Experiences of first milking in heifers
Dr Rakesh Kumar Sharma1 and Dr Harish Kumar Verma2
Regional Research and Training Centre, Talwara, District Hoshiarpur (Punjab)
1 Senior Scientist; 2 Director Extension Education, GADVASU, Ludhiana
The first milking post calving is far easier in pluriparous animals as compared to primiparous animals. The farmer could have to face a lot of problems when they purchase a newly calved heifer or the heifer that is to calve shortly.
Because the heifers have no previous experience of milking protocols, they can pose great difficulties once they calve. The process of calving itself is a new kind of experience in her lifetime. The feeling of great pain at parturition changes her behaviour altogether. Many times, she does not show any sign of bonding towards her calf. On other occasions, she can even harm the workers or bystanders or even the calf. It may take weeks or months to make her aware of daily routine of milking procedure. All efforts should be directed to make the heifer learn that the procedure of milking is not a bad maneuver for her, rather, this is a very safe process and it will make her more comfortable.
There is always a loss of body weight in the post calving period. The heifers can become very weak due to drainage of body reserves through increasing milk production. Thus, every effort should be directed towards improving dry matter intake by the heifers in post parturient period. The fodders to be offered to such heifers should be of very high quality. It should be blend of leguminous and non-leguminous fodders. The concentrate ration should be balanced in all respects. Fodders and concentrate ration should be offered to heifers during cooler part of the day in hot summer months.
The heifer may be allowed to lick her calf. It will help to develop a strong bond between calf and dam. During difficult calving (Dystocia), the heifer suffers a lot and it takes longer time to develop such a bond. A few of the heifers especially buffalo heifers become over possessive for their offspring. Under such circumstances, the calf should be tethered just close to the heifer. The calf should always be visible to her mother.
Fig. 1: Calf tethered very close to heifer at the time of milking
The very first milking in heifers is always a challenging act. She can become excited at this occasion. She can hurt anybody near her. To reduce such kind of hiccups, the farmer has to train heifers that are about to calve. The training efforts have to be started a few weeks before the expected date of calving. The heifer has to be made stand along with other pluriparous animals at the time of milking. She should also receive some allowance of concentrate ration at this time. She should be groomed with a soft brush. She will become accustomed to these maneuvers within a few days. The vigorous massage of teats or udder should be avoided before calving otherwise the teats will become engorged with milk. This condition will become very painful for the heifer. The heifer should also be conditioned for wearing a halter or tying a milkman’s knot. The hind legs should be massaged for a few minutes. All these activities should be carried out by the milkman himself. This will make the heifer comfortable with the milkman and she will recognize him to be her caretaker. She will think the man in question won’t pose any kind of threat to her.
Fig. 2: Expecting heifer tethered alongside cows at the time of milking
The spot where the heifer is to be milked for the first time must be comfortable for her. The flooring should be leveled, dry and non-slippery. She can be tethered alongside a wall and be made immobile by placing a plank or smooth bamboo sticks on the opposite side. Always try to use sliding knots for securing the heifer at such occasions. The place must be free from any kind of object that could become a hazard for her. After securing the heifer, her teats and udder should be washed with clean water and then, dried off with a soft towel. Thereafter, the teat should be gripped in the fist and pressed with the help of fingers. The milk will start flowing out of the teat sphincter into the vessel lying below the udder. The process should be continued till whole of milk gets ejected out.
Fig. 3: Buffalo heifer restrained alongside manger with the help of a long rope
Many a times, heifers become excited at milking. They try to kick sideways with either of their hind legs. On such occasions, the heifer should never be beaten by any means. A few heifers stand still when their tails are raised upwards. The buffalo heifers can be restrained easily by tying their forelegs with a soft rope. In case of cow heifers, milkman’s knot may be applied just above hocks of hind legs.
Fig. 4: Buffalo heifer restrained by raising her tail
Fig.5: Buffalo heifer restrained by tying forelegs together
Fig. 6: Cow heifer restrained with milkman’s knot
The heifer must not be excited at this time otherwise, she has to be first made calm. Tapping an excited heifer at her back is the best way to make her calm. Offering some concentrate ration can also make her quiet. Some kind of conversation with her can make her more comfortable. Once she becomes serene, she should be caressed at hind quarters and legs. Her udder and teats should be approached and palpated softly thereafter.
Sometimes, the heifer does not allow anybody to touch her udder or teats even after restraining her by best techniques available at hand. Such heifers might harbour infection in their udder or teats even before calving. These cases should be evaluated by an expert veterinarian. The heifers experience extreme pain when there is active infection in their udders. The teats and respective quarters become inflamed. They look swollen. Sometimes the heifers have oedematus swelling at udder. Such udders are also not allowed to be touched.
A few heifers have strange behaviour. They become excited whenever a worker or attendant approaches them. Such heifers may be allowed to be sedated by a veterinarian. After few occasions, she will become accustomed to standing still at the time of milking.
The heifer should be offered some concentrate ration as a prize after milking is over. This way, she will pose fewer difficulties at next milking.
The person who is engaged in milking heifers must have a sense of patience. There is sudden release of oxtocin from posterior pituitary into blood stream at the time of milking. This spurt of oxtocic hormones can lead to increased motility of urinary bladder and/or intestines causing abrupt urination and/or defecation. These physiological changes can even result in soiling of attendant’s clothing. The heifer in question should not be maltreated at any cost. After a few milkings she will learn everything.
Milking of heifers is an act of longanimity. The excited heifers should be restrained very cautiously. Following points may be abided by to make the first few milkings in a freshly calved heifer successful.
- The heifer won’t kick when her tail is raised upwards at the base.
- The head of the heifer should be lifted above her body line with the aid of a This will also reduce her ability to kick.
- The heifer remains calm when caressed at forehead with hands by a second attendant.
- Milking in a restricted/confined space will also make it easier.
- Use of a special “Anti-kick Device” shown in the following picture will also make milking (in heifers) a pleasant experience. One end of this device is placed in the para-lumber fossa just anchored to transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae and the other end is fixed in the rear flank region on the other side of the body. The width of this device is adjustable. It should be made tight enough so that it could generate a sense of pain when a heifer tries to kick with hind legs.
Fig. 7: Anti kick device
These methods of restraint should be employed for a limited period only. Once the heifer becomes accustomed to the process of milking, these procedures should be stopped slowly.
These experiences might help the budding farmers in making the excited heifers more docile. This will increase the daily output of milk at a particular farm, thereby, improving the monetary returns.
