GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR SUCCESSFUL DAIRY FARMING IN INDIA
Introduction
Good Management Practices (GMPs) is very essential for achieving success in dairy farming in India. Dairy farming is an integral part of a larger dairy food production and processing chain as well as part of an integrated food safety and quality assurance management system. Dairy farmers contribute their roles while following Good Management Practices (GMPs) at the farm level.Good Management Practices (GMPs) adopted by dairy farmers achieves success in dairy enterprises. It facilitates production of milk and milk products of high standards which is safe and suitable for desired use and make dairy enterprises viable from economic, social and environmental perspectives point of view. Good dairy farming practice ensures production of milk from healthy animals in sustainable manner and accountable for the animal welfare, social, economic and environmental perspectives. The implementation of Good Management Practices (GMPs) offer good risk management for the short and long term future of the dairy farming enterprise.Considering the importance of the above facts, this article aims to present different dimensions of Good Management Practices (GMPs) to be followed by dairy farmers in proactive preventative manners for successful dairying in India.
Good Management Practices (GMPs) implemented by dairy farmers are to be partitioned into following broad areas to achieve the desired objectives:
1 Good Animal Health
2 Milking Hygiene
3 Balanced Nutrition (Feed and Water)
4 Animal Welfare
5 Environment
6 Socio-Economic Management
- Good Animal Health
Good Management Practices (GMPs) become the centre of any successful organisation of dairying. Good Dairy Farm Management Practices (GMPs) ensure production of milk from healthy animal and effective health care programme in place. The Good Management Practices (GMPs) play the pivotal role for better animal healthas described under the following headings:
To Establish the herd with resistance to disease.
Selection of breeds and animals therein well suited to the local environment and farming system is the key factor for establishment of a herd with disease resistance.Herd size and stocking density is to be determined based on management skills, local conditions and the availability of land, infrastructure, feed, and other inputs. All animals are to be vaccinated properly as per recommendation of local animal health authorities.
To prevent entry of disease in the farm.
As and when required, the animals are to be purchased only from the known sources i.e. the within and outside the farm, the animals are to be transported in such a manner that the healthy animals will not be allowed to mix up with unhealthy animals or animals where health status is not known. Introduction of such animals into the farm should be followed after strict quarantine for a specific period to prevent the entry of diseases.Vermin control measures are to be taken up to prevent the entry of infectious diseases in the farm. Only clean equipment from a known source are to be used to prevent the spread of diseases.
To have an effective herd health management programme in the farm
All the animals are to be identified individually from birth to death through latest identification system for effective management of the animal health. This will ensure the better production from the entire herd. All the animals are to be checked regularly for the presence of any sign of diseases and Sick animals should be attended as early as possible in anappropriate way. The sick animals are to be isolated immediately and will be treated accordingly. The milking of sick animals should be done separately to avoid spread of diseases to healthy animals.The milk from sick animals and animals under treatment should be kept separately and disposed-off from zoonotic point of view. The records of all treatments given to animals need to be maintained appropriately.
Use all chemicals and veterinary medicines as directed
Sometimes it becomes essential to use chemicals like bleaching powder, phenyl, potassium permagnent, fly replants etc for cleaning and disinfect the animal house. Ectoparasitic drugs are used for eradication of ectoparasites and blood protozoan diseases. All kinds of medicines are composed of chemicals. Chemicals and medicines should be stored at a particular temperature as per direction given on label for safety of the animals. If lactating animals are given drugs or medicines, the medicines or drugs residues will be secreted through milk. Consumption of such milk or use of milk products from such milk may be hazardous to the human beings. Keeping in view of importance of use of chemicalsand medicines in dairy farms, the farmers should use the chemicals which are duly approved by the drug controller authority. Chemicals should be used as per directions written on the wrapper of the chemicals. Medicines and doses should be used as per prescription made by registered Veterinary practitioner.
2 Milking Hygiene
Milk is a sole product of economic return of dairy enterprises. Therefore,Milk should be harvested and stored under hygienic conditions. Consumers are now health concerned and falling under high income group of population. They demand high standards of milk of good quality. To achieve this target, milking management aims to minimize microbial, chemical and physical contamination. Milking management covers all aspects of the process of obtaining milk from animals quickly and effectively, while assuring the health of the animals and the quality of the milk. Following points are required to be kept in mind for production of hygienic milk.
To ensure milking routines not resulting into injury of the animals or introduce contaminants into milk
Individual animals that require special milking management are to be identified for special care. Milk from all the four quarters are required to be tested once in a month for subclinical mastitis diagnosis. In case of mastitis, the animals are to be separated from the rest and segregated. Milk harvested from sick or treated animals should be appropriately disposed. Before, milking the udder should be washed thoroughly with clean water or water containing KMNO4 in parts per million(ppm). Whether milking is done through milking machine or hand milking, the milking technique should be consistent as much as possible so that it may not injure the teat of the animals. After milking, all the teats should be washed or dipped with disinfectant solutions to avoid any infection and animals should not be allowed to sit at least for half an hour to avoid the occurrence of mastitis. Milking equipment is required to be correctly installed and maintained with sufficient supply of clean water.
