The Bovine Bugle

When cows are pregnant, or not

The cows, coming home, through the deep green fields of Vermont.

The folks at Stonyfield had a question sent to them asking if the milk they use in their yogurt production comes from pregnant or non-pregnant cows. The answer to that question is, both. The cows we milk here at Howmars Farm can be not pregnant, because they probably just had their calf within the last two months, or pregnant.

This is usually how the cycle goes in a year of the life of a cow here at our farm. We begin milking the cow at the time she gives birth to her calf. The first three months after a cow calves is when her milk production is the highest. During these three months the cow is usually not pregnant, either. Somewhere between 60 and 90 days we will have the cow artificially inseminated, at the right time during estrus, to hopefully get her pregnant. We will continue to milk the cow, now pregnant, until 50 days before her due date for her next calf. At this time we stop milking the cow to give her body and mammary system a much needed break. Once the cow calves again, the whole cycle starts over again.

Ideally the whole cycle, or lactation, takes 12-14 months. The cow calves, produces milk for 10-12 months, and then is "dry" or not producing milk for about two months. This cycle works well to keep the cows producing at a good rate, to provide us with replacements for animals that have to leave the herd, and keeps a steady supply of milk for our cooperative, CROPP/Organic Valley. By feeding them well and taking good care of them, our cows are able to maintain this cycle and stay healthy and productive for up to 12 years here at our farm.

Got a question about pregnant cows, or anything else on an organic dairy farm? Use the comment box below and I'll try to get you an answer here in the blog very soon.

--Jonathan, Howmars Farm
Franklin, Vermont

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Posted by Blogger Chris at July 1, 2005 05:30 PM