How to milk a cow after suckling. A method of raising calves using paired suction. Feeding young animals during the suckling period

Raising calves at home is painstaking work that requires a lot of effort, but it is at calf age that the foundation for the future productivity of the animal is laid. Therefore, it is extremely important for the owner of cattle to know the developmental features of young animals at all stages of their life and provide them with care and feeding appropriate to the chosen type of housing.

Growing large young animals cattle organized according to a specific method based on the specific purpose of breeding and the conditions that the breeder can provide. At the same time, keeping calves in each method involves its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. The main ones among this variety are individual, group and suction methods.

Individual

Raising calves during the milking period using an individual method involves placing them in special houses that are designed for one baby. Immediately after birth, the cub is taken from the mother and placed in a special box with a small enclosure at the entrance, which is placed under open air. Calves are kept in such structures from the first 3-4 hours of their life until the age of 2-2.5 months.

The house itself is a structure with a height of 1.5 m and a base area of at least 2 square meters. m. A special fence is made in front of the house, which creates a closed enclosure for another 2-3 square meters. m. Houses are most often built from:

Tree. Houses made of wood are durable and economical (you can assemble it yourself from scrap materials). But today wood is used extremely rarely. It is quite heavy and quickly absorbs moisture in wet weather. In addition, due to the porosity and special texture of the material, it is extremely difficult to effectively disinfect it, which can cause the development of diseases in young animals.
Polymers. Many modern plastic products They are even stronger than wood. In addition, such material is much lighter, which simplifies working with it, while houses made of modern polymers retain heat well, which eliminates the need to insulate such structures for the winter.

This technology is widespread in Western countries. At the same time, keeping calves in boxes is practiced all year round. A special cushion of sawdust is created inside the house, on which a layer of straw is poured. In case of partial subsidence, the straw layer is replenished to its previous thickness.

Among the main advantages of the method of individual housing of young animals in houses, the following should be highlighted:

minimal risk of infection of the animal from other livestock;
ease of caring for the calf and maintaining the house;
increasing the body’s resistance, which is a consequence of hardening when the baby is constantly kept in the cold;
mobilization of all the body’s resources, which involves increasing the productivity of the animal in the future;
The process of examination and treatment of individual calves by a veterinarian is greatly simplified.

As for the disadvantages of the method, these include:

the high cost of ready-made houses and significant costs for materials for self-production;
the need to increase the volume of milk for feeding calves, due to accelerated energy exchange and metabolism.

It is also worth noting that in our country there is a problem with excessive frosts in certain regions. When placed in such areas, the common area with boxes should be additionally covered with a special canopy. In this case, the side parts of the canopy are covered with film. If such moments are neglected, young animals quickly develop diseases of the respiratory system, and plastic houses can quickly become unusable.

Attention! In regions with very cold winters, calves need to plan and balance their diet more carefully for proper growth and development.

Group

Raising young cattle in a group way is the most common method of raising calves in Russia and neighboring countries. As the name suggests, young individuals are kept in small groups. Their number can vary from 5 to 20 individuals, and for the first 2 weeks after birth, the cubs are kept in separate quarantine rooms, and only after that they are combined.

Each assembled group is kept in a part of the barn specially allocated for this purpose, the floor of which is lined with a dense layer of straw. Moreover, with such maintenance, it is important to observe certain conditions that will ensure the health and comfort of the young animals.

These conditions include:

regular cleaning of premises, including daily replacement of bedding and removal of uneaten food;
completion of a spacious walking area and implementation of walking areas fresh air several times a day;
availability of sufficient area for animals to rest, which for a group should be at least 10 square meters. m;
constant supervision of each animal in the group in order to timely identify sick or developmentally delayed individuals;
providing the younger generation with a sufficient amount of colostrum.

The advantages of this growing system include:

Ease of feeding. Since groups are formed according to age, they can be fed the same food from a common feeder.
Fast social adaptation. In a group, baby cattle get used to interacting with other members of the herd, which makes them calmer. In addition, they quickly become accustomed to eating solid food, which makes further feeding easier.

The disadvantages of the method include:

Rapid transmission of infection in the event of illness of one of the representatives of the group. In the absence of high-quality ventilation and proper feeding, the risk of infection of the entire livestock is almost 100%.
More complex monitoring and care of the calf.
A labor-intensive cleaning process that involves regularly cleaning the entire area in which the group lives.