To ensure milking carried out under hygienic conditions
It should be taken up as a routine practice that the animal house or the place where milking is done, should be clean to avoid any sort of contaminants of the milk. In case of hand milking, the milk man should wash his hands with clean water. If milking is done through milk machine, then milking machine cups and containers should be washed thoroughly with detergent. Then it should be dried properly before milking.
To handle the milk properly after milking
Immediately after milking, the milk should be handled very carefully and stored properly till the milk processing otherwise the entire bulk of milk will be spoiled. He has to ensure very carefully that milk is cooled or delivered for processing within the specified time. The milk storage area is to be kept clean. The size of milk storage equipment is adequate to hold milk at the specified temperature for a required period. Milk storage equipment is to be cleaned and when necessary, sanitised after each milk collection.
- Nutrition (Feed and Water)
The dairy animal health and productivity along with its quality and safety largely depend on quantity and quality of the feed and water offered to them. The Good Management Practices (GMPs) for managing animal nutrition, feeding and watering are described under the following headings:
To provide secured feed and water supplies from sustainable sources
A well designed plan should be ready ahead to ensure that the good quality of feed and water requirements are met to herd from sustainable sources. While growing the feeds and fodders at farms, non-hazardous use of chemicals, fertilisers, pesticides etc should be used to maintain the good quality of feeds and fodders and to obtain good quality of animal products.
To make controlledconditions for feed storage
Separate feeds are required to get optimum production of good quality from animals of different species. For which, appropriate storage conditionsis to be made to avoid feed spoilage or contamination. Animals should not be given mouldy or sub-standard feed.
To have records of feedstuffs brought on to the farm
All sorts of feeds and fodders brought to farms for which definite policy should be in place to ensure quality from approved supplier. All records need to be maintained of all feed or feed ingredients received on the farm.
- Animal Welfare
Animals should be managed in comfortable environments for which GMPs are set out under following headings.
To distress animals from thirst, hunger and malnutrition
All the animals of farms should be provided sufficient feed and water of good quality every day. A watch check list of plan should be in place to protect animals from toxic plants and other harmfulsubstances.
To relief from discomfort
The buildings and handling facilities should be well designed and constructed to provide adequate space and ventilation. It should cover the protection of animals from adverse weather conditions. There should well-constructed platforms for loading and unloading of animals to protect them from injury and distress.
To avoid from pain, injury and disease to animals
All animals should be checked at regular interval for which an effective herd health managementprogramme should be in place at farms. Animals should be treated gently and followed procedures and practices that not causeunnecessary pain.
To protect animals from fear
The farm infrastructure and herd management routines should be well thought off ahead in initial stages of development consideringthe animal behaviour. All farm workers should be well trained to provide competent stock handling and husbandryskills and appropriate training to avoid fearing in animals at stages of life.
- Environment
Dairy enterprises should be economically viable for dairy farmers. For which dairy production should come from healthy animals managed under natural environment and feed resources. With rise in the income and health consciousness among consumers, there is awareness among them that dairy production shouldbe obtainedin sustainable manner and harmony with the environment by using natural resources efficiently and minimizing any adverse impact on the environment.The good dairy farming practices for the environment are suggested as follows.
Need to implement an environmentally sustainable farming system
The feeds and fodders offered to farms animals should be managed efficiently and sustainably to minimise the production of environmental pollutants from dairy farming. Biodiversity at the farms should be maintained.
To install an appropriate waste management system
A well designed practicesneed to be implemented to reduce, reuse or recycle farm waste appropriately. The storage and disposal of farms wastes should be well managed to reduce environmental impacts.
Implement good dairy farming practices to avoid adverse impact on the local environment
The agricultural and veterinary chemicals and fertilisers should be used appropriately to avoid contamination of the local environment. It results into good overall appearance of the dairying operation and to harvest good quality of feed and fodders.
- Socio-Economic Management
Dairy farming with their products and wastes provides economic and social benefits to farmers and their wider communities. Good dairy farming practice can also help to manage the social and economic risks of the enterprise and farmers which are described as follows.
To have an effective and responsible management practices for human resources
There should be an effective and responsible management practices for human resources to take work from them sustainably and to employ staff based on national laws and practice. The farm working environment should be in accordance with the requirements of occupational health hazard and safety.
To provide environment to carry out farm tasks safely and competently
The appropriate procedures and equipment should be followed at farms to carry out various activities. Well trained and educated staffs are to be employed to take work from them efficiently.
To manage the enterprise for ensuring its financial viability
The financial management systems must to be implemented to adopt agricultural practices that contribute tothe productivity and/or profitability goals of theenterprise. There should be complete monitoring to assess well ahead in advance time to avoid financial risks.
Dr. Aakanksha Rathore, Division of Animal Genetics and Breeding
Dau Shri Vasudev Chandrakar Kamdhenu Vishawidyalaya, Anjora, Durg,Chhattisgarh
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