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Post by christinat on Jan 24, 2008 12:51:04 GMT -5
British Whites are great milkers, and crosses too! We have tested a few females at various stages of lactation and found them to give 3 to 5 gallons of butterfat-rich milk per day. We typically get 1 lb of butter per gallon of milk. The tests had shown them to produce 6 to 16% fat, depending on stage of lactation. Many were in at about 12%. That equals a fat calf and smiling owners at weaning time!
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Post by Sherry on Jan 24, 2008 13:21:52 GMT -5
Christinat, Wow, that really is good. I have always heard they were dual purpose, but no idea on how good the girls would do. I may have to pick a couple of the girls to milk.
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Post by dburton on Feb 11, 2008 17:16:27 GMT -5
Christiant, That is really amazing. I never would've expected an older breed of cattle to produce that many gallons of butterfat-rich milk still today! Also, I was doing some research on their milking when I read that even the 14-15 year old heifers can still produce all that milk.
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wolffarm
Silver Member
Goofy 31
Posts: 26
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Post by wolffarm on Mar 15, 2008 18:22:17 GMT -5
Christiant, Did you do any protein test on the milk. I did years ago and they had 3 times the protein, compared to holstien milk. And even at 45 day lactation. Thats probably why the calves go from 60lb. to 300lb. so fast.
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Post by christinat on Mar 21, 2008 16:01:54 GMT -5
Yes, we did test the protein, and we did find the protein to be much higher, I don't have the exact number, but they do convert poor hay to rich milk quite easily. We used the local DHIA lab, for those who are umframiliar with DHIA it stands for Dairy Herd Improvement Association. They also test forage, and soil for nutrient and relative feed values.
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