Sucking

This method of housing means that the care of the calves is actually entrusted to the cow. Babies are fed with milk that comes directly from the cow's udder. In this case, the first 5-6 days of born calves are fed by the mothers with whom they are left. After this, all the young animals are divided into groups of 2-4 individuals and assigned to a separate cow. At the same time, the main requirements for a heifer are the absence of mastitis and other diseases, a calm disposition, as well as productivity of at least 2 thousand liters of milk per year.

Fattening is thus carried out for 7 or 8 months. During this period, the young animals come into contact with the nurse only 3 times a day during feeding. The rest of the time he is in a separate enclosure, where feeders with concentrates and hay are located.

The main advantage of the method is that the calf feeds as naturally as possible. Milk is supplied to his diet at the required temperature, proper mineral and vitamin composition, and the presence of immunoglobulin. As a result, the baby’s weight grows faster and the body’s resistance to infection increases significantly.

This content format is most often implemented on farms meat direction. In the dairy sector, it involves too much loss of milk, which is spent on constant feeding of calves.

Technologies

Also, in addition to the basic methods, there are also certain technologies breeding and raising calves in domestic and industrial conditions. They differ from each other in the range of activities carried out, the conditions for keeping and feeding the animals.

Cold method of raising calves

This technology, in its specifics, is virtually identical to the individual method of breeding young animals in houses. But it can be used both for individual calves and for entire groups.

The essence of the technique is that, from the first days of life, babies are placed in special boxes with enclosures, which are located in open areas of land. Such designs do not require insulation or doors. The only thing they have is high-quality bedding.

The technology is equally suitable for dairy and beef cattle. At the same time, it is popular due to the following points:

significant increase defense mechanisms body, due to the baby’s constant exposure to the cold;
faster growth and development, which are achieved as a result of accelerating metabolic processes in the body and using the body's reserves;
ease of caring for livestock in single boxes;
minimal risk of infection in case of large outbreaks infectious diseases on the farm.

The main difficulty in implementing this technology is that each such house involves a high cost. Because of this, not all farms can afford to purchase it. For this reason, cold keeping is not very common in Russia.

Traditional method

The traditional method of breeding calves is that young animals from the moment of birth until a certain age are constantly with adult cows and with their mother in particular. And only after such rearing are all young individuals separated into separate groups.

The main advantages of this technology are:

minimum implementation costs due to the absence of the need to build separate houses and premises;
ease of care, which is realized due to the fact that the cow herself takes care of the offspring;
protection of calves from the cold in case of sudden temperature changes.

As for the negative points, they include:

high probability of calf infection during mass pandemics;
Delays in growth and development may often occur.

Also, due to being kept in closed stalls, young animals may develop vitamin D deficiency. As a result, the level of calcium absorption decreases, digestive problems may develop, and animals quickly develop rickets.

It is precisely because of a number of impressive shortcomings that this technology is considered obsolete and is used extremely rarely today.

Feeding

No less important point Rather than choosing the right methods and technologies of keeping, is the organization of high-quality, balanced feeding of young animals. Moreover, nutrition should be planned equally carefully for both the dairy period of the animal’s development and the fattening menu.

Milk period

For the first month after birth, the baby's diet will be based on colostrum. This product is valuable because it is an irreplaceable source of proteins, carbohydrates, fats and amino acids for the calf, which will give good start its development.

Moreover, the amino acids contained in this dairy product can significantly enhance the body's resistance to infections. But colostrum provides the greatest benefit if the first feeding of a newborn is carried out no later than the first hour after calving. Otherwise, potential disease resistance drops by 20% or more.

When feeding young animals with dairy products, the following rules should be followed:

feeding is carried out from 4 to 6 times a day (depending on the age of the baby);
at one time the animal is fed a volume of colostrum not exceeding 10% of its weight;
before serving, the liquid is heated to a temperature of 37 degrees;
While drinking milk, the calf must be provided with a plentiful amount of clean, warm water, since its consumption in the body is extremely high.

In parallel with the provision of dairy products, other foods should be introduced into the diet, but this should be done gradually, starting with small volumes and gradually increasing the norm. From the first days of life, small portions of legume hay can be placed in the feeder. From the age of 3 weeks, gradually introduce concentrated food into the diet, but its dosage at this stage should not exceed 100 g.

