Extending Lactation in cows

[Guest guest]

"WWW: Tulasi-priya (Devi Dasi) SDG (?)" wrote:

 

> [Text 2253175 from COM]

>

> On 21 Apr 1999, Madhava Gosh wrote:

>

>

> > It is possible to get breeds that milk for several years with a single

calf.

>

>

> Can you tell us what those breeds are?

 

It seems to me that the main thing is that the length of time that you milk a

cow

(the cow's lactation) cannot be extended very long when the cows are milked by

machine. I think any cow's lactation can be extended by good nutrition, plenty

of

good water and sufficient salt, comfortable environment (including lush pasture

and shade)

 

The problem with machine milking (which means all commercial milking in Western

countries) is that when the cow's milk falls to 30 lb per day, the machine puts

too much stress on her (she'll get mastitis)-- so she must be dried up, or sent

to

the slaughterhouse.

 

But, for self-sufficient community farming, a cow giving 30 lb of milk a day --

that's 60 cups of milk -- is still quite valuable.

The milk may be a different quality -- better for curd than for hot milk -- but

it

is still very useful. The farmer can trade his curd for the liquid milk of a

fresher cow owned by another community farmer.

 

I believe it is the case that in general, the larger cows, which produce more

to

begin with, can be milked longer than the smaller breeds. Someone please

correct

me if I am wrong about this.

 

At Gita-nagari we milked Visakha the cow for 3 or 4 years on one lactation.

She's

a Brown Swiss cow -- also very nice because all the bull calves have black

hooves,

which are better for working oxen because they are less susceptible to hoof

disease. Mother Kaulini was the main cowherd who took care of her.

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi