{"id":6298,"date":"2023-01-28T10:05:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-28T10:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/?p=6298"},"modified":"2023-02-02T08:17:56","modified_gmt":"2023-02-02T08:17:56","slug":"what-happens-if-you-dont-milk-a-cow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/what-happens-if-you-dont-milk-a-cow\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens If You Don\u2019t Milk A Cow?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you have a cow<\/a>, do you have to milk it every day? What happens if you don\u2019t? Do cows need to be milked? Will a cow die if not milked? The answer to these questions depends on a number of different factors. In this article, we explore those factors and explain what happens if you don\u2019t milk a cow<\/em> every day. Read on to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Factors Determine How Often You Must Milk A Cow?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The age, breed and purpose of the cow in question are all important factors in determining how often (or whether or not) you should milk her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, a dairy cow who is kept for the sole purpose of producing milk and does not have a calf at her side needs to be milked every day because she is a breed of cow that produces a lot of milk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Failure to milk her at least once a day will cause a great deal of pressure to build up in her udder and could lead to rupture of the skin and serious conditions, such as mastitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A dairy cow who does have a calf at her side may produce enough milk for you to milk her once a day and have plenty of milk for your family and her calf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This cow does not necessarily have to be milked daily because the nursing calf will prevent problems with excessive milk buildup in its mother\u2019s udder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the calf is naturally weaned, a dairy cow may not dry up naturally, so you\u2019ll need to continue to milk daily. You may even need to increase milking to prevent problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The age of the cow in question will be one determining factor in whether or not her milk dries up quickly after her calf is weaned. Older cows produce less milk than younger ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A meat breed cow never needs to be milked. She will typically produce just enough milk for her calf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the calf is weaned, her milk will dry up naturally, in two-to-five weeks, without any problems or complications, regardless of her age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check also our article on how to milk a cow<\/a> step by step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At What Age Does A Cow Begin Producing Milk?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A cow under the age of two is called a heifer<\/a>. If she is being retained for breeding (not meat) or for milk production, she will have her first calf when she is two years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, she is properly called a cow, and she will begin producing milk to feed her baby, usually about four gallons a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dairy cows typically produce much more milk than is needed to feed their calves. You can expect a dairy cow to produce about eight gallons of milk a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Milk production continues for five or six years, but begins to decline as the years pass. A young dairy cow may need to be milked once a day while she is feeding her calf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If her calf is taken away, she\u2019ll need to be milked two or three times a day. As she ages, the number of times to be milked daily will decrease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not Milking A Dairy Cow Causes Many Serious Problems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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If a dairy cow\u2019s calf is taken away to increase milk production and you suddenly stop milking her, she will continue to produce milk at a rate of eight gallons a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naturally, this causes the udder to swell painfully. It may cause the cow to have difficulty lying down<\/a>, standing or moving about. If neglected too long, the udder may burst and become infected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will Not Milking A Dairy Cow Cause Her To Die?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes, if the udder bursts and becomes infected, the cow could die. Additionally, if she develops mastitis (inflammation of the udder) and does not receive treatment, she could die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treatment of mastitis involves milking out any infected milk and treating the udder topically with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory ointments. Your vet may also prescribe oral or injected antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While in treatment, the cow\u2019s milk cannot be used, and her milk will probably dry up. This means that she will have to be bred again to begin producing milk again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clearly, mastitis is a condition to be avoided. It makes a lot more sense to just milk your cow regularly than to run the risk of having her develop this dangerous, painful, expensive condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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TIP:<\/strong> Check this cow milking machine<\/a> if you want a bit of help<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What If You Can\u2019t Milk Your Cow Today?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Backup is one thing you will have to think about seriously and prepare for carefully if you plan to keep a milk cow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keeping livestock, in general, means saying \u201cgoodbye\u201d<\/em> to days off. Your cattle and other animals need to get food, water and consistent care every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are keeping meat cattle, this can be as simple as keeping a big trough full of clean water and making sure that round bales of hay and good pasture are always available. If you are keeping dairy cattle, it means daily milking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be sure to line up help that you can call on in case you fall ill or get hurt. Your cows and other livestock will need daily care. Failure to provide it is neglect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long Term Planning Can Give You And Your Cows A Natural Break<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is possible to plan your farm care in a way that gives you a break from milking in the winter. This means breeding your cows strategically so that they give birth very early in the spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allow the calves to stay with the cow and, also milk. This will result in less milk production; however, it also results in good calves that you can sell, use for meat or raise to replace your cows when they age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you wean the calves mid-summer, you may need to increase milking initially, but you can gradually taper off so your cows can dry up before winter comes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will also want to have your cows bred midsummer so they will calve early in the spring to start the cycle all over again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are not keeping a large scale commercial dairy, this kind of schedule can give you and your cows a natural break during the winter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the long run, this scheme results in healthier, happier cows and contributes greatly to your own quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why We Don’t Milk Our Dairy Cows In The Winter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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https:\/\/youtu.be\/YxvLDe32cZQ<\/a>