Gradually, mixed feed should also be added to the diet. An example of a mixture prepared at home could be a composition of the following components:

barley;
milk powder;
cake;
feed yeast;
food chalk;
salt;
grass meal;
premix

Reference. At the end of the first month of life, the diet can already be diluted with small amounts of green (withered) grass, silage, carrots and other root vegetables.

Fattening

If young animals for meat production are raised on a farm, then fattening nutrition should be planned from the second month of life. It will provide the animal with maximum muscle mass gain in the shortest possible time.

In this case, for the entire second month of life, the baby’s food base will be skimmed milk, whey and other dairy products. By the third month of life, calves are transferred to a mixture of concentrated, roughage and succulent feed (in equal proportions). At the same time, one of the main conditions for good weight gain is limiting physical activity, which is achieved through individual or stall housing.

By the fourth month, food scraps can also be gradually introduced into the diet.

IN mandatory For young animals of any type, it is important to add various vitamin complexes and premixes to their diet. A growing body needs to be provided with a sufficient amount of phosphorus, calcium, zinc, iodine, vitamins A, D, E.

Breeding

How strong and productive the herd will be in the future depends on compliance with all the above-mentioned points, but the most important of them is the correct breeding of young animals. Also, a special place here is occupied by the competent selection of parents, because only healthy and strong individuals can give the same offspring.

When choosing a cow for breeding work the following requirements should be presented to it:

good physical health and absence of disease;
rapid weight gain, which by 18 months should already be at least 400 kg (for the Holstein breed);
absence of diseases of the digestive system;
high annual productivity;
milk composition with precise fat and protein levels;
correct udder shape.

It is also important to pay attention to how the animal calves and how the maternal instinct is developed in the heifer.

When choosing a pair for breeding calves, the most a good option there will be mating of representatives of the same breed. This approach will make it possible to predict the characteristics of future offspring as accurately as possible.

In the case of interbreeding, the qualities that will be passed on to the young animals are more difficult to determine. But sometimes this method can give more positive results, enhancing the characteristics of the original rocks.

Conclusion

In any case, the breeding and raising of calves in domestic and industrial conditions should be approached as responsibly as possible. The future of the entire breeding herd, its productivity, disease resistance and overall survival rate directly depend on how much effort has been put into this process. Therefore, excessive savings and frivolity in this matter are unacceptable.

For beginning livestock breeders, the first calving is a very joyful and at the same time exciting event, because the life of the mother and her offspring will depend on its success.

How pregnancy goes in cows, how long it lasts, and how to properly care for calves - we will consider further.

How many days does a cow carry a calf?

The question of the duration of pregnancy in a cow worries many beginning farmers. After all, by correctly determining the date of the upcoming birth, you can qualitatively prepare for it and create the most comfortable conditions for the animal.

Normal

Normal pregnancy in cattle lasts nine months or 285 days. However, this period may be shortened or extended due to a number of reasons. This happens rarely, but it still happens sometimes. The birth of a calf prematurely, by a few days or even a whole month, may be due to poor living conditions and insufficient nutrition.

The pregnancy period lasts differently, depending on the precocity of the animal, the gender of the unborn baby, individual characteristics body. Normal pregnancy periods are considered to be from 240 to 311 days.

Did you know? Scientists have proven that female calves are always born 1–2 days earlier than bull calves. In addition, poor nutrition and deficiency of vitamins and minerals in the diet delay pregnancy by 10 years.– 12 days.

How much can it carry?

In some cases, a cow can carry a calf, and for a period from several days to several weeks. This fact is influenced by the animal’s diet, in particular, the lack of necessary micro- and macroelements, as well as unsatisfactory living and care conditions.

Signs of approaching calving in a cow

Owners farms For those involved in cattle breeding, it is especially important to know the main signs of impending calving in a cow in order to prepare for the process in time and provide the animal with competent assistance.

A few days before the expected birth, it is recommended to establish careful control over the cow and monitor its behavior.

The following signs indicate that labor is approaching:

the animal becomes restless, fearful, refuses food and water;
the udder increases significantly in size, colostrum is released from the nipples;
the genitals swell and acquire a reddish tint;
the stomach begins to sag and droop.

