Milking two or five times daily in the presence of a cow’s own nonsuckling calf fails to prolong postpartum anovulation

Date

2010-08-24T19:14:22Z

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

Abstract

Three treatments were initiated at approximately 15 days after calving and continued for 4 weeks: 1) cows were suckled ad libitum by their calves (calf present [CP]); 2) calves were present but nonsuckling 24 hr/day and cows were milked twice daily (CR+2×M); 3) or same as CR+2×M but cows were milked five times daily (CR+5×M). Interval to the first postpartum ovulation was similar between CR+2×M and CR+5×M cows but about 2 weeks less than that in cows suckled ad libitum by their own calves. Cows in the CR+5×M treatment produced more milk than cows in the CR+2×M treatment, whereas only slight differences occurred in the percentages of milk fat, protein, lactose, and solids-not-fat. Prior to initiation of treatments, CR+2× cows yielded more milk than either CR+5×M or CP cows, but by the end of 4 weeks of treatment, milk yields were similar among treatments. We conclude that mechanical milking either two or five times daily in the presence of a cow’s own nonsuckling calf fails to prolong postpartum anovulation to the extent of ad libitum suckling. However, increasing milking frequency to 5× daily enhanced milk yield.

Description

Keywords

Beef, Cows, Milking, Suckling, Calf presence, Anestrus

Citation