MANAGEMENTAL STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE MILK PRODUCTION IN DAIRY ANIMALS
D.N. Singh, R. Sirohi, Y. Singh, Mamta, Ajay Kumar, Amit Singh & Manisha Tyagi
College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry
DUVASU, Mathura
Good animals are always produced and reared not purchased, so management plays a significant role in improving health, lactation and reproduction efficiency in dairy animals. Management is the art and science of combining ideas, facilities, processes, materials and labour to produce and market a worthwhile product or service successfully (Banerjee, G.C., 2004). Thus, a manager is an organizer and a converter – he converts the resources into the valuable products. A good manager can converts labour, soil, fertility, hay, silage, and other inputs into the valuable product i.e. milk for human as well as animal welfare.
Functions of management:
From a general point of view, a manager must perform five major functions; he must plan, organize, co-ordinate, direct and control to all farm activities.
Another way of expressing these managerial functions is to consider the manager’s role as a “decision maker” i.e. who must decide to do, how to do it and when. This decision-making responsibility distinguishes the manager from the worker who awaits to be told. Thus the functions of management may be outlined as steps in decision-making, some time called the “management process”. For successful performance of managerial processes, the manager must:
- Observe: Gather information about all available resources, application of new technology, alternative market outlets, sources of capital credit needed.
- Establish goal: Clearly set out the objective according to situation.
- Identify Problems: Find the obstacles, or “stumbling blocks” which hinder progress towards goals.
- Analyze: Compare alternative method of reaching goals, considering for each plan the income potential, the capital needed, the labour required etc.
- Decide: Choose a plan of action and set out a clear cut procedure for getting under way.
- Act: Put his chosen plan into operation.
- Be responsible: Assume responsibility for the consequent of action taken.
- Evaluate: Measure results and compare accomplishments with goals and standard of performance.
- Control: Keep a careful check on production level, labour efficiency, cost, investments etc.
- Adjusts: Keep the operating system flexible to take advantage new developments, which are applicable.
Management of Milch Animals
General Management
Dairy animals are usually tied up in byres, either by ropes or in stanchions, in most Indian dairy farms. Stall-feeding is much commoner than pasturing, especially for milk production. This practice appear to be quite sound, provided the animals are untied and released frequently for watering or for exercise. Automatic drinking bowls are not common in our country, and are also difficult to maintain from the standpoint of cleanliness as well as that of efficiency. Alternatively, a water channel could be provided between the mangers and the standing space for animals. Most of the difficulties can be conveniently overcome under the loose housing system where animals are kept loose in a loose in paddock with sufficient manger space and watering troughs, so that the animals are given fodder, water, exercise and shelter ad lib. Animals are tied and washed or groomed only at the time of milking. This system is very convenient for maintaining large herds. It is very similar to what is called “Zero grazing” or “feed lots in America”. Under this system, animals maintain better health, and it is also easier to detect the animals in heat than under the system when the animals are tied up most of the time, all at a lower cost. The system also induces a sense of competition, resulting an increase forage consumption, which in turn leads to increased production. The chief dis-advantage of the system, however, is that it is difficult to pay individual attention or to show individual animals to visitors or prospective buyers. Cleanliness of the premises is also very difficult. Dehorning is essential under this system. But the reduced cost of construction as well as of labour for feeding and management more than compensate for these deficiencies. Weaker or show animals could be taken out and given special attention separately. Unlike the stanchion or tie byre, where the number of animals that can be maintained depends on the space provided for the maximal utilization of facilities, in loose housing a few more or few less make very little difference as long as feed, fodder and water are adequate.
The grazing of dairy animals is not quite suited to India where one depends more on cultivated fodder crops, many of which have to be chaffed for better utilization. Under stall-fed conditions and intensive farming as many as adult cows or buffaloes per hectare can be maintained, but this appears impossible in case of grazing. Occasionally animal can be grazed on stubble or even on some of the cultivated crops. The change often results in increased milk production temporarily. But routine grazing, especially during the day time, increases the heat load on animals, as also the parasite burden, and the land is inefficiently utilized.
The feeding of cows should be according to their level of production. In general much of the required nutrient should be provided from the best quality forage and the rest made up from concentrate feeds. High producing milch animals, especially cross bred cows, have an almost insatiable appetite for forage, but it will be wasteful to feed all the forage they will eat unless a corresponding reduction is made in concentrate ration.