On the day of calving itself, the animal begins to behave in an unusual way: it avoids people and other animals, actively moves its ears, periodically shudders, moos, walks slowly, looking around furtively. By external signs you can notice the expansion and divergence of the pelvic floor bones, which indicates the body’s readiness to “release” the baby.

How to determine that a cow is about to give birth: video

Important! During this period, it is absolutely impossible to lose sight of the cow, since childbirth can occur uncontrollably, which can result in great risks for both the mother and her offspring.

How a cow gives birth and how to help

At the first sign of impending calving, the farmer should carry out a series of preparatory activities which include:

disinfection of the stall, whitewashing the walls of the room, cleaning of debris;
laying dry and fresh straw in the stall instead of old bedding material;
washing the rear part of the cow, treating the birth canal with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or creolin.

To facilitate the birth process, it is recommended to give the cow water at room temperature, in which to dissolve: per 10 liters 50 g of table salt, 100 ml of calcium chloride and 1 glass of sugar. In order not to miss the beginning of the process, you need to monitor the cow every hour. As soon as contractions begin, the animal will let you know about it: it walks restlessly, moos, tramples from foot to foot, periodically gets up and lies down. During this period, the genitals should be disinfected.

The calving process occurs as follows:

during childbirth, the cow lies on its left side or stands;
The normal position for a calf to emerge is front hooves up, with the head and body fully emerging a little later. The birth of a baby with hind limbs is also not considered a sign of pathology and does not require medical attention. As a rule, the process of leaving the baby takes half an hour;
if after 30 minutes the calf has not come out, is stuck, and the attempts have weakened, then the animal should be given help;
The newborn baby is taken on a clean, disinfected piece of cloth and the umbilical cord is treated with iodine. If the cord does not break during calving, it is cut off, leaving a length of no more than 15 cm.

After birth, the baby is placed next to the mother, who licks it and removes mucus from it. If the cow refuses to do this, then the farmer must wipe the calf dry.

Important! After calving, you need to carefully ensure that the placenta comes out. This occurs no later than 6 hours after birth. If the placenta does not come away, you should pull it out yourself.

How to give birth to a cow: video

Immediately after calving, the cow is given warm, sweet water, and two hours later, the milk is expressed and given to the newborn. The cow is also cleansed: its udder, legs, butt and belly are washed with warm water and soap.

Peculiarities of raising suckling calves

In the first days of life, the calf is placed in a warm, non-residential area and fed colostrum. Colostrum contains a large amount of nutritional components that protect the baby from possible infections and bacteria, so it is very important to give him 1 liter of colostrum immediately after birth.

In the following days, the calf is given colostrum, heated to + 38 °C, up to five times a day, and warm water is provided between feedings.

After two weeks, the baby is transferred to three meals a day. At the same time, a little table salt and chalk are added to his diet, the use of which allows him to compensate for the lack of necessary vitamins and minerals.

By the end of the first month, hay and succulent food are gradually introduced into the cub’s menu, of which red carrots are considered the most useful.

It is advisable to leave the calf with its mother for the first 24 hours so that it can suckle colostrum. In the future, the farmer independently decides how to raise young animals:

leave with the cow on suction;
feed under a nursing cow;
feed the baby by hand.

Did you know? One of the most important stages in the formation of young animals is the play of calves. They allow us to develop and improve the nervous system, acquire certain skills, and accumulate first life experience.

The first option is the most convenient and simple, because the cow will take excellent care of her baby herself. Calves are weaned from their mothers when they are 7–8 months old.
As for the nutrition of a young mother, in the first hours after giving birth she is given a little soft hay, and starting from the second day, bran porridge is included in the diet, in a portion of no more than 1 kg. The basis of the animal's menu should be hay: 3 kg per 100 kg of body weight.

The main task of the farmer during this period is to provide the animal with a sufficient amount of nutritious food and prevent it from losing weight. The cow is transferred to its usual diet 20–30 days after calving.

The birth of new barn residents is an important and responsible event that requires careful preparation. During pregnancy, a cow needs increased attention, proper care, and a balanced diet. Creating comfortable conditions for the animal and providing timely assistance will help minimize possible risks and quickly restore its condition after birth stress.

