Increase Milk Production: 18 Ways to Boost Milk Production - Xaxa farms

How to Increase Milk Production in Dairy Cows

Feeding dairy cows to increase milk production has been an elusive dream for many dairy farmers in Kenya. Although she puts a lot of effort into feeding, the cow always increases her milk production.

Feed dairy cows correctly for maximum milk production and economic benefits. The same practices are used by successful dairy farmers to achieve high milk yields and have been proven time and time again. 

Nutritional needs, feed quantities and qualities, feed sources, rations and other dynamics are important for the dairy cow. You will need to have information about the cows milking performance, size, body condition, stage of lactation, feeding habits and feed preferences to feed the cows well.

Most farmers have dairy cows that produce 8 liters of milk per day, while others produce 40 liters per day.

To get more liters of milk per day, check what you give your cow as this determines the quality and quantity produced.

The most popular dairy cow is the Friesian which produces more milk than the Ayrshire, Jersey and Guernsey breeds.

1. Profits - Increase Milk Production

The highest milk producing cow in the world reaches 110 liters per day, but in Kenya the highest level is 70 liter of milk and is sold for between KShs 40 and 50 in the informal market, while processors pay Ksh 33 to KSh 35 per liter For example, a farmer who has 6 dairy cows, each giving 25 kg of milk per day, can get 150 liters of milk per day, reaching Ksh 6,000 per day at Ksh 40 per liter . In 30 days, the farmer can have a gross income of KShs 180,000. If you subtract the expenses: the cost of food, medicine and labor, which are about 30% of the earnings, the net profit is about KSh. 126,000 per month. This is a good income that can allow you to pay expenses, pay other expenses on the farm and even invest. 

Increase Milk Production: 18 Ways to Boost Milk Production

Looking to increase your milk supply Here is a guide.

2. Breed - Increase Milk Production

Cow breeding takes many forms, including artificial insemination. It involves a farmer giving semen to cows which will enable a cow to produce more milk.

Proper selection is the first and most important step in dairy farming in Kenya. Records are the basis of breeding and therefore correct animal identification and record keeping is essential. Mixed animals with around 50% exotic heritage are preferred.

A. Breed characteristics of high-yielding dairy cows

• Attractive individuality with femininity, vigor, harmonious combination of all parts, impressive style and bearing. • The animal's body should be wedge-shaped.

• Must have bright eyes with a slender neck.

• The udder should be firmly attached to the abdomen.

• The udder skin should have a good network of blood vessels.

• All four udder quarters should be well defined with well placed teats.

3. Provide Enough Drinking Water - Increase Milk Production

The water consumption per kilogram is much higher than the carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and fats that the cow consumes in the diet, around 75%. This implies that because we focus on dry matter when formulating diets for dairy cows, we are targeting only 25% of the cow's total nutrient intake.

A cow consumes 1 liter of water per 12 kg of body weight in cold weather and about 1 liter of water per 6 kg of body weight in very hot weather. The water needs of lactating dairy cows increase, requiring twice as much water as dry cows. Age, size, stage of production and environment also determine daily water intake. See the table below

The quality of the water supplied to the cow is also very important. The water in some boreholes contains excessive amounts of minerals, which upset the digestion of nutrients and the mineral balance of the cow. If in doubt, it is important to test the water for minerals and seek advice on its suitability for drinking by cows.

4. Deworming - Increase Milk Production

The breeder must also deworm the cows, first when they are between two and four months old, then every three months to obtain maximum production.

The calves are dewormed every month. After deworming, the breeder does not use his milk for 72 hours because it is not suitable for human consumption.

Good hygiene is essential when milking cows, ensuring hands and clothing are clean and the farmer is in good health.

The cow's udder should also be cleaned with warm water using a clean cloth.

5. High Quality Food - Increase Milk Production

Productive dairy cows need to eat plenty of feed to provide all the nutrients they need each day. When given the opportunity, dairy cows eat forage day and night. But they can't eat much until they feel full and stop eating for a while. So it's important that when you feel full, you have enough of all the nutrients you need to stay healthy and productive.

Feeding your animals well increases your income. Dairy cows need a balanced diet for milk production, body maintenance and good health.

No dairy cow, no matter how good the breed, can remain productive without good management, especially feeding. The quantity and quality of milk produced by the animal greatly depends on what it receives and how it is fed. If the cow is grazed on a farm with little grass and water and housed in dirty sheds filled with manure and urine, the result is low milk production and low disease incidence.

