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Farm Question 5/12/2015
Posted by Jerry Hicks at 2015-05-12 05:54:21
What is the average period of usefulness of a dairy cow?
Response by NoraWI at 2015-05-12 11:38:03
I can only say according to my experience today. Even a very old cow, as long as she is milking, can be *useful* for feeding 2 or 3 orphan calves. So usefulness is a matter of one's perspective.
Response by Kate V(Va) at 2015-05-12 14:28:54
Hmmm.....back in the 1930's, I'd hazard a guess to be about 6 years??
Response by KM at 2015-05-12 19:55:42
I would say that 4 to 5 lactations at the time. Now it is 2 and a half. Feed them hot, milk them hard and beef them out.
Response by Jerry Hicks at 2015-05-13 06:04:48
Five years.
Response by Klaus Karbaumer at 2015-05-14 09:12:53
The farmers I grew up with around me in Bavaria would have scorned such short life spans. They raised Simmentaler or Hoehenfleckvieh and in those years if a cow didn't bring at least 7 to 8 calves she was not considered good at all. Many had more than ten before they were slaughtered.
Response by T Payne at 2015-05-14 15:38:27
This varies a great deal between dairies, according to systems and management. The more brutal the husbandry, the shorter the cows' productive lives are apt to be. Heh ... I remember one older gentleman whose herd was for sale having most of his cows aged about 20 years. They were all very tall and slender, nice dairy character. And the man was tall and slender as well. His cows were not pushed for production with heavy grain rations.

At the same time, I visited another dairy owned by a short fat man, with short stout cows who had higher production numbers, but average age was about 6 yrs., and of course they were having the grain pounded to them.

I didn't end up buying cows from either of them, but the experithem.and the contrast stuck with me. I vowed then, to never be a short fat guy.
Response by Klaus Karbaumer at 2015-05-15 08:25:28
Thomas, you made me laugh. I see, you are not prone to premature generalizations concerning body types!!!
Response by Peter Nielsen at 2015-05-16 02:55:23
I have a dairy cow that I don't milk. She had her fourth calf yesterday. As long as she and I can still work in the woods, I imagine we will both still be around. I'm 62 and she's 5.
Response by Don McAvoy at 2015-05-16 09:00:14
The last good family cow we had was born in 63, she lasted until 1976. 16 quarts morning and night, at her peek another 6 quarts to feed her calf. Not fed a high energy ration just ground oats and grass hay, pasture also during summer. Jersey cross with who knows what. Always bred back on time.
Response by T Payne at 2015-05-16 11:20:08
I try to keep an open mind, yes, Klaus ! :-)

I understand what you mean, Peter. I milk, but you get a bond going with them, they rely on you, an you on them .. And if anybody thinks cows (and other critters) can't communicate, they must not be paying attention.

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