Dairy farms use a shifting-group method of raising calves under wet-nurse cows. Calves receive high-quality milk at the right temperature, not contaminated with microbes and with high immune properties. This protects calves from gastrointestinal diseases and promotes better absorption and use of nutrients. With this method, several groups of calves are raised in shifts under one cow. They are weaned at the age of 3 months, and if the calves are fed skim milk or complete concentrated feed, they are weaned from their nursing cows at 60-70 days of age. Nurse cows are selected that are healthy and have a calm temperament. They are provided with adequate feeding. The diet includes 4-8 kg of good hay, 20-25 kg of good-quality silage, root crops and concentrates, depending on its productivity. The number of calves is determined based on the production of at least 1 calf per day. 4-4.5 kg of milk, they are allowed on the 5th, 6th day after birth. For this purpose, calves are selected that are close in age (the difference does not exceed 10 days and live weight is 10 kg).

The whole group is allowed under the cow at once; before this, the cow is not milked for 10-12 hours, and the calves are moistened with the milk of the nurse cow on their head, back and rump so that the cow-nurse accepts them better. Calves are allowed in 3 times a day. Starting from the 11th day, calves are given 0.1 kg of concentrates and increased to 1.5-1.6 kg by the end of the third month. Over a 3-month period, 55-60 kg of concentrated feed are consumed. At the same time, one calf takes care of a group of 14-16 nurse cows and simultaneously raises 50-60 calves. It is very economically beneficial. In some farms, special farms are organized for raising calves under nursing cows. These farms raise all the calves produced on the farm. This ensures high safety and 100% marketability of milk. In one round, 2-3 calves are raised, and in three rounds - 6-7 calves. As nurse cows, it is advisable to take cows with a milk yield of 3-3.5 thousand kg of milk and raise 8, 9 or 10 calves under one cow in three rounds.

In beef cattle breeding, calves up to 7-8 months of age are raised entirely on suckling. Cows are calved in a 2 x 3 x 1.2 m box for 5-8 days, and then kept in groups of 10-15 cows and calves for 3-4 weeks, and then transferred to a common herd. During the stall period in the barn, a room of 7-10 m2 is allocated for 1 cow and calf. And for calves, feeding pens are organized at the rate of 1.2 m2 per calf, where the calves rest and are fed with concentrated, succulent feed. During the grazing period, suckling cows are kept on pasture together with calves, which are weaned when they reach 6-8 months of age.

The invention relates to agriculture, namely to cattle breeding. The method involves keeping calves up to five days of age on full suction with mother cows, and then on paired suction under nursing cows until 5-6 months of age. The method allows to increase the safety of calves and increase the average daily growth of young animals. 3 salary files, 1 table.

