milk cow question

[hawkinsbunch]

How long after calving will a cow continue to give milk if she isn't bred and refreshened?

[topside1]

I'm not a dairyman but it's been my understanding 1-2 years with obvious decreases in production over that period of time...Guess a lot depends on feeds, care, genetics...TJ

[Up North]

Originally Posted by topside1

...Guess a lot depends on feeds, care, genetics...TJ

Yes all of the above and consistency of milking routine plays a role. If milked twice a day or 3 times a day like clockwork, and well fed a cow can milk 450-500 days. After 400 days at some point you will reach a turning point where the feed and labor costs exceed the value of the milk harvested. If your feed costs are low enough and you do not charge for your labor, that turning point is pushed farther out...LOL.

[francismilker]

Unless a person just had to have the milk 365 days a year, it might be more economical to try and breed the cow every year. There's a possibility she "might" have a heifer. And, if she does, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ in the bank! You could easily pay for a couple of years worth of feed off of one heifer calf. If she has a bull calf that's meat in the freezer. Once again, this is just an opinion.