Reviewed by Dr. Nouman Sipra, Veterinary Physician & Surgeon, Al-Hamd Pet Clinic & Vet Store, Ahmedpur East, Pakistan.
Every dairy farmer wants more milk from the same cow or buffalo. Good milk production does not come from one magic feed or one medicine. It comes from small things done well every day: the right feed, clean water, milking on time, a clean and comfortable shed, and quick care when the animal is sick. This guide explains each step in simple English, so you can use it on your own farm in Pakistan or India.
Why does milk production go down?
Milk falls when the animal is hungry, thirsty, stressed, tired, or sick. A cow that is short of feed will first use what she eats to keep herself alive, and only then to make milk. Heat, dirty bedding, late milking, and udder infection all cut milk as well. The good news is that most of these causes are in your hands. Fix the daily routine first, before you spend money on new feeds or treatments.
1. Feed your cow well
Feed is the biggest factor in milk production. A milking cow needs three kinds of feed every day: green fodder, dry fodder, and concentrate.
Give green fodder such as berseem, lucerne, maize, sorghum, or oats when they are in season. Green fodder gives water, vitamins, and energy. Give dry fodder such as wheat straw or hay for fibre, which keeps the stomach working well. Then give a concentrate mixture of grains, oil cake, bran, and minerals. A simple rule is to give concentrate according to milk: the more milk the animal gives, the more concentrate she needs. Ask your veterinarian to check the amount for your animal, because it depends on her size, milk, and stage of lactation.
Feed three times a day if you can, at the same times each day. Do not change the feed suddenly, because a sudden change upsets the stomach and milk can drop for several days. Change any feed slowly, over a week. Always add a mineral mixture and common salt as advised by your veterinarian, because Pakistani and Indian fodders are often short of minerals. Keep the feed clean and dry, and never feed mouldy or rotten fodder.
2. Give clean water all day
Milk is mostly water, so a milking cow needs a lot of water. A cow can drink 30 to 50 litres a day, or more in hot weather. If water is short, milk drops the same day.
Give clean, fresh water at all times, not only at milking time. Keep the water trough clean, and change the water every day. In summer, keep the trough in the shade so the water stays cool. If your animal is not drinking well, check that the water is clean and that she is not sick or in pain.
3. Milk fully and on time
Milk twice a day, at the same times every day. Leave at least 10 to 12 hours between the two milkings, and do not skip a milking. When milk stays in the udder, the udder gets full and painful, and the cow makes less milk the next day.
Wash your hands and the udder with clean water before milking, and dry the teats with a clean cloth. Milk gently and fully, and take the last milk too, because the last milk is rich in fat. After milking, keep the animal standing for about half an hour, and give her feed at that time, so the teat openings can close before she lies down in the bedding. This small step helps to prevent infection.
4. Keep the udder healthy and prevent mastitis
Mastitis is swelling and infection of the udder. It is one of the most common reasons for a sudden drop in milk. The milk may have clots or flakes, the udder may feel hot, hard, or painful, and the animal may have fever and eat less.
Check the udder every day before milking. Look for swelling, redness, heat, hard lumps, or pain, and check the first milk for clots. Keep the shed and bedding clean and dry, because dirty, wet bedding spreads the germs that cause mastitis. Wash the udder before milking, and dip the teats in a teat dip after milking if your veterinarian advises it.
If you see signs of mastitis, do not wait. Call your veterinarian the same day. Early treatment works better and saves milk. For udder care, your veterinarian may advise an udder-care product such as DE NAASO Tablets for Udder Care, to support udder health in mastitis and udder swelling in cows and buffaloes. Use it only as advised by your veterinarian, and follow the full treatment plan, including clean milking and good hygiene.
5. Give comfort, shade and rest
A comfortable cow gives more milk. Heat is a big problem in Pakistan and India. In hot weather, a cow eats less and gives less milk. Give shade in the shed and in the yard, and keep air moving through the shed. In very hot weather, sprinkle water on the animal in the morning and evening, and give cool drinking water.
