R Leo |
11-21-2006 05:43 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mistress
(Post 1336756)
Speaking of frozen tits, RLeo- do dairy cows udders get cold in winter and if so are the milking gizmos heated?
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I grow beef cows so what I know about dairy operations would make a doggone short read. However, do know that all the milking parlours I've ever seen are indoors and, a lot of northern dairies can't or don't turn the milk cows out in the winter. Also, I'm pretty sure the milkers 'gizmos' (actually called the teacups) aren't heated because it seems like that could present a sanitation problem.
Also, those dairy teats and udders get a lot of TLC because you don't want them getting irritated or the udder developing mastitis...particularly in a dairy cow that may produce many pounds of milk each day. Any interruption in milking from injury would reduce output. Also, ointments and balms are available to protect the teats from chafing and windburn.
In north American beef cattle you work towards spring calving for a lot of reasons. First: it's no fun to pull a calf in early February anywhere except maybe Aruba or Jamaica. Second, and most important, those new calves are not having to nurse and grow while it's below freezing...I'm sure teat health fits nicely into that plan as well but teats on beef cattle are not something I worry a lot about unless I see a cow rejecting a calf. Since cows have been successfully nursing their calves in out the weather for more than a couple of years now, I figure they know a lot more than I ever will.
More than you wanted to know but, you asked.
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