Milk question

[piglady]

I was wondering what determines milk production. I assume it is breed and feed but I hear about the commercial diaries pushing thier girls so hard. What does that mean.

Our Jersey/Holstien cross hiefers are due soon. If we pasture them and feed them some grain at milking, what should we expect a day from each?

[Gregg Alexander]

If on good pasture and hay should get around 2 1/2 to 5 gal of milk mostly likey around the 2 1/2 gal range per day. You will get an increase of around 1/2 gal per day if feeding some grain. They will increase production as they grow older , remember milk weigh's 8 lbs per gal so 2 1/2 gal is around 20 lbs and 5 gal is 40 lbs. Feed enough grain to make it worth whille feeding it. Offer the cow around 12 lbs of feed per day or 6 lbs per milking on 2x milking

[matt_man]

We have two jerseys that peaked at 4 gallons/day each with no grain. We feed about 1.5 lbs of alfalfa pellets at milking time.

Rachel

[sammyd]

Pushing hard is jumping up the grain ration to high levels. It can cause laminitis and acidosis if taken too far.

[Calfkeeper]

Pushing too hard is also giving them that rBST junk to make them over-produce. We don't because it kills off the girls quickly and that's just not right.

Our girls produce more milk during spring flush when the grass is green and lush. But, of course, the butterfat goes down. In winter when they are on alfalfa the butterfat goes way up but production overall is down.

[michiganfarmer]

My jersy is 4 years old. She frshened in March. She started out at 6 gallons per day. We have fed her a couple lbs of oats twice a day while milking her, and she gets all the alfalfa/brome hay she wants. She is giving 4 gallons per day now.

[travlnusa]

I define "pushing' cows when you are feeding more than 50% of their diet in the form of grain on a dry matter basis.

[Up North]

Originally Posted by Calfkeeper

Pushing too hard is also giving them that rBST junk to make them over-produce.

Just an update on rBST situation.
The use of rBST is rapidly declining amongst commercial dairy producers.
Walmart and other grocery retailers are putting pressure on dairy cooperatives by simply refusing to purchase milk produced using artificially added rBST.
The result is that dairy cooperatives, bottling plants, and processors who will buy milk from farms using rBST are becoming few and far between.

The Monsanto Corporation is actively trying to sell off it's division that manufactures and sells Posilac(their brand name for rBST.)

[Calfkeeper]

Originally Posted by Up North

Just an update on rBST situation.
The use of rBST is rapidly declining amongst commercial dairy producers.
Walmart and other grocery retailers are putting pressure on dairy cooperatives by simply refusing to purchase milk produced using artificially added rBST.
The result is that dairy cooperatives, bottling plants, and processors who will buy milk from farms using rBST are becoming few and far between.

The Monsanto Corporation is actively trying to sell off it's division that manufactures and sells Posilac(their brand name for rBST.)

Yeah, we have to sign formal papers for the co-op stating that we don't use the stuff. Those who choose to use it have to arrange their own transport for the milk.

Anyway, when we have new heifers come fresh we make sure and up their feed amount very gradually, instead of starting them straight off on milking rations. Else it will cause laminitis. We have, to our regret, had it happen and have lost a couple heifers to it.

[piglady]

That's great to know. Thanks. I would never want to do anything to hurt them and we are going to have more milk than we need anyway. Can't wait until the calf gets here.