Caring for a cow after calving

0

3152

Article rating

A post-calving cow will need special care and feeding as soon as she gives birth to a calf. The owner should take the most responsible approach to the issues of care, feeding, and also to the first breeding. You will have to spend a lot of time on this, but all the costs will soon be justified, since the cow will be profitable.

Cow after calving

First of all, it is worth taking care of the udder and the newborn calf (up to 30 days old). This can take 2 to 4 months, depending on the severity of the labor. We will learn in more detail about how to milk a cow correctly, how to feed a cow after calving, what care should be taken after her, and also what should not be done while the cow is being milked.

How to care for a cow on the first day

The first days after calving are the most difficult and responsible. The owner must clearly understand what is required of him, know the procedure. Immediately after the calf is born, you need to take care of the newborn animal:

• Wipe it off from intrauterine mucus. For these purposes, there must be a prepared towel or a piece of hard fabric, always natural.
• Examine the calf externally. It is necessary to carefully examine the animal for the presence of ulcerations, wounds and other structural pathologies visible to the eye.
• It is imperative to give the mother the opportunity to lick and clean the baby, this will help the afterbirth go away faster.

Usually, the placenta leaves after the calf, but no later than 12 hours after birth, this is already considered a deviation from the norm and requires human intervention. At first, it is better to try to give the cow a plain water with added sugar, this will increase the glucose level and give a new burst of energy. If this does not help, injections of oxytocin or drugs with a similar effect are needed.

In no case should the placenta be left inside the cow's uterus, this is fraught with the development of postpartum complications and, subsequently, infertility. It is also strictly forbidden to manually separate the afterbirth on your own, since there is a high likelihood of causing injury and injury to the animal.

After the afterbirth has appeared, it is necessary to dispose of it as soon as possible. The fact is that a cow or other representatives of cattle are happy to eat it, which is highly undesirable due to the detrimental effect on the digestive tract, as well as on the nervous system of cattle. This can be explained as follows: fermentation of a cow's alimentary tract does not have the range of enzymes to digest this type of food.The placenta will remain undigested, if the cow ate it, sooner or later the process of decay will begin.

Caring for a cow and calf for the first time

Post-calving cow care should be carried out immediately. After the calf is outside, the umbilical cord should be examined. Quite often, it breaks off on its own as soon as the newborn is on the floor. If this does not happen, the umbilical cord should be cut using sterile sharpened scissors. The umbilical cord stump must be treated with an antiseptic to prevent the development of infection.

As for the cow, on the first day after calving, she is extremely weak, since she spent all her energy on bearing and giving birth. If we talk about immunity, then it is practically at zero - a calving cow is predisposed to various kinds of viruses and diseases. In order for a cow to cope with weakness after breeding offspring, it is necessary to minimize the risk of infection, for which it is worth equipping the calving place, that is, making it clean, dry, and protecting it from drafts.

Once the calf is born, move the animals to dry, clean bedding as soon as possible.

In order for the calf's immunity to be at its best, it is worth making sure that he definitely receives the mother's colostrum during the first days of life, because it contains such trace elements and vitamins that are necessary for his health and life. However, this type of food is not always acceptable for the breeder, because usually the milk that the cow gives is intended for sale, and not for feeding the suckling calves. In this case, you can limit yourself to at least colostrum, then transfer the calf to general nutrition, but gradually. First, the young are fed through the nipple with the same mother's milk.

How to milk a cow after calving

Anyone who has ever dealt with a cow probably knows that this is not the most daring animal. A burenka can jump nervously from too sharp or loud sounds, have a negative attitude towards strangers, sometimes the horned one does not allow herself to be milked by those who do not like her. For this reason, the first milk yield of first-calf heifers is not an easy task. This is due to the fact that the animal does not understand what will happen to him, how dangerous it is and what the outcome will be, so it is worth approaching this issue more scrupulously and preparing everything in stages. It is recommended to start by preparing the milking site.

First, it is necessary to clean the stall, then change the litter and eliminate drafts, if any. It is also advisable to make sure that the stall is at a suitable temperature, which will not contrast too much with that outside. For example, it should not be too hot in the barn in winter.

A person should not approach a dairy cow abruptly, suddenly, this can frighten the cow. It is imperative that you show yourself in front of her so that the animal knows that there is a person in the stall. All movements associated with milking milk should be soft and smooth so that she does not hurt.

Proper udder care

In order for a cow to give more milk, she needs to be given proper care of the main milk organ - the udder. There is a theory that a cow gives more milk if the calf is not taken from her for at least 5-7 days. However, not all livestock breeders use this rule, many immediately begin feeding calves with milk from a nipple. However, if the calf is weaned early, it is worth giving enough attention to massage the udder to maintain its elasticity and prevent mastitis, mastitis and other udder diseases.

Before touching the udder of a cow, especially for the first time, you need to wash your hands thoroughly, and they should not be cold or rough. It is important to create the right first impression so that the cow understands that milking is normal and not painful.

