Melkkoe

Melkkoe is a Dutch term referring to a cow kept primarily for milk production. The word combines melk, meaning milk, and koe, meaning cow. It designates a role within dairy farming rather than a breed or individual animal.

Usage and context: In agricultural practice, melkkoe denotes cattle housed in milking herds and selected for dairy performance. The term appears in farm records, veterinary literature, and industry discussions as a functional category.

Breeding and management: Dairy programs focus on improving traits relevant to melkkoe, such as lactation yield and udder health, while ensuring welfare. In Dutch-speaking regions, melkkoe is commonly used in records to distinguish milking stock from beef cattle or draft cattle; in technical contexts, classifications may specify breed or lactation status.

See also: Dairy cattle, Milk production, Agriculture in the Netherlands.