6. Mineral Intake - Increase Milk Production

All dairy cows need minerals for high milk production. Calcium and phosphorus supplements are especially important for dairy cows. Trace elements are needed in very small quantities.

Feed alone cannot provide enough minerals to fully benefit dairy cows. Deficiency symptoms occur when these requirements are not met. Always supplement the diet with good quality minerals and ensure a daily intake.

High-yielding dairy cows simply cannot eat enough bulk forage to get all the nutrients they need. Their intestines fill up before they can absorb enough nutrients and need to be fed other, more nutrient dense foods. These rations come in the form of concentrates which are expensive and need to be managed carefully to get the best return on investment. Feed according to the level of milk production and the quality of the forage. 

The most economical level of concentrate feed is at the point where the extra milk produced only pays for the last additional unit amount of concentrate added. This point can be influenced by changes in milk and feed prices. If the price of milk drops, it may not be more economical to feed so much concentrate.

7. Provide Enough Protein in the Diet - Increase Milk Production

Protein is the second most important component of food. It builds the cow's body and helps in milk production. Adequate protein in the diet also helps rumen (stomach) microorganisms convert roughage into nutrients. It is important for farmers to ensure that they supplement their forage feed with protein. Lack of protein in animal feed leads to poor growth, reduced milk production, weight loss and late maturity.

Related; 8 Ways to Increase Egg Production in Chicken

8. Selection of the Best Fodder - Increase Milk Production

Napier grass has always been my go-to forage due to its high biomass. There are other forages, but things got better when Xaxa Farms advised farmers to start using Brachiaria grass. The change in production has been nothing short of spectacular.

Cows need to feel full and bulky. Fodder, rich in fibre, provides the necessary volume in the ration to fill the intestines and prevent cows from feeling hungry. Some forages, such as fresh green grass, provide relatively few nutrients in a large volume of feed. Others provide more concentrated nutrients. Dry grass such as hay, for example, contains more nutrients than the same weight of fresh grass. However, some dry fodder, such as straw, contains relatively low amounts of nutrients.

Forage quality can be judged by its appearance, smell and texture. For fresh forages, those that have more leaves than stalks, are dark green in color and soft, are likely to be of higher quality than those that are mostly stalks, have yellowish leaves and stalks, or appear hard or woody.

Feeding costs are high, so enlist the services of an animal nutritionist to formulate diets that meet nutritional needs in the least expensive combinations. Correct specific nutritional deficiencies when formulating feeds.

9. Formulate the Feed - Increase Milk Production

Formulate the feed to provide enough energy, protein, minerals and vitamins to improve fertility and consistent good milk production. At least 70 to 80 percent of the dry matter content of the feed should come from roughage. Ingredient sourcing for concentrated supplements should be based on their relative energy and protein costs. Successes and tricks are to ensure that the quality of purchased raw materials is good and reliable.

10. Avoid Sudden Change of Diet - Increase Milk Production

Sudden changes in the diet of cows alter the microbial balance in the rumen and this affects digestion. It takes time for rumen bacteria to adapt to changes that affect milk production. Once you have decided on a certain diet, make sure that it will be available in the future. If for any reason you need to change your diet, do so gradually, preferably over a two-week period. This will give the rumen bacteria enough time to adapt to the new environment.

11. Set Realistic Goals for Milk Production - Increase Milk Production

Set goals for milk production and work hard to achieve them. While it's true that you can feed fewer dairy cows more efficiently, that may not be the full potential the farm can achieve. The realistic milk production goal depends on the genetic quality of cows, resources for feed supply, management skills and the motivation to have high performing cows. The skills acquired will allow you to set realistic goals for dairy production on the farm.

12. Let the Cows Rest - Increase Milk Production

A cow's daily behavioral budget includes feeding, watering, milking, standing and lying; and she needs time for each of these activities. It is important to lie down because the cow rests and ruminates, increases blood flow to the udder, which increases milk production. Reducing lying down reduces milk production.

At any time, 60% of resting dairy cows must be ruminating. Cows typically rest 10 to 14 hours a day in five or more rest periods where they take 7 to 10 hours to ruminate. So make sure cows can rest as long as they need, in comfortable, dry bedding, to improve their health, welfare and performance.

13. Know Your Cow - Increase Milk Production

A big cow eats more than a small one. Also a cow that produces a lot of milk will eat it more than one that produces little milk. Immediately after calving, cows eat less feed than normal. Individual cows have particular feeding habits.

