Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
have free-choice access to hay or pasture. For every pound of milk your cow gives, you
should supplement her with 1 pound of grain. They always should have water available at all
times. Larger dairies will have a machine to mix a total mixed ration (TMR). All feed (hay,
silage, and grain) are placed in this machine and it is ground into a product. This way the cow
will consume all feeds and not be able to pick out the feed she finds tastiest. For a person with
only a few cows, the cost of a TMR mixer will prove too costly. A used TMR mixer sells for a
few thousand dollars.
Dairy Cattle Health
Some diseases and health concerns are specific to dairy cows. Here is some information about
how to care for your dairy cows to keep them disease-free and in the best of health.
Udder anatomy
The udder of a dairy cow is an amazing thing. It is more than four teats and an udder (com-
monly called a bag); it is a rich factory, producing milk, butterfat, and protein with a generous
blood supply. Because it is the primary focus of the dairy cow, it is important for the dairy
farmer to understand how the udder works. The udder is divided into two fore and rear quar-
ters. Looking from behind, it is divided into two halves by the mammary groove.
The teats are at the ends of each quarter. They function as a valve for the release of milk and
to provide for the suckling of a calf. They are smooth and hairless. The streak canal is the duct
through which milk exits the gland and is the major defense against the introduction of
mastitis-causing organisms. During milking, the sphincter muscle of the streak canal relaxes
to allow milk release. It remains open for about an hour after milking. Using a post-milking
germicidal solution on the teat will protect the streak canal from being invaded by bacteria.
The vascular system of the udder is vast. The large mammary arteries are easily seen on the
side of the udders. They are susceptible to injury from overgrown feet and dewclaws, the
claws located at the side of the foot above the hooves. Ducts and cisterns drain the milk from
the secretory tissues, which make up the majority of the udder.
Hoof health
Large commercial dairy farms have many problems with cattle hooves due to nutritional prob-
lems, a life spent on concrete, and wet conditions in the barns. With a small-scale farm, hoof
health problems can be just as severe if you do not pay attention to the hoof. Cattle with sore
