Is it possible to milk a cow that has just had a calf ?

Answer 1

I'd say yes but I'd want to give the cow some time to get over the birthing. It's already been discussed that the milk from the first two days should be given to the calf because it has anti-bodies in it that gives the calf a headstart in this dirty germy world. Mammals produce milk specifically for their babies so once you get the calf, you're definitely going to get milk. For cows that produce milk but don't have calves... they produce milk precisely because humans milk them. Each time a cow is milked, it produces chemical signals from her teats that encourage her to produce more milk. The same goes for humans. People have been known to breast-feed children for more than three years.

Answer 2

The first three days after having a calf, a cow produces colostrum. This has antibodies in it to give the calf a healthy start in life. Make sure that the calf gets it's milk within 2 hours after it is born.
You don't want to taste it, because it taste yecky. I made the mistake of trying to drink my goat's first milk, and I ended up throwing out my coffee because of the taste of the first milk.
The average cow will make a lot more milk then its baby could ever drink. Make sure that you milk her every 12 hours, even if her calf stays with her. You can give the extra first milk to cats but you would not want to use it for human consuption.
After the time is up, enjoy her milk.

Answer 3

Certainly. Colostrum though is the first milk...and you don't need custard powder if you use it for custard....
Cows don't just make milk, because we are cows. Like people, it's dry until we old cows have our calves. But, if you keep milking, we keep going.
Moooooo!

Answer 4

Yes. What do you think the calf eats?

Answer 5

it is possible but i would not unless the calf died and cannot relieve its mother of the pain caused by an overfull udder.

Answer 6

oh yeah very rich milk