The invention relates to agriculture, in particular to cattle breeding. There is a known method of raising calves during the preventive period (author St. USSR 1491425, class A 01 K 67/02, 1987). Within 12 hours after birth, the calves are allowed to suckle their mothers freely, then in the next three days the calves are periodically allowed near other cows, the time after calving does not exceed 12 hours. On the fourth day, the calves are transferred to the dispensary and fed with collected colostrum and milk. The disadvantage of this method is that short-term suction is used when raising calves. Hand drinking following suckling contributes to disorders of the gastrointestinal tract of calves, since the bacterial contamination of milk obtained directly from the udder of a cow is much lower compared to similar samples of milk from teats from the same animals. The closest to the proposed method is the method of raising calves under wet-nurse cows (Susoev E., Kudinov V. Raising calves under wet-nurse cows. // Dairy and beef cattle breeding. 2001. - 3. - pp. 8 and 9). The cows are raised directly in the stalls. The calves are suckled under their mothers for 10 days, tied on a leash to the fence of the stall. After 10 days, the calves are weaned from their mothers and sent to the calf barn to be raised under nursing cows. The young are kept in group cages. The main disadvantage of this method is keeping calves in group cages, which leads to the appearance of suckling calves. The claimed invention is aimed at eliminating the above-mentioned disadvantages of the known one, and the following result can be obtained from its use: increasing the safety of calves; increase in average daily growth of young animals; a number is excluded labor processes (milking cows, processing and preparing milk and distributing it). This is achieved due to the fact that calves are kept on full suction with mother cows until they are five days old, then on paired suction with nurse cows. Calves are accustomed to nursing cows in specialized boxes. From the age of one month, young animals with nurse cows are transferred to free-range housing and are grazed at the beginning of the grazing season. The method is carried out as follows. Pregnant cows two days before calving are transferred to a specialized box, which consists of a section for keeping a wet-nurse cow (3 x 3 m) and two adjacent cages (1 x 3 m) for individual housing of calves. The section and cages are equipped with feeders and drinkers. The doors to individual cages open inward so that calves are not able to exit on their own. The floors in the boxes for keeping wet nurses are concrete, the cages are wooden, and straw or sawdust is used as bedding. In the first five days of life, that is, the entire colostrum period, calves are kept at suckling under their mother cows; on the sixth of them, pairs of the same sex are formed and left with the nursing cow. At the same time, less productive cows are used as wet nurses, and the best ones are transferred to the dairy herd. Calves, together with a nursing cow, are kept in specialized boxes until they are one month old: cows in sections on a leash, calves in individual cages. This content contributes to the natural extinction of their increased excitability during suckling and prevents the appearance of suckling calves in the herd. In the first 15 days, young animals are allowed near the nursing cows 4-5 times a day, and then 3 times a day. After a month, the calves and nursing cows are transferred to joint free-range housing in a common section. A pen is set up in the section, fenced off with poles at a height of 70-75 centimeters from the floor. This eliminates the possibility of cows transitioning to calves and does not interfere with calves' access to nurse cows. At the beginning of the grazing season, young animals with their nursing cows are grazed on natural pastures. Young animals are raised on paired suction under nursing cows until 5-6 months of age. The advantage of the suckling method of rearing is that the young animals receive good-quality milk at the required temperature, not contaminated with microbes and with high immune properties; a number of labor-intensive processes are eliminated. The proposed method of raising calves on paired suction under nursing cows helps to increase the safety of calves, increase the energy of growth and development, and eliminate a number of labor-intensive processes. Example. In the educational and experimental farm of the Penza State Agricultural Academy, two groups of calves were formed on the principle of analogues: experimental and control. The experimental group of calves were raised on paired suction under nursing cows until 6 months of age, the control group was raised by hand feeding. The results obtained are presented in the table.

Formula of invention

1. A method of raising young animals by suckling under nursing cows, characterized in that until the age of five days the calves are kept on full suckling with mother cows, then pairs of the same gender are formed and raised on paired suckling under nursing cows. 2. The method of raising young animals according to claim 1, characterized in that less productive cows are used as nurse cows. 3. The method of raising young animals according to claim 1, characterized in that the calves are accustomed to nursing cows in specialized boxes for a month, after which they are transferred to free-range housing. 4. The method of raising young animals according to claim 1, characterized in that at the beginning of the grazing season, the young animals, together with the nursing cows, are grazed on pastures.

Dear neighbors, hello. I want to make it clear right away that I am not teaching anyone how to live. I write about how I live myself.

First about the suction. We used to feed calves by bucket and at that time I was milking 5 cows. This hard work- milk, strain, pour into flasks, take them to the milk tanker, which is already at the gate at 5:40. I got up at 4 am. And I have a one-year-old child and two older ones who need to be sent to school. By this time, the youngest was waking up and demanding attention.

If you scroll until lunchtime, you should sleep, and then the kids come back from school and they’re making noise. While our cows come back and forth at 6 pm, they need to be milked. In short, chronic lack of sleep. I decided to make my life easier: not to get rid of the cows and to become freer.

Among our friends there are two who do not milk cows at all. One has a whole herd, and the other has 3 pieces. But in our country it is generally not customary for calves to suckle cows. How is this a milking cow? Well, we tried it, we liked it, and we’ve been doing it that way ever since.

When a cow calves, we don’t take the calf away from her, she will lick it, it will stand up, we push it to the udder. If he doesn’t understand anything, we put the tit in his mouth. As soon as he sucks, we put him under her face in the nursery so that she doesn’t inadvertently hurt him. He'll rest there, we'll take him out and put him under the cow again. If the heifer is strong, then already on the 2nd day he knows everything himself - he will eat and sleep. For some reason they always lie near her muzzle, on the side. And how she loves him - she will lick him and smell him. It's interesting to watch.

While the heifer is still small, the udder must be milked, because he cannot suck all the milk that has arrived. Need a second one. Our cows calve nearby in time, therefore, we take the offspring from the second cow and slip it under the first. She reluctantly accepts it - she might hit him, so we slip it in at the moment when her relative is sucking her.

