How to Increase Dairy Milk Production

Maintaining a Spacious and Clean Living Space

Give each cow at least 30 in (76 cm) of space. Check your cows’ current living conditions and see how they seem to like it. If you currently use a free-stall setup where all your animals are crowded together, switch to something more private that gives each cow enough resting and eating space. Free-stall setups can force cows to be on their feet for a huge chunk of the day, which can leave the animals feeling tired, stressed, and less likely to produce a lot of milk. When figuring out accommodations for your animals, it can help to view the situation in human terms. For instance, would you prefer to have a separate eating space during your meals, or you would rather be cramped next to other people? Keep this in mind as you evaluate your cows’ living and eating space.Tip: Cattle are best in herds. Try to keep these herds together throughout the day so your animals feel comfortable and socialized.

Check if your cows are on their feet for most of the day. Examine your current stable or pasture space and see how your animal seems to like it. Look and see if your cow is lying down, which means that she’s comfortable and able to relax. If your cow is constantly standing up, move the animal to a larger enclosure where she can rest comfortably. Cows tend to produce extra milk when they have plenty of time to lie down and rest.

Tidy up your animals’ stalls on a weekly basis. Check each individual stall for manure and dirty bedding. Remove and dispose of any waste in the stalls, then add new bedding in the stall. This may be easiest to do when your cows are outside and grazing. If your cows are healthy and happy, they may produce more milk in the long run. Like most people, cows will be happier, less stressed, and more productive in a clean living space!

Feeding and Watering Your Cows

Develop an hourly schedule for your animals to improve milk production. Set aside 3 to 5 total hours each day for mealtimes—since cows are large animals with multiple stomachs, they can eat anywhere from 9 to 14 meals each day. Give your animals a minimum of 12 hours to rest, 2 to 3 hours of standing or walking time, and 30 minutes of drinking time, as well. Dedicate the last 2-3 hours of each day to milking your animals or other miscellaneous activities. For instance, you can set your animals’ mealtimes as 7 to 8:30 AM, 12:00 to 1:30 PM, and 5:00 to 6:30 PM. Depending on your schedule, you can dedicate 9:00 to 10:00 AM and 6:00 to 7:00 PM as possible milking periods for your cows. This schedule works best for people who own a lot of cattle. If you only own a few animals, it won’t take you nearly as long to milk your cows.

Offer your animals plenty of clean water. Set up large water fountains on your property where your cows have easy, plentiful access to clean water. Check that your water source flows quickly without flooding the fountains, so your cows can get plenty to drink. If your cow is healthy and hydrated, they’re more likely to produce more milk! As a general rule of thumb, dedicate 2 in (5.1 cm) of space in each water fountain for 1 cow. Generally, a large water fountain can serve about 20 animals. Each cow should have at least 10 US gal (38 L) of fresh, clean water available.

Feed your cow enough food for their body weight. Weigh your cows on a regular basis so you can plan their diets accordingly. Note that your cow should be eating 1-2% of their total body weight in grains, which may help increase their milk production. For instance, if your cow weighs around 1,600 lb (730 kg), you’d want to feed her around 16 to 32 lb (7.3 to 14.5 kg) of grains each day. Don’t feed your cows more than 2.5% of their body weight in grains, as this might lower their maximum milk production.

Give your cows 1-2% of their total body weight in grains per day. Note that cows need a lot of fiber to produce more milk, which they can get through forage dry matter. Check that they’re eating at least 0.8% of their body weight in dry forage matter, along with 1.2% of their body weight in natural detergent fiber. You can find these at most cattle feed stores. If you have any concerns about your cow’s diet, talk to a veterinarian for guidance.

Check that the feed bunk is always well-stocked with food. Glance at your cows’ feed bunks multiple times a day. Refill their food supply as needed, so your animals don’t go hungry throughout the day. Set reminders for yourself to check their feed bunks periodically.

Collecting the Milk

Determine the best time to milk by studying your cattle’s behavior. Pay attention to your individual cows, as well as the entire herd. Check that your cattle aren’t too fat or thin, and that their coat looks glossy and healthy. If your animals aren’t happy and healthy, they may not be producing an ideal amount of milk. Ideally, your cows shouldn’t be more than 10% overweight or underweight. For example, if a cow is usually 1,600 lb (730 kg), you wouldn’t want it to weight any less than 1,440 lb (650 kg) or any more than 1,760 lb (800 kg).

Gather milk from your animals once every 8 to 12 hours. Note that most cows only need to be milked around twice a day. Give your cows a break and let them relax and eat for the majority of the day, then milk them again later on. If you space out the milking schedule, you may get more milk from your cows. For instance, if you milk your cows at 9:00 AM, don’t milk them again until at least 5:00 PM. Generally, it’s best to separate your animals after you milk them so they can relax. Don’t keep your animals standing for too long, or else they may get tired out and produce less milk.

Milk the cows for around 4-7 minutes to get as much milk as possible. Set a timer for at least 4 minutes, and milk your animals for that entire time period. Generally, it only takes a few minutes for your cow to give all the milk they have, even if you’re using a machine.

Keeping Your Animals Healthy

Keep your cows up-to-date on their vaccines. Call your vet and see when your cows were examined and vaccinated last. If you want your animals to be producing as much milk as possible, they need to be in great shape!

Inject your animals with vitamin B12 if they have a deficiency. Get your animals tested to see if they’re running a little low on vitamin B12. Pick up a supplement from your veterinarian and give your cow injections on a regular basis. When your cow's levels are back to normal, they may produce more milk. This is pretty rare, and probably isn’t the source of any milking issues with your animals.

Call a veterinarian if your cows have any health problems. Check your animals for any sores, cuts, or other health-related signs that could be impacting their health. Ask your vet to look over your animals and see if they can find the source of the problem.Tip: Take note of any cattle that’ve had health problems in the past that can negatively affect milk production, like mastitis or milk fever. Even after they’ve recovered, keep a close eye on these animals to make sure they don’t relapse.