Spring is a crucial period for ensuring the health and productivity of dairy cows throughout the year. During spring, dairy cows exhibit enhanced digestive and absorptive capacities, increased feed intake, improved overall function, and higher milk quality and yield. Below are some tips for managing dairy cows during spring.
1. Maintain Suitable Temperature
The critical temperature for dairy cow lactation is around 20°C. While achieving this temperature in early spring can be challenging without heated shelters, it's essential to keep the barn temperature at least around 10°C.
2. Provide Adequate Daily Ration
In addition to feeding sufficient silage or hay, increase the nutritional content of the daily ration. In the absence of green fodder, feed chopped potatoes, carrots, or fresh cabbage leaves at about 3-5kg per day. For every extra 3kg of milk produced, add 1-1.5kg of mixed concentrate feed to meet the milk production demand.
3. Ensure Sufficient Warm Water Supply
In early spring, offering cold water to dairy cows can reduce milk production and lead to excessive heat loss. Insufficient water intake can also contribute to the occurrence of certain diseases. Provide ample warm water at around 16°C. Use half a warm water bottle per bucket, mixed with water drawn from the well, for cows to drink.
4. Maintain Barn Hygiene
To keep the barn dry and conducive to warmth, regularly add and replace bedding. Promptly remove manure and sprinkle grass ash or lime powder inside the barn. This practice disinfects, prevents diseases, and reduces humidity, promoting higher milk production.
5. Ensure Sun Exposure and Exercise
In sunny and warm weather, allow dairy cows to exercise for at least two hours each day. Afterwards, lead them to a sunny area sheltered from the wind to bask in the sun. This helps increase milk production, enhances blood circulation, aids digestion, and improves overall health.
6. Thoroughly Brush and Groom Cows
Regularly brushing and grooming cows helps maintain cleanliness, regulate body temperature, enhance skin blood circulation, strengthen disease resistance, promote metabolism, and reduce the occurrence of diseases like colds. Brush the entire body of each cow 1-2 times daily without fail.
Above are the tips for managing dairy cows during spring. To promote higher milk production in early spring, farmers should focus on these six aspects of husbandry management.