Disease control through vaccination should be followed according to schedule is essential to maintain proper health as well as milk production of that particular animals.
Management of cows during milking:
The traditional methods of milking by first allowing the calf to suck for inducing the let down of milk is quite unsuitable for good management. The modern dairy cows or buffaloes, which is scientifically fed and managed, produces more milk than the calf can consume, and the only way of ensuring good management is to wean the calf with in 48 to 72 hrs of birth sand teach the cow to let down milk on artificial stimulation.
For hygienic milk production, milking byres should be so constructed as to keep flies and dust out while letting in light and fresh air. The milking byre may be of the “parlor type” where machine milking is practiced when only a small number of animals are allowed in at a time. Hand milking byres accommodate from 25 to 100 animals at a time and first step is always to wash and clean the floors, the fittings as well as the animals.
The next step involves the washing of the udder of milch animals with a warm (40-50ºC) watery solution of disinfectant. The procedure is best carried out with suitably sanitized towels or dusters for each cow. The process of washing and drying the udder involves a gentle massaging for about 45 –60 seconds to induce the proper let down of milk, as indicated by the maximum engorgement and erection of teats. This operation and the process of milking are skilled operation and are produce pleasurable sensation in the cow.
Before milking itself is commenced, the first few squirts of milk are taken in a “strip cup” at least partly, so that any abnormal particulate matter could be easily observed. This procedure is not only dispose of the first drawn milk, which is poor in fat but rich in bacteria, but is also supposed to give an early of chronic mastitis.
The milking should be done with actual milking procedure i.e. for hand milking dry, full hand method is considered to be best. Rapid milking is important, because the hormone, oxytocin, responsible for squeezing out the milk from the alveoli of a gland has a half-life of only 2 minutes.
In machine milking avoid application of extra pressure on teat to reduce the chance of injury to the teat tissue and always-used clean and sanitized milking machine equipments before milking.
After milking the teat should be washed and disinfected by dipping them, in a suitable disinfectant solution, especially for reducing the incidence of mastitis.
Hints for maximizing production:
Dairy animals are creature of habit, and it is good to get them used to desirable habits, which form their routine and should not be disturb. For example, it will be risky to have the prize animals or first calvers to let down milk only to individual expert milkers who may not be available some time.
Large changes in the forage from day to day should not be made, since not only the cows, but also their rumen microbes have to get adjusted to the new forage. This explains why sometimes even changes to better forages may be accompanied by fall in production.
Increasing the frequency of milking is one of the recognized techniques for increasing production. Kulashrestha and Rajdan (1970) found that by increasing the frequency from twice a day to thrice a day increased production by 12 – 16 percent and milking four times a caused a further increase by 21 – 23.5 percent over the milking done three time a day. It was also observed that this increase resulted from a greater efficiency of utilization of feed rather than from an increased quantity of feed consumption or from the utilization of body reserves. However, it may not be economically worthwhile to make a low producing cow three or four time in a day. Flies are big source of nuisance in all dairy farms and severely affect the milk production as well as the health of the cow. The daily removal of manure, cleaning and disinfecting all animal standings with lime or bleaching powder should be in routine operation.
In summer, the animal should be kept in the open during the night, because building which have been heated during the day radiate heat at night. High producing animal also tend to eat more at night, and hence it may be better to give fresh cool fodders in the evening and early morning than during the hot day.
During all seasons, intake of nutrients through good quality forages should be maximized so that the intake of more expensive concentrates can be reduced, there by reducing cost of milk production. For this purpose various other stratagems, including group feeding, increasing the palatability of forage by spraying molasses etc., are often practiced by successful dairymen.
The common idea that ad lib feeding of forage means feeding as much forage as the cow will clean up needs revision. Well-fed cows will always waste some fodder especially when it become unpalatable from admixture with weeds or even when it gets stale in the manger. So always avoid wastage of feed to reduce cost of milk production. The best way of utilizing forage wasted by cows, under Indian conditions, appear to be to dry it in the sun and use it as bedding.
A cow should always be treated with kindness if she is to maintain production. The beating of a cow should never be allowed under any circumstances. If cows come under any stressful condition then their milk production affect significantly due to release of stress hormone. So always handle the cow with kindness.
