GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR SUCCESSFUL DAIRY FARMING IN INDIA
As we all know India is the largest milk producer of the world with 196.18 million tonnes. To maintain this honor and provide safe, wholesome and good quality milk to the nation, we have to maintain good management practices. Sometimes due to lack of knowledge, milk producers face very tough challenge of spoilage of milk which is very common in rural areas.
Following management practices can be followed for Dairy Farming:
- First of all nutrition is very important for quantity or quality of milk. Balanced ration including essential vitamin and minerals should be provided along with safe and potable water. Fodder can be provided from the field where chemical fertilizer is not used because their residues come into milk & now a day’s this kind of milk is not preferred by consumers as it had raised health issues.
- Most of the dairy farmers are using growth promoters, hormones. These substances not only affect the health of the animal as well as lowers their breeding efficiency. Antibiotic residues come into milk that affect the quality of milk and consumer health up to their withdrawal period.
- Hygiene is very important for clean milk production. It contributes about 60% of total contamination.
Factor influencing dairy plant hygiene are –
Building – Maintenance of hygiene in the plant depends upon the design of building. Floor should be sloped for efficient drainage of water. Proper ventilation is essential to remove odor, heat, moisture and to minimize condensation on cooled surfaces.
Air quality – Sanitizers [hot water, steam, chlorine (200 mg /liter), iodophor can be used to maintain air quality.
Equipment, Materials & Design – Open thread is not acceptable in dairy equipment. Designing of equipment with adequate control also influences cleaning. Clean in place practices & HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) technique can be used.
Laboratory Control – Efficiency of cleaning and sanitization has to be tested for residual sanitizer by swab method and rinse method.
Health of Animal – The animal should necessarily be free from systemic disease whose causative agent such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Coxiella burnetii, Brucella abortus can be comminuted to man through milk. The animal should be free from bacterial diseases such as Salmonellosis, Shigellosis and E. Coli infection. Viral infection such as FMD, Cowpox, Louping ill.
To prevent entry of these contaminants into milk, routine grooming, brushing and washing of teat with towel soaked in bleaching powder (10 mg /liter) or potassium permanganate (1%) should be adopted.
Milker ‘s Hygiene – Milker should be free from contagious diseases like Cholera, Typhoid, Diphtheria & Tuberculosis and should be monitored for these diseases rigorously on regular basis. In large dairy farms milking machines can be used.
- During collection of raw milk it should not be contaminated with sand or feed material. While transporting, processing, product manufacturing & care should be taken to provide clean milk and milk products.
- “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest “
It is also true for dairy farming, providing knowledge to the dairy farmers about management of animals, feeding, handling of raw milk, care during product manufacturing can ensure bright future of dairy sector in India. For this seminar, webinar, group meeting can be conducted to provide information about dairy farming.
Pooja Mahala
1 – 3rd year B.V.Sc & A.H
2 – College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Anjora, Durg, Chattisgarh.
