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Embarrassing Milk Production
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<blockquote data-quote="farm_dog" data-source="post: 973511" data-attributes="member: 19841"><p>I'm fairly new to dairying, having began milking cows two years ago. Here's my situation:</p><p></p><p>- I milk 10 pure Jerseys</p><p>- Each calved beween Oct 1 and Nov 30; half of the herd calved for the first time</p><p>- For the past two years I have fed only grass from our pasture and our hay at winter for a few months. Nothing else, ever.</p><p>- I don't plant annuals so the cows have been making what milk they could on perennial pasture.</p><p>- We milk once per day only and sell raw milk</p><p>- We've been averaging 1.25 gallons/day/cow, which I'm sure makes me a laughing stock</p><p></p><p>All that said, I decided to to a month long experiment supplementing with grain, since it seems clear that I'm asking too much of my girls. A week ago I began feeding 7 lbs/day/each 10% sweet feed, but have yet to see a milk increase. They go through the feed fast and I'm sure would eat twice that amount if I let them, but it's just throwing money away if it doesn't make milk. I realized they probably need more protein so yesterday I began feeding 16% Dari Gold from Southern States at the same amount. They've had two feedings so far and they still have free choice hay, but milk volume is unchanged.</p><p></p><p>I dream of getting 3-4 gallons/day like others talk about, but I'd even be happy with 2, as long as it's cost effective. Since we're too small for a nutritionist, etc., any recommendations on what/how I should be feeding to get decent milk production?</p><p></p><p>Thanks in advance for your ideas.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="farm_dog, post: 973511, member: 19841"] I'm fairly new to dairying, having began milking cows two years ago. Here's my situation: - I milk 10 pure Jerseys - Each calved beween Oct 1 and Nov 30; half of the herd calved for the first time - For the past two years I have fed only grass from our pasture and our hay at winter for a few months. Nothing else, ever. - I don't plant annuals so the cows have been making what milk they could on perennial pasture. - We milk once per day only and sell raw milk - We've been averaging 1.25 gallons/day/cow, which I'm sure makes me a laughing stock All that said, I decided to to a month long experiment supplementing with grain, since it seems clear that I'm asking too much of my girls. A week ago I began feeding 7 lbs/day/each 10% sweet feed, but have yet to see a milk increase. They go through the feed fast and I'm sure would eat twice that amount if I let them, but it's just throwing money away if it doesn't make milk. I realized they probably need more protein so yesterday I began feeding 16% Dari Gold from Southern States at the same amount. They've had two feedings so far and they still have free choice hay, but milk volume is unchanged. I dream of getting 3-4 gallons/day like others talk about, but I'd even be happy with 2, as long as it's cost effective. Since we're too small for a nutritionist, etc., any recommendations on what/how I should be feeding to get decent milk production? Thanks in advance for your ideas. [/QUOTE]
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