It should be said that the rough handling of a cow by a person during milking often causes the milk to burn out completely.

Before you start milking, you should also take care of the hygiene of the animal. To do this, the udder is sung with warm water, then wiped off with a clean soft cloth. It also makes sense to wash the hooves, because they can be a source of infection that can get into fresh milk. For the same reason, the tail is also tied, but you should not knit too tightly, as this can cause pain to the cow.

As for the massage, its duration should not be more than half a minute, otherwise it can be harmful, since it can provoke the development of edema. Massage movements are always performed with two hands, first on one side of the udder, then on the opposite. First, you need to observe the direction from top to bottom, after that you should change it to the opposite. The nipples are massaged with the same stroking movements. These movements will contribute to more milk production and a better animal behavior when milking. It is important to start milking immediately after the end of the massage in order to obtain maximum milk yield.

How to milk a cow after calving

How to milk a cow after calving and how long will this period last? It is a well-known fact that the maximum milk yield can be obtained in the first 1-3 months after calving. It is believed that the animal gives more than 40% of the total amount of possible milk yield. If you make a mistake at this stage, the likelihood is high that further milking will be a big question.

There are recommendations that at first it is impossible to milk the entire volume of the udder, but it is better to wait until there is no postpartum edema. However, it is risky to follow these recommendations, as the remaining milk in the udder can fester and lead to serious inflammation. The only exception is paresis of the udder in a cow after calving, then this is indicated by veterinarians.

Mistakes that are often made when breeding

Often, a person himself leads to such a situation when a cow is deprived of milk after calving. More often than others, there are irregular milk yields, when there is no clearly worked out schedule, that is, the time through which the livestock is fed is not the same. This should not be allowed under any circumstances, since there is a high probability that the cow will stop lactation.

There is also a risk that even a good start will not be able to guarantee that milk yields will remain at a sufficient level. The fact is that milk is produced around the clock, therefore, the cow must be milked regularly, strictly at the same time. If we are talking about a dairy breed, then the number of milking can be about 4 or even 5 per day, less productive breeds can be milked 2 times per day, this is quite enough.

If we are talking about a first-calf, especially during the first time of calving, do not delay milking. Such an individual is milked quite often. There is a recommendation from veterinarians that the pause between milking should not exceed a period of 12 hours.

Recommended milk scheme for first-calf heifers

With regards to the milk of first-calf heifers, there is a recommended scheme developed by experienced veterinarians and livestock breeders. If you are a novice livestock breeder, you should adhere to these recommendations in order to know how long it will take to milk a cow:

• The first drink is not later than 5.00 in the morning.
• The second drink is about 9-10 am.
• The third milking is about 3 pm.
• The fourth and final one is about 20 pm.

As you can see, the basic rule of thumb is that there is no more than ten hours between milking. As mentioned earlier, before starting the actual milking, you need to do a light massage. The first procedures usually should not exceed 5-8 minutes, a longer duration is not shown at this stage.

What technique should be followed when brewing

The first rule is the correct grip: the so-called pinch should be avoided. Even if the cow is already milked and gives a sufficient amount of milk, due to such capture, an inflammatory process may develop due to stagnant lymph. Correct milking of a cow is carried out with a fist, but before that, the first jets are extracted, traditionally by clenching their fists, merging them separately. Farmers claim that the first milk is the dirtiest and it is not recommended to drink it.

There are many photos and videos in which you can see in detail how exactly you need to capture the nipple so as not to harm the cow and not interfere with the natural separation of milk. The nipple is wrapped tightly, but the fingers should not be pinched. That's right - this is when the index and thumb form a ring, and the little finger should be located almost near the milk hole. The fingers need to be squeezed alternately, alternating between the index and middle.

What should be the feeding of a cow after giving birth

What to give a cow after calving to improve lactation? Already on the first day, the feeding of the cow after calving should be changed. It is worth closely monitoring not only what she eats, but also drinks, there should be more than enough water. Moreover, it is recommended to warm up the drink a little and even add some salt. This is necessary in order for the recovery period to pass faster.

The first day or two after calving, you need to feed the cow with light, low-calorie food, the digestion of which will not take too much effort and energy. Combined feed or well-dried hay is considered the ideal diet; it is also allowed to feed the cattle with oatmeal. It is worth excluding the usual fresh grass and fodder vegetables, since they negatively affect non-lactation. Not only can milk production be disrupted, there is a possibility that the cow will feel bad, and this one way or another will work against higher yields and increased volumes.

It is important to try not to overfeed the cow with hay, because this can provoke the development of digestive problems: for example, the animal's appetite will deteriorate, and after the appetite the milk yield will drop, and their volume will decrease. Of course, this should never be allowed.

