Breeding Methods and Technical Key Points for Cows in Lactation
During the lactation period of a cow, the most important problem to solve is how to increase the cow's milk yield, so that it can provide sufficient milk for the calf. Moreover, a cow in lactation needs to consume more nutrients than during pregnancy and other growth periods. This period is generally divided into four stages, and the feeding in each stage differs to some extent. So now let's follow the editor and take a look at how cows in lactation are raised.
1. Colostrum stage
After the calf is born, the cow's bodily functions have not yet fully recovered. At this stage, generally only some high-quality hay and soup boiled with wheat bran can be fed. After two or three days, an appropriate amount of succulent forage and nutritionally balanced concentrate can be fed. However, it is important to note that the concentrate must not be fed too much. Usually after about half a month, the feeding amount of concentrate can be restored to the normal amount used in regular feeding. By this time, the cow's udder has also subsided, and its bodily functions are gradually recovering.
2. Peak lactation stage
The peak lactation stage, as soon as you hear the name, is the period when the cow produces the most milk, and the peak lactation stage also lasts relatively long. It generally begins half a month after the calf is born and continues until about three months. During this period, the cow's milk yield is relatively high. During this time, the cow's appetite also returns to normal, but the nutritional requirements for the feed are relatively high. Usually we feed a mixture of concentrate and roughage at a ratio of 1:1, and we must clean the cowshed irregularly to maintain a hygienic living environment. Sufficient drinking water should be placed in the cowshed, and at the same time the cow should be allowed to gradually get an appropriate amount of exercise.
3. Mid-lactation stage
If improper feeding occurs during the mid-lactation stage, it will directly cause a sharp decline in the cow's milk yield, or even cessation of lactation. The mid-lactation stage usually comes from one month after the peak lactation stage to about one to two months before the late lactation stage. During this period, according to the cow's normal condition, the milk yield gradually declines. This is a normal natural pattern, but we can maintain the current milk yield through feeding methods and slow down the rate of decline in milk yield. For this purpose, we can choose carefully formulated feed for feeding, and at the same time we can also prepare feed ourselves at a ratio of concentrate to roughage of 4:6 for feeding, because if the proportion of concentrate is too large, it will cause the cow to become fat, thereby affecting its subsequent reproductive capacity.
4. Late lactation stage
The late lactation stage, as can be imagined, is the final stage of the cow's milk production, that is, the period when milk secretion has basically stopped. At this time, we need to fundamentally regulate the cow's body to prepare for the next pregnancy. At this stage, we mainly use roughage, with concentrate as a supplement. Usually, the ingredients are mixed at a ratio of concentrate to roughage of 3:7, generally using corn, bran, soybean meal, feed, and other essential trace elements from various aspects. We should also ensure that the cow exercises at least about one hour every day, so that the cow's body can return to its best condition.