Beef Cattle-Can milk production be increased?

[BJ]

We have two young heifers who just had their second calf. They don't seem to have much milk for their calf. Is there anything we can feed to increase their milk production? Their mothers are great cows with huge amounts of milk. These are angus/limo cross. We thought they would have more milk with the 2nd calf....but they don't seem to. Anything we can feed mother cow to increase her milk?

[james dilley]

What are there genetics? what are they being fed.?? and you know that the milk potentional is , partly genetic and then feed programs. you might check the amount of protein they are getting. Try talking to the other cattle folks near you..

[jerzeygurl]

oats

[agmantoo]

Based on the available feed for the calves and the cows you may not want the cows milking more. As long as the calves are growing they will soon be consuming forage. If a cow has limited forage and milks heavily she will have to contribute her own body condition to making milk. I try to have a trio, cow, calve and unborn calf, going as much a possible. I am a grass farmer and that is all my animals get. Therefore the calf on the ground has to consume grass to supplement the milk the cow is providing and the cow has to be building reserves for the unborn calf. I do not want a cow milking too heavily. You may need to think this through some more based on you own feed conditions and options..