Grooming should be a part of daily routine in a well-kept herd. Grooming or brushing is essential as it removes dirt and loose hairs from the body. Regular grooming and removing manure or litter from their bodies not only help to keep the hide pliable but also make possible the production of clean milk. The clipping of the long hair from the udder and hind legs and the rear flanks will have to prevent accumulation of filth. Grooming and brushing will reduce the parasitic load and the blood circulation also improves. So this should be a part of routine work of a dairy farm.
Summer Management of Dairy Animal
Hot environments affect the performance of dairy cattle both directly and indirectly. To attain the fullest genetic, productive as well as reproductive performance, environmental conditions and diets should be modified. Thermal factors consist of air temperature, humidity, air movement, and radiation rate. Excessive summer condition leads to heat stress in dairy animals.
Ameliorative measures to reduce heat stress in Dairy animals
As discussed, heat stress is a burden for the cow’s performance and health that costs the dairy industry millions every year. Implementation of herd management techniques as early as possible is beneficial at production level. In order to prevent the effects of heat stress, economically feasible heat stress relief techniques can be used which include the use of fans, shades, foggers, misters, desert coolers, air conditioners, water bathing and adequate air circulation. Modifications in feeding strategies by either dietary fiber adjustment or the use of high-quality forage, supplemental protected fat and feeding at cool hours can greatly help in reducing the negative effect of heat stress on productive and reproductive performance.
Winter management of Dairy Animals:
The maintenance nutritional requirements can increase significantly during winter seasons in dairy animals, however the neonates are very susceptible for extreme winter condition, due to poor thermoregulatory response. Lowest critical environmental temperatures (LCT) for livestock vary according to species and researchers, but dairy animals can tolerate 20° or 32°F without additional energy demands. Energy requirements for an animal increase by one percent for every degree below the LCT. Following managemental strategies should be adapted during extreme winter condition-
- Provision of curtain to check child wind inside the shed.
- Increase Barn or shed temperature by heating device.
- Provision of bedding materials and luke warm water for drinking purpose.
Management during rainy season:
In India, monsoon or rainy season last from June to September and by the first week of July the entire country experiences monsoon season. Monsoon rains have big impact on animal health affecting the economy of the farmers and animal owners therefore, it is necessary to have the guidelines so that the necessary preventive measures can be taken in advance. Animals at High Risk: 1. Young animals 2. Sick animals/animals with history of disease 3. Pregnant animals 4. Lactating animals 5. Heavy animals Awareness and Veterinary Care: State shall ensure that the animal owners/farmers should be made aware of adverse effects of monsoon and wide publicity should be given regarding the preventive measures, Do’s and Dont’s during this period. The farmers and animal owners should be made aware well in advance in respect of deworming and vaccination of animals before the monsoon.
Recommendation:
- Provision of comfortable housing condition along with good ventilation condition.
- Daily supervision and regular health check-up & vaccination of farm animals.
- Provision of extra allowances in terms of concentrate before breeding season and during
advance stage of pregnancy.
- Provision of Isolation ward and quarantine shed for diseased animals & newly introduced animals, respectively.
- Mating of farm animals with superior one.
- Provision of daily exercise to farm animals.
- Close supervision of animals during and after parturition.
- Fed colostrum to calves as soon as possible.
- Regular de-worming and periodic vaccination should be practiced.
- Provision of good quality feed & fodder.
By providing proper care and management along with veterinary care the health, productive and reproductive efficiency of lactating animal will be improved gradually. This is the reason every well-established dairy farm or sincere farmer pays more attention towards the proper management of his or her animals.
Recommendation:
- Provision of comfortable housing condition along with good ventilation condition.
- Daily supervision and regular health check-up & vaccination of farm animals.
- Provision of extra allowances in terms of concentrate before breeding season and during
advance stage of pregnancy.
- Provision of Isolation ward and quarantine shed for diseased animals & newly introduced animals, respectively.
- Mating of farm animals with superior one.
- Provision of daily exercise to farm animals.
- Close supervision of animals during and after parturition.
- Fed colostrum to calves as soon as possible.
- Regular de-worming and periodic vaccination should be practiced.
- Provision of good quality feed & fodder.
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