But the second heifer needs to stay with her mother for 3 days - there is colostrum, and this is sacred. At first we make sure that the first cow does not beat him and he gets the milk. Immediately put the second cow in another barn - otherwise you won’t see milk - she will be waiting for her son. She shows off at first, and then loses the habit. If we don’t have our own second calf, we buy it.

Well, then depending on the circumstances. When a person feeds calves, it would never even occur to him to give 3-day-old hay. And sucklings try it already from this age. Maybe they don’t chew it, it seems like there’s nothing, but they put it in their mouth, looking at their mother - that’s for sure...

ALL.!!Then my worries about them end - they grow on their own. I think I have a cow. but it seems not. More precisely, the savings book grows on the base without any participation on my part. For me, the more there are, the better. But I won’t milk more than 3 cows, because I don’t want to die, and I need time for what I love.

And I love growing flowers and fruits and vegetables. By the way, I have a milking machine. In terms of money, it comes out a little less than if I donated milk from this cow. But again, it depends on how you look. We receive money for change in parts and it goes somewhere. And when you hand over the calves in the fall, you get a bunch that you can spend on something.

Usually we don’t give up one bull - we leave it to winter, so that in January the cow that calved early can have a rest. There is also a problem here. It happens that our fiancé doesn’t get enough of her. We made a stage for him for such cases. What to do - you need to help the person! Maybe some people don’t know, but cows have a strict hierarchy. There is a Main Cow at the base, after her all the others are in descending order of impudence. The main cow is always first. Everyone else is waiting for her to come out, when she has a drink, no one comes in front of her.

The cow in the photo also has a character. When I bought it, the owner warned me - don’t take it, take another one from me. But we liked it and took it. (So, by the way, it’s not always easy to bring a cow from someone else’s base to your own - she doesn’t go, she resists. Then we tied her to a tractor and slowly brought her up at low speeds. And how they run! It’s good that my husband runs no worse - otherwise we wouldn’t have caught half of the cows. They don’t know their new home, they’ll tear out the rope and run wild. But try to hold a 400 kg carcass!

From my own experience, I was convinced that you can’t wrap a rope around your hand and tangle it under your feet either. If they decide to pull, they can drag it along with them or knock it over like a feather. We had cases here not with cows, however, but with grown calves. Or, for example, if an adult bull thinks of scratching his forehead at you when you bend over for hay.)

So about that cow in the photo. As soon as she arrived, the first thing she did was disperse the others. And how much blood she drank from me! You never know what’s on her mind and at what moment she’ll kick ass. By the way, I always sit down to milk so as not to be in the path of the hind leg, slightly behind and to the side. Even under the most humble cow. What if her gadfly, for example, bites or gets scared of someone - a cat, for example.

I’m not crazy, but there was a case in our village, it’s true a long time ago, that a quiet cow hit its owner right in the temple. This is such reinsurance. And I sent the cow I was talking about to exile for suction. The power at our base had changed by this time and she is now 3rd in their hierarchy. Her milk is fatty, which is what calves need. Last year her suckling bull was the largest in the herd, and the heifer in the photo went for the price of a bull this fall.

Another thing I like about the suckling method of rearing is that there is no shame in the calves. And the buyers are not fools; they know that they are healthy. The buyers themselves gave me a lecture in the fall about the healthy liver of such calves. They are taken from us to Dagestan, where they are fed with crushed meat and a little hay for 8 months, because it is expensive for them. In March they cut and sell.

I’ll tell you another interesting case... We bought a cow in a neighboring village in August. The owners took her to us across a ford on the river, we tied her to a tractor and dragged her home. They overwintered normally and in April they were released onto the grass for the first time. She came out and sniffed the air and then galloped towards the ford. The husband is behind her. She stood there again, sniffed, and swam in the icy water to the other side. When he comes home, he says, 23 thousand ran away (they were cheaper then). We take the car and make a detour to the owners from whom we bought it. “We haven’t seen it,” they say. We were completely upset, we went to look at the tracks: maybe we could at least find the tracks. Let's go and look - there is a big base, the base is full of bulls and our cow is standing there!

That's how you feel the urge - and you'll swim in the icy water for love.