Improved Technique for Estimating Milk Production from Range Cows

Abstract

Calf weaners, commonly called "blabs," were found to be useful devices to aid in collection of milk consumption data in range animal nutrition research. Inserting a blab in the calf's nostril prevents the calf from nursing when cow and calf are turned out to graze. Calves are then weighed, allowed to nurse, and then reweighed. The difference in the two weighings was considered to be the amount of milk consumed by the calf or produced by the cow for that time interval. This procedure is an improvement over that suggested by other investigators, as both the cow and calf remain together and graze more normally, as opposed to the calves' being penned for 12 hours.