How to raise cow milk

Question

Sathiyavarsha K · Answer

To increase cow milk production, you need to focus on nutrition, management, health, and comfort. Here is a complete, easy-to-follow guide:

1. Give High-Quality Balanced Feed

A cow needs proper nutrition to produce more milk.

What to feed:

Green fodder: Maize, berseem, napier grass, lucerne

Dry fodder: Wheat straw, rice straw (add urea-molasses treatment for better quality)

Concentrate feed: 1 kg concentrate for every 2.5–3 liters of milk

Oil cakes: Mustard cake, groundnut cake

Mineral mixture: 50–60 gm daily

Salt: 30–40 gm daily

Special tip

Add bypass fat and bypass protein — increases milk yield by 10–15%.

2. Provide Clean Drinking Water

A cow needs 50–80 liters of clean water daily.
More water = more milk.

3. Maintain Proper Milking Routine

Milk at fixed timings

Be gentle and calm

Clean udder before and after milking

Use warm water to relax the udder

This reduces stress and increases milk let-down.

4. Keep the Cow Stress-Free

Provide a clean, dry, ventilated shed

Avoid loud noises

Give enough space for movement

Use fans or foggers in heat
Stress reduces milk production by up to 20%.

5. Ensure Good Health

Deworm every 6 months

Vaccinate on time (FMD, HS, BQ)

Check for mastitis (milk clots, swelling)

Keep the shed clean to prevent diseases

6. Breed Improvement

Choose high-yielding breeds:

HF (Holstein Friesian)

Jersey

Sahiwal (best Indian breed)

Gir

Use AI (Artificial Insemination) from good bulls for better calves and better milk genetics.

7. After-Calving Care

Give calcium and energy supplements

Provide warm water with jaggery & mineral mixture

Monitor for milk fever or infection

Early care = high lactation performance.

8. Feed During Early Lactation

First 70 days after calving are the most important.

Give:

High-energy feed

Extra concentrate

100 gm mineral mixture

Bypass fat (50–100 gm)

9. Keep Record

Note down:

Daily milk

Feeding

Health

Heat cycles

Records help you understand what is working.