14. Hormone Use - Increase Milk Production

You can use hormones to increase milk production, but keep in mind that this area is very controversial. There has been some debate over whether the use of hormones in dairy cows is safe for the cow and humans.

If you go this route, there is a hormone called recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) that can be injected into the cow to produce more milk. Artificially synthesized rbST is similar in all respects to natural bovine somatotropin (bST) produced by cows. These hormones stimulate the udder to absorb more nutrients from the bloodstream, allowing the udder to produce more milk. A cow treated with rBST can produce 5 kg more milk per day than those who are not.

15. Planning - Increase Milk Production

Planning Is Important For a Profitable Dairy Business - Increase Milk Production The creation of dairy cows depends on the knowledge and planning of the breeder. Dairy farming in Kenya is a viable business that needs sufficient resources and capital. These included; land suitable to accommodate the desired number of animals and to grow the fodder, legumes or grasses needed to feed the animals.

Farmers also need to plan for the feed needs of animals during the dry season. Farmers must prepare excess fodder silage and store it during the rainy season so that it can be fed to animals during the dry season. The farmer also needs to have a good budget to ensure there is enough money to buy concentrates, mineral licks, vitamins and medications to keep the animals healthy.

16. Acquire Knowledge and Skills - Increase Milk Production

Although it is possible to be a dairy farmer without knowledge of dairy production, knowledge of dairy production is important in order to be able to work comfortably with dairy cows. You can acquire dairy farming in Kenya knowledge and skills through training, experience working with dairy cattle, with experienced dairy farmers, or through reading. 

For this, one must be interested in acquiring these skills. Other skills include mechanical aptitude, the ability to work with computers, problem analysis and solving, and team management. These skills will help you plan, organize and manage an effective dairy business.

17. Classical Music - Increase Milk Production

Cows produce more milk when they listen to classical music, according to Xaxa Farms.

Classical music therapy increases cow's milk production by five percent, a close found.

For years, studies have investigated the effects of classical music on cow's milk production. In 2001, researchers from the University of Leicester published their 'Moosic study', which found that they played music to their hideout on loudspeakers, turning them on at specific times to increase milk supply. .

"If this music brings relaxation to humans, then I thought, why wouldn't it work for animals?" Quotes from Xaxa Farms

Install a music system and watch your milk supply increase. It doesn't matter what type of food you give them, the important thing is to relieve the animal's stress.

In this way, Xaxa-Farms dairy farming in Kenya has seen a significant increase in income and animal health problems have also decreased. 

Related; 7 Amazing facts About Dairy Farming in Kenya

Dairy cows produce more milk by listening to relaxing classical melodies.

Although we don't know exactly what cows think when they hear music, the evidence is clear. Music is beneficial to cow welfare as long as the right type of music is played.

18. The Cow Mattress - Increase Milk Production

Cow comfort is directly proportional to their productivity and profitability. Your comfort level will also affect your health and well-being. It is especially important that cows are comfortable when lying down. In fact, cows must lie down for at least twelve hours to increase milk production, because blood circulation in the udder increases by 30%.

In addition, the cow needs to ruminate while lying down. The lying position also allows the hooves to dry out and rest to reduce the risk of disease. However, if the corral or barn is not comfortable, the cow will spend less time lying down, which will affect her overall health and welfare.

Mattress provide a comfortable floor surface not only for walking, but also for lying down. They also help insulate the herd from the cold and harsh bare ground, while soothing and protecting joints and leg muscles. Cow Mattress increase milk production, thereby improving the quality of life of dairy cows.

Cow Mattress are the ideal choice for farmers who want to increase their productivity while protecting their cow’s right from the start. They will optimize the comfort of the cow and the breeder will reap all the benefits.

Smart Tips! - Increase Milk Production

Smallholder Dairy farming in Kenya face many challenges during the dry season due to lack of feed for their animals. Farmers often lack good quality feed that can Increase Milk Production, as their animals depend on various grasses that are only available in abundance during the rainy season. Thus, poor nutrition leads to poor health and low milk production, resulting in farmers earning low income from their cows/goats.

If you follow the advice in this guide"(Increase-Milk-Production", you will have a big advantage in increasing your cow's milk production.

The following table shows requirements of water in litres per day for various categories of dairy cows.

Table 1

Livestock	Consumption per day (Litres)
Calves	15 - 30
Weaners (250 – 300 Kg)	45 - 60
Dry stock	60 - 80
Lactating first calf heifers (350 – 400 Kg)	70 - 90
Lactating cows (500 Kg)	100 - 180

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