Content
Shortly before calving, cows' udders become full - this is one of the characteristic signs that allows them to thoroughly prepare for the appearance of a calf. Particular attention must be paid to heifers. They need to be properly looked after - watered, fed, and also massaged the udder so that it becomes full, accustoming the animal to milking and preventing milk from stagnating.
What kind of udder does a first-calf have?
The future mammary gland of the first heifer is formed at the embryonic stage. In parallel with the development and achievement of sexual maturity by the animal, the size of the udder also grows, and alveoli appear in it. In the early stages, the mammary gland enlarges due to fatty and connective tissue. Its structure includes:
- 4 lobes with cylindrical nipples at the end;
- 3 types of fabric;
- vessels and capillaries;
- alveoli, cisterns, canals and ducts.
At first, there is only 1 small cavity in the udder lobe. It remains in this state until the individual is 6 months old. Ducts extend from the cavity. The glandular tissue is not yet developed.
The first heifer is a one-year-old individual. She is unfamiliar with calving. Her puberty occurs at 9 months, the animal’s hormonal system changes. At this time, the alveoli begin to grow and the number of ducts increases. Milk tanks and small tubules also develop, through which milk flows into it when the udder is full.Each lobe of the gland has a cistern.
Milk is produced in the alveoli, which are supplied by small blood vessels. The anterior and posterior lobes are separated from each other by a septum and develop unevenly. Up to 40% of milk is collected in tanks and channels.
The udder volume holds up to 15 liters. Milk accumulates between milkings and is retained by capillaries, special sphincters and a special arrangement of channels.
The correct formation of the mammary gland and its productivity is helped by a massage performed for 12 - 15 minutes. Heifers (nulliparous young cows) must first be accustomed to it.
When does a heifer's udder begin to grow?
Cattle bear their offspring for about 285 days, plus or minus 10 days. Before calving, the first heifer's udder enlarges, becomes heavier and larger - it becomes fuller. Changes will be visible upon visual inspection.
At 4-5 months of pregnancy, oxytocin begins to stimulate the active work of the alveoli, and the place of adipose tissue is gradually taken by glandular tissue. The number of nerve endings and blood vessels increases. Changes become very noticeable from the 7th month, when the udder becomes full. The process continues almost until the moment of calving.
By the color of the fluid released from the nipples, one can judge the stages of udder development. In the early stages of pregnancy (pregnancy period), a clear liquid appears; by the 4th month it becomes straw-yellow in color. The second half of pregnancy is characterized by the fact that secretory cells begin to act more actively. The fluid becomes viscous; by the 7th month, when you press on the nipple, a cream-colored secretion can sometimes be released from it, which then turns into colostrum (30 days before calving).
Signs of a cow before calving by udder
Noticeable changes occur a few days before birth. Cow's udder before calving:
- noticeably increases and fills;
- Colostrum is released from the nipples.
The heifer stops milking at approximately the 7th month of pregnancy. This is necessary so that the lactation process intensifies after calving. You need to carefully monitor the condition of the mammary gland. The udder begins to fill and the main task is to prevent the formation of edema, inflammation or mastitis.
This problem can arise due to an excess amount of succulent feed (silage) or lack of regular grazing. It is imperative to get rid of the swelling. A light udder massage will help with this, which should be done throughout pregnancy and directly on the day of calving. First, they simply stroke the animal so that it gets used to it, and then massage each quarter of the udder from bottom to top for no more than 5 minutes.
Adult heifers stop milking 60 days before giving birth, and heifers stop milking a little earlier, 65-75 days, even if the amount of milk has not decreased.
The udder also fills during the milking period, which lasts about 100 days for first-calf heifers.
Conclusion
It is not difficult to determine how many days before calving a cow’s udder becomes enlarged and how long it remains enlarged. How much an animal drinks, what it eats and how often it grazes during pregnancy is an important factor. Massage must be done, not only to accustom the first heifer to milking, but also to prevent stagnation of milk, which can lead to inflammation of the mammary gland.
During the pregnancy of heifers, it is necessary to gradually stop milking them, reducing the number of milkings to zero and thereby adjusting the lactation process (start the cow).
You can watch the video on how to milk a cow correctly.
I read everything, but the article was written by a completely incompetent person. First-calf heifers and heifers are not milked until calving. They simply have no milk. Only cows have milk