How Long Do Cows Produce Milk?

End a dairy cow’s lactation safely.

By Tammy Cupp
Updated on September 6, 2024
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by Tammy Cupp
A healthy dairy cow and the milk she provides can be an important part of the homesteading lifestyle.

How long do cows produce milk? Learn about the dairy cow lactation cycle and how to dry up a milk cow safely to protect the cow from a high chance of getting mastitis.

We’ve kept dairy cows for years. Yet, we still find ourselves making countless trips to the barnyard to check on a pregnant cow’s condition when she’s close to calving. In talking to others who own family milk cows, it appears this is a common practice.

For many homesteaders, the availability of milk and dairy for the family is as exciting as the birth of a calf. After many months of routine milking, however, the farmer often needs to take a break, and the cow needs her rest as well. This is when the farmer may choose to end the cow’s lactation.

Because a dry period shorter than 45 days and longer than 80 days may affect production volume during the cow’s next lactation, it’s best to take a break about two months before a new calf is born. During this time, cells shrink and repair in preparation for another lactation. The udder’s regression to a nonproductive state during the dry period is known as “udder involution.” If you fed your cow grain while you were milking her, you may be able to give her rumen a rest and keep her condition on just good-quality hay. In addition, cows can build back body condition while they aren’t under the strain of producing milk.

How Long Do Cows Produce Milk?

While we understand that the mammary glands, collectively called the “udder,” are how calves are supplied nourishment, most of us probably don’t give much thought to the process. A cow usually experiences peak lactation around six weeks after a calf is born, after which her milk quantity begins to decrease. Genetics, diet, frequency of milking, and the overall health of the cow will affect milk production. Cows typically give birth to a calf every 12 to 13 months, and many homesteaders milk for 10 to 11 months before ending a cow’s lactation.

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