management of dairy cattle

Care And Management of lactating animal

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Purpose of care and management

To study production efficiency of herd.

To study reproductive efficiency of herd.

To make improvement in existing management practices of milch stock.

Main constituents of management include

Feeding and watering

managementHousing

managementReproductive management Health care General care

FEEDING DMI values are in the range of 3.5%–4% of body wt. to achieve maximum production, dairy rations should

be balanced for effective fiber, non-structural carbohydrates, ruminal undegradable proteins, soluble protein.

Feed intake by the dairy cow is influenced by many factors including level of production, forage quantity and quality, feed digestibility, feed processing, feeding frequency, consistency of ration ingredients.

To get milk which is free from feed flavors, it is desirable that never fed such feeds as silage, turnips & cabbage just before or during milking.

These feeds may affect the air in a poorly ventilated stable in such manner as to influence the flavor of milk.

Principal source of these feed flavor is the cow’s system.

In some areas, wild onion, garlic & other weeds constitute a real pasture problem.

If cows eat these weeds within 1 to 3 hours before milking, the resulting milk may have such strong weed flavor as to be unfit for use.

Taking cows out from such pastures about 3 hours prior to milking is the best practice during the weed seasons.

There are main stages in the

lactation cycle of the dairy cow:

3- Late lactation (200-310

days)

2- Mid lactation (100 to 200 days)

1- Early lactation (14-100 days)

Feeding During Early Lactation

The cow is fed for both maintenance and for production. The farmer can predict how much to feed an older cow for production. But for a first lactation cows, it is suggested to feed them higher than their yields

would suggest. This is done to ensure that they reach their potential at the peak. In early lactation (FEBRUARY ON) there is not any fresh grass, so concentrates as

well as silage must be fed to ensure the cow reaches her potential at the peak. Although this is expensive, it is worth it in the long run as the cow will produce

more milk. Cow is usually not able to eat enough and draws on body reserves to maintain

production If the grass/fodder is scarce at first, then concentrates should still be fed to keep

nutrients to a high level. Care should be taken of GRASS TETANY during this period.

Early lactation

Feed at least 40-50% of dry matter ration as forage. TDN = < 70 % DM 20 % @ of 1.7 kg/100 kg b.w. = 40 -50 kg Concentrates added @ 0.5-0.7 kg/day for first 2 weeks Or @ 1 kg /2 lit of milk produced Protein = 17 -19%

Feed at least 40-50% of dry matter ration as forage. TDN = < 70 % DM 20 % @ of 1.7 kg/100 kg b.w. = 40 -50 kg Concentrates added @ 0.5-0.7 kg/day for first 2 weeks Or @ 1 kg /2 lit of milk produced Protein = 17 -19%

Mid lactation

Main target is to maintain the peak production. DM 4 % of b.wt. or same as early lactation 40 -45%

DM of ration. Concentrates should not exceed from 2.3% of b.wt CP = 15-17 %

Late lactation

Milk yield ↓ & intake will also ↓. There is less protein and energy requirement Cheap formulations could be made.

WATERING Milk 82-87 % water 2-3 watering at least Ideal is ad lib With provision of 18% more water, there is increase in milk yield by 3.5%

as seen in 3X watering compared to 2X. Normal consumption = 26-36 lit Water intake depends upon: type of feed ambient temperature amount of milk it produces water temperature and purity

Should be clean, sweet & soft , not dirty. Cool in summers but not chilled Normal to lukewarm in winters(not hot) Cleaning of water tanks twice a week. Prevent algae growth in and around water tanks and

drinking areas

Housing managementHOUSING OF ANIMAL IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN DAIRY FARMING. A GOOD HOUSING LEADS TO GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND ULTIMATELY OPTIMUM PRODUCTION. THE HOUSING OF DAIRY ANIMALS DEPENDS UPON: NUMBER OF ANIMALS   TYPE OF BREED OF ANIMALS LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS FINANCES AVAILABLE FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED IT SHOULD BE LESS EXPENSIVE

Requirements of housing

It should be well ventilated.   It should protect from extreme environmental conditions.   It should have maximum sun exposure.   Its axis of length should be east to west. It should remain dry.   Its environment should be hygienic.  There should be availability of feed and water for 24 hours.

1.2m x 2.4m cubicle resting space per cow Having different pens with different size stalls reduces flexibility Too small= animal not comfortable, increased animal injuries,

reduce laying time which result in decreased production Too large = dirty stalls , dirty cows , increased stall maintenance ,

small cows lay backward in stall

Reproductive ManagementEstrus detection Unobserved estrus may be due to managerial deficiencies and short period of estrus. The dairy animals should be observed for heat signs at least three times a day. Wall charts, breeding wheels, herd monitors and individual cow records may be used

for identify the estrus. Teaser bulls (vasectomized or by applying apron) are useful in identifying heat in

large number of animals especially buffalo cows. Provision of adequate lighting to improve estrus detection. Silent / weak / Sub estrus are most common in buffalo cows and common in post

partum period. In this cyclical changes in the genital organs occurs but the signs of heat are not exhibited or not observed. This requires rectal examination by qualified veterinary doctor.

After breeding the animals should be checked for pregnancy within 45-60 days by qualified veterinary doctor.

BREEDING

Bring the animal into positive nutritive balance. Mineral mixture supplementation should be done to breeding

animals. Do Artificial Insemination twice at each oestrus preferably at 12

or 24 hrs intervals. Skipping of AI and intrauterine infusions may be considered for

uterine pathology. Diseased bulls should not be allowed for breeding. By avoiding diseased breeding bulls the pathogenic organisms

causing abortion may be controlled.

