Do Cows Have to Be Pregnant to Produce Milk?

Why do we own cows? Either for milk or meat. They are hardly kept as pets or for any other purpose besides the two typical ones. We can slaughter cows and get the highest nutritional flavorful meat at any time but what about milk? 

Do cows produce milk all year round?, Do they have to reach a certain age to be able to produce milk? do they have to be pregnant to produce milk? or can milk production be induced any way? I used to have such questions in my mind until I got my first cow and raised it for milk. I bet a lot of you might have the same concern. 

Though it’s no mystery yet several animal enthusiasts still need clarification. So, In this article today, we would be discussing “Do cows have to be pregnant to produce milk?” Without further ado, let’s get engaged in a meaningful discussion;

Do cows have to be pregnant to produce milk? Yes, for the record, cows have to be pregnant to produce milk. Like all mammals, cows produce milk only when they give birth to a calf. So, whoever told you that cows need to be pregnant to produce milk, is telling you the truth. 

Cows do not normally produce milk in the gestation period and nothing on earth can induce milk production before pregnancy or in the gestation period, they only start producing milk after birth. (Source)

Soon after delivery cows start producing milk naturally and they keep on producing a good amount of milk that is enough for the calf and a family for at least 10 months. 

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Cows below the age of two can not produce milk or be impregnated. The cow must at least be two and have to give birth to be able to produce milk. They usually retire from producing milk after 3 years. 

As the heading suggests, the peak milk production is noticed around 40 to 60 days after delivery. After the said period, the cows start declining milk production until it reaches the average quantity; 4 liters a day. In the peak lactation period(between 40 to 60 days), high-yielding cows can produce up to 14 liters whereas the average milk producer can make up to 8 to 10 liters a day. (Source)

By the words “dry off” we mean, the period in which cows usually stop producing milk. Such a period usually lasts about 60 days.  After these 60 days, the cows are ready for calving and producing milk again. 

If we have to sum up in a few words, you can expect the milk production soon after the delivery and they would keep on producing milk for at least 10 months. Now that the worth sharing information is served, let’s move ahead and get enlightened with some more meaningful information;

The cows, when they start producing milk in noticeable quantities, should be milked effectively. If cows that are not milked, even though they need to be, can die within a matter of months. However, the breeds that are known for meat may or may not die but the cows that produce in abundance would sure do. 

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Let alone the average milk-producing cows, even the exceptional milk producers can not constantly produce milk. Even the Holstein Friesian cattle follow the same pattern as other dairy cows do. They can not continuously produce milk at all but for 10 months a year. 

The two milk-producing hormones called “Progesterone” and “Oestrogen” get only stimulated in the third and fourth trimesters. The said hormones stimulate the growth and development of the milk duct system. Even though the milk duct system is fully developed in the fourth trimester, the milk began flowing only after the delivery. 

Even though the cows can produce milk for at least ten months, not using a milking machine or allowing the calf to suckle milk would discourage milk production. If the two said actions that discourage milk production are continuously practiced, the cows would stop producing milk earlier than the expected period. 

No, cows can not produce milk all year round, they take 2 months rest at least a year. Cows normally produce milk after delivery and keep on producing milk for at least ten months if the calf is suckling and a milking machine is being used to keep it going. 

No, milking a cow is not cruel but torturing the poor animal or using a rape rack to impregnate cows to produce more milk is cruel. If the high milk yielding cows are not milked, they would die. So, not milking a high-yielding cow would be cruel as well. 

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No, cows do not feel pain at all when milked. Cows feel the same sensation women feel at the time of nursing their child.However tipping can be painful for cows.

The average milk-producing cows normally produce around 6 to 7 liters a day whereas the exceptional breeds usually produce more or less 14 liters a day. For 40 to 60 days after delivery, cows produce more milk than the regular quantity.

In brief, Yes, cows have to be pregnant to produce milk. The hormones that encourage milk production get stimulated in the third and fourth trimester and the cows begin producing milk right after delivery. Cows can not continuously produce milk, they keep on rewarding for 10 months and, take rest for at least 2 months to get ready for the calf and produce milk again. 

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