foremilking

Foremilking refers to the expression of the initial portion of milk from a dairy cow’s udder at the start of a milking session. The term foremilk, or initial milk, describes this first stream, which is distinct from hindmilk that is produced later in the milking. Foremilk is typically more watery and lower in fat, with higher lactose and minerals; fat content increases as milking progresses, so hindmilk contains a larger portion of the udder’s fat.

In dairy management, foremilk is sometimes collected separately for health and diagnostic purposes. Foremilk samples may be used for somatic cell count testing or for bacterial culture to help detect mastitis pathogens. Because the foremilk comes from the beginning of milking, proper hygiene and sterile collection techniques are important to avoid sample contamination and to obtain reliable results.

Foremilk analysis can aid in identifying subclinical mastitis, a condition with little or no visible signs but potential economic and animal welfare impacts. Decisions about treatment or culling are often informed by diagnostic results from foremilk and other milk samples, along with clinical observations and herd health data.

In human lactation, the term foremilk is also used to describe the first milk produced at the start of a nursing or pumping session. This foremilk is generally lower in fat and higher in water, lactose, and nutrients, followed by hindmilk richer in fat as the session continues. The term in this context helps describe changes in milk composition during a feeding or pumping cycle.