What does it take for a cow to produce milk, or lactate?

 

Firstly the cow must be pregnant before she can produce milk. The reproductive anatomy of a cow is similar to most mammals. After conception the hormone balance in the cow changes and this starts the production of milk through specialised glands in the cow's udder. About 500 litres of blood must pass through the udder to produce 1 litre of milk.

 

How much water and food do cows need to drink and eat?

 

For a successful pregnancy and lactation, a cow must have adequate food. Apart from the water inside the grass that the cows eats (which adds up to about 80 litres per 100kg of grass) cows need 2 litres of fresh water for every litre of milk produced. On average cows will produce 25 litres of milk each day, so that's 50 litres per cow.