of the whole organism as a whole. The quantity and quality of milk is influenced not only by the breed of the animal, but also by many other factors.
When does a cow get milk?
Lactation is called the process of milk production, and the time when you can milk a cow is called the lactation period. It is in the power of specialists to correct the work of the mammary glands of the animal and increase the amount of dairy products of cattle.
Milk production in all mammals is facilitated to a greater extent by prolactin, a hormone associated with reproduction. It is necessary for lactation, promotes the maturation of colostrum and turns it into mature milk. Accordingly, it appears immediately after the birth of the cub, so that he can fully feed. After each feeding, milking, the mammary gland is filled again. If the cow is not milked, then milk ceases to form, and milk yield begins to decline.
This also happens in the natural habitat of mammals – as soon as the cub grows up, the need for feeding disappears, lactation begins to decrease.
The cow begins to give milk immediately after the first calving. You need to let a calf near it to milk the swollen udder. Natural sucking will develop the mammary glands, which will allow better milking.
The maximum amount of milk a cow gives at 6 years, then milk production declines.
Does a cow give milk without calving
Since the cow is a mammal, calves feed on their mother’s milk for the first 3 months of life. They can feed on it for much longer, but on farms they are weaned from their mother on the very first day, otherwise it will be much more difficult to do it later. For both the calf and the cow, separation will be a great stress that will affect health and productivity. The calf is placed in a specially equipped calf barn, and the cow is milked by hand and partly fed to the baby.
Mother’s milk is necessary for the calf during this period, as it contains all the necessary nutrients for growth and development:
- proteins fats carbohydrates;
- some vitamins (A, B, D, K, E);
- minerals (iodine, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc).
After 3 months, it is transferred to adult feed. The cow is milked until she becomes pregnant again. In this case, they stop milking her 2 months before the expected calving, so that during this time she gains strength.
In nature, the lactation period in cattle is shorter, since the cub does not eat all the milk, it gradually burns out. And on farms, cows are fully milked, and the body thinks that the calf does not have enough milk, so it constantly arrives.
On average, cows calve once a year, that is, within 1 months, she will produce milk. This period, if the cow does not become pregnant again, can be extended to 10 years. True, the volume of dairy products will be significantly lower.
If a cow, after several matings, does not become pregnant for any reason, then there will no longer be milk from her, she is subject to culling.
The process of making milk in a cow
To understand how milk is formed, you need to know the structure of the udder. It consists of the following parts:
- adipose, muscle, glandular tissue;
- milk and teat tanks;
- nipple sphincter;
- alveoli;
- blood vessels and nerve endings;
- fascia.
The basis of the gland is the parenchyma, connective tissue. It consists of alveoli, in which the formation of milk occurs. Connective and adipose tissue protects the gland from negative external influences.
The process of milk formation uses nutrients delivered to the udder with blood from the digestive system. Those individuals who have a good blood supply are considered high-yielding, because a huge amount of nutrients enter the udder. It is known that for the formation of 1 liter of milk, up to 500 liters of blood passes through the udder.
However, in its basic composition, milk differs significantly from the composition of blood. Almost all of its constituent parts are converted in the alveolar cells of the gland with the help of some substances that get there. Mineral elements, various vitamins come from the blood already prepared. This is due to glandular cells. They are able to select some substances and prevent others from entering.
The process of formation occurs constantly, especially between milkings. That is why it is recommended to adhere to a certain mode of keeping cattle, so that milking is carried out after a certain period of time.
The nervous system of the animal plays a huge role in milk formation. Secretion depends on its state. With a change, deterioration in the regime of maintenance, stress, the process of milk formation is inhibited.
As it is formed, milk fills the cavities of the alveoli, all ducts, channels, then cisterns. Accumulating in the udder, the tone of smooth muscles decreases, muscle tissues weaken. This prevents strong pressure and promotes the accumulation of milk. If the interval between milkings is more than 12 hours, then too much product accumulates and some inhibition of the activity of the alveoli occurs, respectively, milk production drops. The rate of milk formation directly depends on the quality and complete milking.
Also, complex processes include milk excretion and milk ejection, which precede milking.
Milk excretion – the exit of milk into the cavity of the alveoli and its entry into the ducts and tanks in the intervals between milkings.
Milk flow is the reaction of the mammary gland to the milking process, in which milk passes from the alveolar part to the cisternal part. This happens under the influence of conditioned and unconditioned reflexes.
Lactation periods in cattle
Lactation is divided into 3 periods, in each of them the milk is different in composition, the animal needs a different diet.
- The colostrum lasts on average about a week. Colostrum is rich in fats, very thick in texture and undesirable for human consumption. But the calf in the first days of his life needs it. At this time, the baby’s digestive and immune systems are being laid, and colostrum will be a healthy food for him.
- A little less than 300 days lasts a period during which the cow gives normal, mature milk.
- The period of transitional milk lasts 5-10 days. At this time, the protein level in the product increases, and the lactose content and acidity decrease. The animal is in the process of recovery and carbohydrates in feed should be reduced to a minimum.
Lactation periods are individual for each animal, depending on the state of health, nervous system, feeding and maintenance conditions.
What affects the quantity and quality of milk
The productivity of a cow is influenced by many factors. If you want to increase milk yield, you should make sure that the animal belongs to the dairy breed. In any case, after the first calving, the cow will not give more than 10 liters, and with each subsequent pregnancy, the production of the product should increase. To improve the quality and quantity of the product, it is necessary:
- Maintain a certain temperature in the barn, prevent the animal from freezing, so that energy and nutrients do not go to heat production.
- Milking should be carried out at a certain time, as the cow gets used to the routine. This mode allows you to collect 10-15% more.
- It is better to milk a cow 3 times a day. With this approach, annual production increases by 20%.
- You should arrange daily active exercise in nature. Cows have an increased appetite after walking.
- 2 months before the next calving, you need to start the cow to give her the opportunity to rest and gain strength for the next lactation.
A proper balanced diet is essential. Feeding should also be carried out at certain hours. The diet is made taking into account the weight, age, physiological state of the animal.
The most competent diet for high-quality milk flow should include:
- hay, straw, green fodder in summer;
- wheat bran, barley;
- mineral and vitamin supplements.
It is also necessary to add beets, zucchini, carrots, boiled potatoes and pieces of white bread. In this case, the daily ration should be about 20 kg.
Conclusion
Milk appears from a cow exclusively for feeding offspring – this is how nature works. It depends on the actions of a person how long the lactation period will last, what milk yields will be in terms of quality and quantity.