Suckler cow milk

Uggman

Member
Livestock Farmer
A few posts on here have got me thinking particularly one from @som farmer has any tested suckler cow milk for protein and fats because the more good stuff it has it in the faster than calf we grow I know that growth weights will show some of the better cows because of those weights but they might be better converters of feed i also know that most suckler cows are a bit more good with there legs then dairy cows but sure it could be done. Just thinking it will be a starting point to breed a better milkier cow
 

som farmer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
somerset
A few posts on here have got me thinking particularly one from @som farmer has any tested suckler cow milk for protein and fats because the more good stuff it has it in the faster than calf we grow I know that growth weights will show some of the better cows because of those weights but they might be better converters of feed i also know that most suckler cows are a bit more good with there legs then dairy cows but sure it could be done. Just thinking it will be a starting point to breed a better milkier cow
most of the ones we milked were utter crap for b/f and protien, quite shocked us, we assumed the opposite, they were mainly her and AA, sims weren't to bad, limo's to dangerous/low milk. We outed them fairly quickly, or as soon as money allowed ! Since then, have milked a few, AAxjr milked extremely well, with high constituents, currently milking a her cross, which is similar, basically, they don't ring the 'bell'. All in all, not a great success, the hfrs were the best to milk, very low yield, and no improvement when calved again.
 
Milk quality varies to a degree according to the cow's diet, so I doubt that a quality test on a suckler would be of much benefit unless you then alter the diet to improve the milk quality.

Just breed from the cows who's calves thrive best.
Diet but also stage of lactation, volume of milk produced etc.
Volume of milk isn't really important unless you're seling milk.
The weight of calf tells you which cows are best producers, if that's milk quality or milk volume, does it really matter?
I'd guess it's a combination of both along with persistency in lactation that rears the best calf.

I have a friend who runs a few retired dairy cows (holsteins) along with sucklers, they have loads of milk at the start which I believe partially dries them off when not kept cleared out, their calves also need creep because the cows are dry at about 5 months just as grass is slowing up.
No real shock as a holstein has a fairly extreme lactation curve.
 

som farmer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
somerset
They used to call Holstein milk white water 😂
the hfd x's bottomed out at 2.5% fat and 2.8 protein, and peaked at 18/20 litres, of course a few exceptions, but pretty crap, good enough for 1 calf though, to much more, would give them the shites. I have holstiens av 8500 litres. at 4+fat, and 3+ protein. Currently got a hfd x cow, just calved no 4, that will do 7500, at over 4 and over 3, that's an exception, added advantage, she will make a big barrener !
 

topground

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North Somerset.
The equipment required to milk sucklers went when we stopped milking Jerseys sometime in the mist of time, Doubt I will milk any of my sucklers to find out although I do have one quiet enough to be Pd’d by the vet using ultrasound while stood in the yard!
 

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