Keep the shed clean and dry, with enough space for the animal to lie down and rest. A cow needs about 12 hours of rest a day. Dry, soft bedding helps her rest and keeps the udder clean. Protect the animals from cold wind and rain in winter, and keep the shed free of smoke and dust.
6. Keep up vaccinations and deworming
Sick animals give less milk, so prevention is cheaper than treatment. Follow the vaccination schedule your veterinarian gives for your area, for diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, haemorrhagic septicaemia, and black quarter. Deworm the animals as advised, because worms take feed and reduce milk and growth.
Watch your animals every day. If a cow eats less, drinks less, has fever, dull eyes, or a sudden drop in milk, check her at once and call your veterinarian. Do not give medicines on your own without advice, and always complete the treatment course the veterinarian gives.
7. Plan the dry period before calving
Before a cow calves, she needs a rest of about two months without milking. This is called the dry period. During this time, the udder rests and the animal builds up strength for the next lactation. Feed her well during the dry period, but do not overfeed. In the last two weeks before calving, give her more concentrate slowly, so she is ready for milking after calving.
After calving, the first milk, colostrum, is very important for the calf. Let the calf drink colostrum in the first hours of life. Keep the mother clean, watch for any swelling of the udder, and start milking gently as advised by your veterinarian.
8. Keep simple daily records
Write down the milk of each animal every day. Also note the feed you give, any illness, heat, mating, and calving dates. These simple notes help you see which animal gives more milk, which feed works best, and when milk starts to drop.
If milk drops for one animal, check her first: is she eating well, drinking well, and is her udder normal? Small problems found early are easy to fix. Problems found late cost milk and money.
A simple daily routine that works
Morning: give clean water and green fodder, clean the shed, wash the udder, and milk fully and on time. After milking, give concentrate and keep the animal standing for half an hour. Midday: give dry fodder and water, and let the animal rest in the shade. Evening: repeat the morning routine, milk on time, and give the last feed. Every day: check the udder, check feed and water, and look at each animal to see if she is eating, chewing, and moving normally.
Mistakes that reduce milk
Do not feed mouldy fodder. Do not change feed suddenly. Do not skip milkings or milk late. Do not keep animals in a dirty, wet shed. Do not ignore a hot or swollen udder. Do not give antibiotics or other medicines without veterinary advice, and do not stop treatment early. And do not expect one product alone to fix a poor routine: feed, water, milking, and hygiene must come first.
Frequently asked questions
How can I increase milk production in cows quickly?
There is no quick fix. Start with the basics: full feed with green fodder and concentrate, clean water all day, milking twice a day on time, and a clean shed. Most farmers see a change in two to three weeks when the routine is fixed.
Which feed is best for more milk?
A mix of green fodder, dry fodder, and concentrate with a mineral mixture works best. The exact amount depends on the animal, so ask your veterinarian to set the feed for your cow or buffalo.
Why is my cow giving less milk suddenly?
Common reasons are less feed or water, heat, late milking, or mastitis. Check the udder for swelling, heat, or clots in the milk, and check whether she is eating and drinking well. If the drop is sudden or she has fever, call your veterinarian.
How do I know if my cow has mastitis?
Look for a hot, swollen, hard, or painful udder, clots or flakes in the milk, watery milk, fever, or a sudden drop in milk. If you see any of these, call your veterinarian the same day.
Can I use DE NAASO tablets for udder care?
DE NAASO tablets are an udder-care product for cows and buffaloes, used to support udder health in mastitis and udder swelling. Use them only as advised by your veterinarian, as part of a full care plan with clean milking and hygiene. The price, dosage, and full ingredients list are being confirmed and will be added to the product page.
How much water does a milking cow need?
Often 30 to 50 litres a day, or more in hot weather. Give clean water at all times, and keep the trough clean and in the shade in summer.
Good milk production is the result of good daily care. Feed well, give clean water, milk on time, keep the udder clean and healthy, and ask your veterinarian when something is wrong. Start with one change this week, watch the milk record, and keep what works. For more guides on milk production, udder health, and common dairy diseases, keep reading Livestock Relief, and contact Al-Hamd Pet Clinic & Vet Store, Ahmedpur East, on WhatsApp +92 300 7708418 if your animal needs treatment or advice.