Stupid Q.. how long can a cow give milk and other milk Questions

[chickenzoo]

I know a cow has to have a calf, but how long can she give milk after that one birth with being milked twice a day? Do you have to keep rebreeding her? Do mini cows need milking twice also? What do you have to do to milk to make it ok to drink right after milking.........
Sorry - horse person here and my mare produced milk w/o having a baby, but adopted my 3.5 month mini stallion and nursed him......

 

[PotterWatch]

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I don't know enough about cows to answer the other questions other than I know they do have to be rebred, I just don't know how often. I do know about the milk though. If you are ok drinking raw milk (it's a personal choice of course, but I feel the benefits of raw milk outweigh any possible concerns of illness, especially when I am cleaning my own equipment and I therefore know exactly how much care is taken to keep things clean), there isn't much you have to do other than strain and chilll the milk. I milk a cow at a farm that is not my own, so I bring a cooler with ice water and clean jars in it. The milk will chill faster in ice water than just plain ice. When I have enough to fill a jar, I pull one out, strain the milk directly into the jar, cap it, and put it back in the cooler. I keep the jars in there until I am ready for them. Just helps cool the milk quickly. If you don't cool it fast enough, it can taste off. I leave mine in the ice water bath for a few hours before transferring them to the fridge. That's all I do!

 

[FF]

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Hello. Potter watch answered the other question perfect. But the second is cows usually Lactate for 10-11 months. Some 9-13. Have seen it. Sometimes it is rare though. And I have not the slightest clue about minis. Never had them. But my suggestion is to wait at 8 months- a year before re-breeding her. Cows will get tired and wore real quick. Like i said the minis I have not the slightest clue. Good luck with what you do and have fun! I'm not the brightest apple in the bunch but am pretty smart(this is about the only thing though haha) sometimes with this stuff. Good Luck! FF(Dusty)

 

[lorieMN]

Quote:
Hello. Potter watch answered the other question perfect. But the second is cows usually Lactate for 10-11 months. Some 9-13. Have seen it. Sometimes it is rare though. And I have not the slightest clue about minis. Never had them. But my suggestion is to wait at 8 months- a year before re-breeding her. Cows will get tired and wore real quick. Like i said the minis I have not the slightest clue. Good luck with what you do and have fun! I'm not the brightest apple in the bunch but am pretty smart(this is about the only thing though haha) sometimes with this stuff. Good Luck! FF(Dusty)

if you wait 8-12 months to rebreed you will end up with a dry cow for up to a years time,,nobody wants to feed a dry cow for a whole year,,I always bred them back about 2-3 months after calving..they arent going to wear out with proper care,some are just not good milkers to start with,but if all you want is a family milk cow you could probably buy one off a dairy that just isnt up to snuff for them,as they will send her to butcher anyway..

 

[babyblue]

the farmer that rents the land around us rebreeds with enough time for the mamma to have two months off milking before the new baby comes, most of his cows are at least between 15-20 before they are done. with highly attentive care horses and cows can be rebred yearly, as long as their health and care is top notch.

 

[LAMchop]

I have known cows to continue lactating for 600-700 days without rebreeding, but they were high-producing Holsteins and exceptions to the rule. For most cows, milk production drops substantially after several months post-calving. Rebreeding yearly will keep cows in peak milk more often.

I don't know much about mini cows, but even a full-sized cow doesn't have to be milked twice a day.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Hello. Potter watch answered the other question perfect. But the second is cows usually Lactate for 10-11 months. Some 9-13. Have seen it. Sometimes it is rare though. And I have not the slightest clue about minis. Never had them. But my suggestion is to wait at 8 months- a year before re-breeding her. Cows will get tired and wore real quick. Like i said the minis I have not the slightest clue. Good luck with what you do and have fun! I'm not the brightest apple in the bunch but am pretty smart(this is about the only thing though haha) sometimes with this stuff. Good Luck! FF(Dusty)

if you wait 8-12 months to rebreed you will end up with a dry cow for up to a years time,,nobody wants to feed a dry cow for a whole year,,I always bred them back about 2-3 months after calving..they arent going to wear out with proper care,some are just not good milkers to start with,but if all you want is a family milk cow you could probably buy one off a dairy that just isnt up to snuff for them,as they will send her to butcher anyway..

Lorie is right, you need to breed a cow about 2-3 months after she has calved. There is no way to get a constant supply of milk from a milk cow......you'll get about 9-10 months of milk out of every 12 months time.

 

[akcountrygrrl]

My friend has a Holstein that is going on 18 months since calving and still giving close to 4 gallons per day. To achieve the maximum output, dairy animals (cows and goats) should be milked two times a day. And fresh raw milk is AWESOME!!!!

 

[cassie]

Cows are usually bred about two months after calving. With good care and plenty of feed a cow can continue to produce for many years.

 

[chickenzoo]

I'll have to find out about mini zebu cows, I have a bull... but of course no milk... hehe