Making a menu for a pregnant cow

Like all activities in the life of a cow, feeding should be carried out strictly in accordance with the schedule, the diet is thought out in advance. It was already said earlier that during the milking period, in no case should you feed the cow with fresh grass, and also give more feed than necessary. Preference should be given to hay, low-calorie compound feeds and concentrates (they work like an energy drink), which take into account all the dietary needs of a pregnant animal. It is allowed to slightly diversify the diet of a cow with potatoes, but not every day and in small quantities. This caution is needed to avoid filling the intestines with harmful toxins that can poison cow's milk.

You should also be careful with concentrates, as there is a risk of overfeeding the cow with proteins. Such eating disorders will at least cause food dysfunction, and in the worst case, can trigger the development of a much more serious illness. The saddest outcome of such a “diet” is complete infertility, which, unfortunately, most often does not respond to treatment, thus, the cow may soon “retrain” from dairy to meat.

In general, it is easiest to rely on your own experience and common sense. If the cow has outstanding dimensions, is tall and has reproduced the same large calf, it is worth giving a little more than average portions to eat. And vice versa, if you have lean, sprawling cattle, you should not overfeed it too much, you should not deliberately increase the portions. You need to make a start on whether food remains in the feeder after a meal, how the volumes change after a particular food.

It is important to look after the health of the cow after calving

Childbirth is a test for any living being. Naturally, with each subsequent birth, the cow loses a certain vital reserve of energy, becoming more and more vulnerable to certain diseases. Many ailments can be overcome on your own at home, without going to a doctor. But there are those that require urgent medical attention, they can appear after calving, accompanied by the following symptoms:

• There are blood impurities in the urine of the cow, there is purulent discharge. This may indicate that the cow has developed internal bleeding.
• High temperatures are especially long.
• The cow loses weight, loses weight, even despite the increase in portions and the increased energy value of food. Here, the cause of poor health can be parasites that invade her body.
• The cow has been lying constantly for more than one day, does not rise, has lost weight. This condition can be quite common after calving and is called stubborn cattle. Often the cow copes with the disease on her own, but you need to keep the situation under control, as this can result in the prolapse of the uterus.
• The condition of the teeth has worsened. This is usually a consequence of the fact that the diet of a cow is lacking in vital elements. In this case, the teeth are loose and even fall out.
• The main milk organ - the udder - becomes inflamed. Here, most often there is a disease such as breast or, scientifically, mastitis. An excellent prevention of this ailment is the addition of salt to the water.
• Deterioration of appetite or its complete absence, that is, the animal stops eating altogether. This can be an alarming symptom of many diseases, so it is worthwhile to show the sick animal to the veterinarian as soon as possible, only he will be able to identify the cause of the malaise and adequately treat the animal.
• There is no milk with an overflowing udder (sometimes even swelling), that is, it is gone. This condition is popularly called "a cow squeezed milk." It is worth urgently seeking help from a specialist and in no case self-medicating. Regular massage may help, or more serious antibiotic therapy may be required.

If you can follow the basic guidelines for caring for and keeping the cow, there is less chance of complications after calving. This proves once again that it is worth being scrupulous about caring for a cow after calving.

In any case, if your cow calves soon, it is worth getting basic medications that you may need for certain symptoms. This will be discussed further.

What drugs can be used for a cow after calving

Of course, only a person with at least a minimum basic medical education can take full responsibility for the health of a cow, so playing Aibolit on your own is still not worth it, since due to inexperience you can miss a symptom or choose the wrong course of treatment. However, it is still worth collecting a basic first aid kit in case the cow needs help urgently.

The farmer must clearly understand which of the drugs in the medicine cabinet should be injected subcutaneously, which ones should be added to food, and which ones should be dissolved in water. You also need to know at least the approximate weight of the cow, because all doses must be calculated based on this factor. The first thing to take care of is oxytocin, usually not a single birth in a cow, especially in first-calf heifers, can do without it. Often you have to pierce this drug in order to resume labor.

In addition to oxytocin, you should stock up on several doses of bicillin. It is an effective broad spectrum antimicrobial agent.

Contrary to the popular belief that pain relievers should be contained in a breeder's first-aid kit, you should not keep novocaine and drugs with a similar effect.Still, anesthesia should be carried out by a professional, that is, a veterinarian.

When to inseminate a cow after calving

This question worries absolutely all livestock breeders who have cows on their farm. When can you inseminate it again? If the animal is healthy and has no abnormalities, it has no health problems (this is especially true for the genitourinary system), you can cover the cow in the next cycle. You can find out when the hunt will start by the characteristic features:

• Typical white abundant discharge (less often bloody) appears from the genital fissure, it is often said that they begin to "smear".
• The cow becomes more restless, more attracted to the company of bulls, prefers to walk with them, waiting for the soonest insemination.

It is worth noting that a cow's lack of sex drive is a bad sign. Usually, it takes about 2 months for the cow to show the above symptoms of estrus.

As a conclusion

From the above information, we can conclude that caring for a cow is not so easy. However, all these activities pay off in full, because this is the only way a cowboy will be able to reveal her milk potential and give good decent milk yield.