The Best Way to Prepare Your Cow for High Milk Yield!
For any dairy farmer, low milk yield is the most dreaded reality. Yet, it’s widespread across Kenya, where the average daily milk yield for top breeds like Friesians and Ayrshires is only 7.8 litres per cow. The big culprit? High feed costs.
But what if your cow could produce 20+ litres a day? Let’s show you how to make that possible.
🔑 Phase 1: It All Starts at Conception
A cow’s milk yield journey begins long before calving—at conception. The heifer’s body weight at this point matters a lot.
- She should be 2/3 of her mature weight (e.g., 350 kg if the mother was 500 kg at calving).
- Body condition affects fertility and future performance.
💤 Phase 2: Drying Off (8 Weeks Before Calving)
Drying off is the rest period for the cow to recharge before milk production begins again.
- Stop milking. Use dry cow therapy to prevent mastitis.
- Switch up the diet:
- Use more hay and straw
- Reduce silage by 40%
- Cut dairy meal to max 3 kg/day
- Use low calcium minerals (dry lick with ~5% calcium)
🔥 Phase 3: Steaming Up (Last 18 Days Before Calving)
This is not the whole 2 months—just the last 18 days before calving.
- Provide high protein feeds
- Increase dairy meal to 5 kg/day
- Continue using dry mineral lick
- Add Tranzpro® – 2 tablespoons daily
- This boosts udder development and transfers vital nutrients to the calf
🚀 Phase 4: Transition Cow Management (After Calving)
This is when milk production kicks in—but the cow eats less while needing more.
- Adjust nutrition immediately after calving:
- Increase silage (up to 20 kg/day) or fresh fodder (70 kg/day)
- Increase dairy meal based on yield
- Reintroduce high calcium mineral lick
- Continue Tranzpro® for 36 more days
When done right, expect:
- No retained placenta
- No milk fever
- No ketosis
- Early return to heat (around day 45)
- Peak milk by day 90
🎯 The Takeaway
The secret to high milk yield isn’t one trick—it’s a series of well-managed phases:
- Get the body weight right at conception
- Dry off properly
- Steam up effectively
- Transition with care
Nail these, and your cow will reward you with top-tier production.