HEALTH MANAGEMENT Due to milk borne diseases, it is very imperative that all cows be

healthy. One cannot feel safe in talking milk unless it comes from disease free

animals, or unless it has been pasteurized. Good herd management demands that efforts should be done to keep

the animals free from diseases. Such diseases are T.B, brucellosis, mastitis etc. All the animals in the herd must be tested for milk borne diseases

regularly

Preparing the cow

Before milking, the udder & flanks of the cow should be thoroughly brushed.

At milking time, udder should be wiped with a cloth or paper towel moistened in water.

Wiping the udder with hands before milking is a very bad practice, as it does not get the udder clean but get hands dirty.

Washing the udder and wiping dry is ideal. After complete milking, dip each teat in any disinfectant

approved by NMC (National Mastitis Council) such as Iodophore (Germ IOD), for a contact time of 30 seconds

Steps:

Pre dipping : Iodphores 0.1 %, chlorhexidine 0.2% Hygienic Milking methods(either hand or Machine milking) Dip each teat after each milking using a germicidal teat dip. Germicidal teat dip: each teat separately after milking Apply teat chap or use Vaseline Keep cows clean, udders free from soil and manure.

Over 90% of all cows are slaughtered for 4 main reasons:

Infertility - failure to conceive and reduced milk production.

Mastitis - a persistent and potentially fatal mammary gland infection, leading to high somatic cell counts (SCC) and loss of production.

Lameness - persistent foot infection or leg problems causing infertility and loss of production.

Production - some animals fail to produce economic levels of milk to justify their feed costs. Production below 12 to 15 liters of milk per day is not economically viable.

Vaccination

Major Cattle Diseases Controlled by Vaccination: Mastitis Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) FMD vaccine HS vaccine Tetanus Rabies Leptospirosis

Management Practices to Reduce Herd Health Problems:

Proper feeding of the herd Good facilities with ventilation Using dry, clean bedding Proper cleaning and sanitation Controlling disease carriers-flies, birds, rodents Raising replacements needed for the herd Requiring health records of replacement animals and isolating them for

30 days

Isolating sick animals Using a vet Controlling access to dairy herds Require visitors to wear protective footwear Do not allow visitors unlimited access to where cattle are kept Have bulk milk and feed delivery points as far away from cows as

possible

GENERAL CARE

Fly control Kind of milk pail Kind of milking parlour Cleaning of utensils Methods of milking Exercise Regularity in care Hoof trimming Deworming Kindness in handling

Milk room or house

Milk room should not be too large

Should be used for milk handling only

The room should be kept strictly cleaned

Should be free from flies

Fly control There are two major reasons for good fly control

Flies may annoy cows to the extent that milk production is decreased

Flies are a source of a large number of undesirable bacteria

Flies breed rapidly in filth. It is therefore, obvious that all important steps in fly control such as sanitation in the barn & milk house & around the premises should be adopted. This means keeping all areas in the barn free from manure and

instead of allowing manure to accumulate in the barnyard, removing it to the field daily.

Milk houses should be screened. Extended use of certain sprays may cause flies to become

tolerant

Kind of milk Pail

A small mouth pail should be used as various trials indicated that a large percentage of the dirt on the body of the cow and the bacteria attached there will be kept of milk drawn into a pail with its top partly covered. Small mouth pail require more care when being washed. However it is for the reason that many dairyman still prefer the

open top pail.

Cleaning Utensils The unclean & unsterile utensils are the source of of most of the

bacteria that get into milk. A utensil must be properly clean and should be: Rinse in lukewarm water to remove the milk sticking to it. Washed in a warm dairy cleaner solution with a brush, but never with a

rag. The utensils should be rinsed in scalding water. To make them real sterile, the utensils should then be steamed or

chemical sterile. The drying is an important part of the process because if any bacteria

escape sterilizing will began to multiply in a moist utensil. The various Chlorine solutions are used in varying strengths for

chemical sterilization.

Methods of Milking

Use of Full-hand method without thumb pressure and milking with dry hands is very imperative for clean milk production. Perform Mastitis test regularly and discard the milk of positive quarters. All positive reactors must be milked at the end. Remove first two streams from each teat to reduce bacterial count.

Regularity in care

Any sudden change in feeding , watering , milking , exercise of animals would have adverse effects specially on sensitive type of animals .therefore all operations of feeding , watering , exercise ,milking etc. must be carried out in the same manner and at the same time daily .

EXERCISE

Dairy animals need limited exercise . Confining Animals too long without exercise cause stiffness in

their limbs and overgrow hoofs leading to possibly lameness. Any strenuous exercise is likely to reduce milk solids especially

fat content in milk .

GROOMING and TRIMMING HOOVES

Grooming stimulates circulation ,helps in clean milk production and makes them docile.

Hooves if neglected weaken the legs causing lameness and lower milk production

KINDNESS IN HANDLING

Cruelty to animals spoils the temperament of animal resultimg in reduced milk yield and may even alter the composition of milk .

DEWORMING

Young animals should be dewormed every month and older animal at 6 months interval

Deworming is more important for animals where worm problem is the greatest cause of high rate of mortality & affects production

Protecting animals from poisoning

Different types of possible poisoning can occur: Lead paints ,Nitrate fertilizers ,Poisonous plants etc. These poisons also come in milk so we should avoid such

chemicals and fertilizers etc.

References

Principles and practices of dairy farm management by Dr. Jadish Parsad.

Dairy cattle feeding and management by Henderson, Larson and Putney.

Dairy farming in Asia by Asia paper. Dairy farming by Peterson.