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

Authors

G.C. Lamb
K. E. Thompson
J.S. Heldt
C.A. Löest
Jeffrey S. Stevenson

Keywords

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribution; no. 97-309-S; Report of progress (Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service); 804; Cattlemen's Day, 1998; Beef; Cows; Milking; Suckling; Calf presence; Anestrus

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+2xM); 3) or same as CR+2xM but cows were milked five times daily (CR+5xM). Interval to the first postpartum ovulation was similar between CR+2xM and CR+5xM cows but about 2 weeks less than that in cows suckled ad libitum by their own calves. Cows in the CR+5xM treatment produced more milk than cows in the CR+2xM treatment, whereas only slight differences occurred in the percentages of milk fat, protein, lactose, and solids-not-fat. Prior to initiation of treatments, CR+2x cows yielded more milk than either CR+5xM 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 5x daily enhanced milk yield.

Recommended Citation

Lamb, G.C.; Thompson, K. E.; Heldt, J.S.; Löest, C.A.; and Stevenson, Jeffrey S. (1998) "Milking two or five times daily in the presence of a cow’s own nonsuckling calf fails to prolong postpartum anovulation," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 0: Iss. 1. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.1884