If i have a question about cows? what section do i put it in? Who would know about how milking works...?

Question

I am wondering about how it works as far as milking cows. i mean humans only produce milk right after pregnancy to feed their newborn children, so how is it that cows can be milked any day of the year (I think) Does their milk production have anything to do with the hormones of child (calf) birth? Or is it a completely different thing with a completely different process. Do they have to have a calf first, and as long as they are milked all the time, milk production continues? If you don't know the answer, could you just let me know what section i should put this under to get a better answer... I didn't see anything on farming or farm animals exclusively, so i didn't really know.

Answer 1

The question should be under "veterinary science", "animal science". You can only milk cows after they give birth to a calf... Coincidentally, gestation in a cow last almost as much as in humans. After giving birth to a calf they are usually milked (this varies according to breed) for 280 days approx. and then go into a period of "rest". They are bred to get pregnant approx 2 months after giving birth, so after the two (2) month rest period they give birth again and the cycle starts... They are bred for the first time when they are about 2 1/2 years old, are bred until they are approx 10 to 12 years old. This varies widely depending on breed and many other conditions.

Answer 2

Cows are the same as humans in that lactation begins after they give birth. However, in the case of cows, lactation is artificially extended past the time that calves usually stop nursing. Humans can lactate for several years after the birth of a child, as long as the child continues to nurse, and this same principal is what dairy farmers use.
When the cow's lactation begins to lessen, she is bred again, and the process begins again.
Range cows (those raised for beef) are usually allowed to keep their calves until they are weaned -- usually around six or eight months. Dairy cows are not. When dairy cow calves, its calf is allowed to nurse for the first week (to drawn down the the 'first' milk that contains antibodies and protective elements for the calf) and then is taken from the mother and fed milk from a nursing machine or put with another cow. The dairy cow's milk is taken by a milking machine.
Stripping is usually done by hand, to ensure the bag is completely emptied as if milk is left in the cow's bag, milk production begins to decrease. By stripping the bag, the production is kept as high as possible.

Answer 3

A cow starts milking once it calves (meaning gives birth), they will continue to produce milk all year around, but you dry them up a few months before they would calve again, so they have time to regrow and basicly regenerate cells in the utter and so on. We had a cow that wouldnt breed for two years, and we milked her the whole time. She didnt give alot of milk, but it was either milk her or let her sit and get fat in which case we wouldnt get her bred then. Most cows give alot of milk within the first few months of their lacation, and towards the end they barely give enough for a bottle to feed one calf.

Answer 4

When I was young I milked cows by hand. You are correct in your assumption that once a cow has a calf, if you keep milking them, they keep producing milk. A woman would work the same way. In fact, back in the older days, like when I was young, All women except for special reasons, breast fed their babies. Sometimes, when necessary, an old grandmother who hadn't suckled a baby in many years, would put a baby to her breast and within a few short days she would have milk for the baby.

Answer 5

Yes, they have to have a calf first which is usually taken away and treated very badly so people can eat veal.
So, these poor animals are constantly going through the cycle of birth and loss to provide milk. It is inhumane.

http://www.factoryfarming.com/dairy.htm

Answer 6

They should have a calf first and should be suckled or milked ragularly. They can be milked for around a year each lactation

Answer 7

A cow has a calf. then she is milked. After so long she is mated again and has another calf. and so on....

Answer 8

Look up "BOVINES". All females, human, bovine, or whatever, will produce milk as long as the demand is there.