High milk production from cows depends on many factors. You can assess the effectiveness of working with cows by evaluating the peak value of milk yield. This is the highest recorded milk yield during a control milking during the first 150 days of lactation. Many dairy producers have used peak milk yield as an indicator of the success of feeding and managing cows during the dry period, during calving and in early lactation.
Practice shows that feeding and management during the dry period affects health and
performance after calving. It is necessary to constantly monitor the housing system
of dry cows. Especially when the milk production of cows after calving is less than planned.
The key goals for dry cows are as follows:
✅ Stable feed consumption.
✅ Control over the required amount of energy in the diet.
✅ Control over the fatness of cows. Prevention of obesity.
✅ Optimal comfort of keeping. Motion.
Ensuring the health of the hooves.
The lactation period of cows is divided into 3 phases, each lasting approximately 100 days:
✅ the first phase of parturition;
✅ second phase of stable productivity;
✅ the third phase of productivity decline.
Each of these phases has its own characteristics and requires a specific approach to feeding and caring for cows.
Productivity in the parturition phase has a strong impact on the productivity of the entire
lactation. During this phase, the cow’s body undergoes significant physiological changes and is
physiologically tuned to produce the maximum amount of milk.
The main features of the breeding phase include: intensive metabolism, increased nutrient requirements and stimulation of lactation.
The milk production of cows during the breeding season is one of the key factors for successful dairy farming.
Therefore, during this period, it is important to provide cows with optimal housing and feeding conditions to maximize their productivity.
High daily milk yields largely depend on the cow’s ability to consume and digest a large amount of quality feed. Particular attention should be paid to cows after calving, when they are in the breeding period. At this time, it is important to provide them with
advance feeding, which means increasing the quantity and quality of feed to support their recovery after calving and ensure high milk yields. This helps cows recover faster and increase their productivity in the future. The practice of using advance feeding during this period has proven to be effective. It is recommended to feed 0.4 kg of complete feed per 1 liter of milk.
Practice has shown that the frequency of milking during the breeding season has a significant impact on
cow productivity, especially of high-yielding newborn cows, which show better results with 4 times of milking. The use of this technological method allows you to increase the efficiency of dairy cows and ensure higher profits.
To achieve the highest milk production and reproduction rates, it is necessary to ensure optimal feeding and microclimate conditions in the barn. Natural and climatic factors play an important role in the genotype-environment interaction system, affecting the realization of the genetic potential of cows.
The second phase of stable productivity. Cows are able to maintain a high level of
productivity for a long period of time, but their ability to consistently produce milk at a high level decreases over time. The decrease in lactation consistency may be due to physiological exhaustion and the need for recovery.
Therefore, it is important to take these factors into account when planning diets and housing conditions to ensure long-term productivity. In cows with a long lactation period, milk production decreases slowly (7-10% per month) and provides stable milk yields
throughout the entire period.
It is necessary to conduct monthly milk yield tests to assess the stability of lactation. In case of a decrease in productivity of more than 10% per month, determine the possible causes of the decrease in productivity (feeding, illness, housing) and eliminate these causes.
It is recommended to feed 0.3 kg of complete feed per 1 liter of milk.
One of the most important aspects that affects cow productivity is feeding. After calving, the cow needs special attention to the diet to provide the necessary nutrients for milk production. Providing the necessary minerals and vitamins is
is essential for maintaining the animal’s health and productivity. An important issue in increasing the productivity of animals during the breeding season is the use of various types of energy feed additives in their diet.