Dairy Farming Excellence: Key Principles for Success

Dairy farming is a branch of agriculture that encompasses the breeding, raising, and utilization of dairy animals, primarily cows, for the production of milk and the various dairy products processed from it.

The management of the dairy unit aims to maximize the production of clean milk from animals. This can be achieved through high standards of governance, which ensure adequate nutrition and good hygiene, giving animals sufficient feed to meet the nutritional demands for maintaining lactation and fetal growth, controlling diseases associated with dairy animals, especially mastitis, good stockmanship, and daily handling of dairy animals, including skills and knowledge to sustain high milk production.

Milking equipment and housing, such as a milking parlor, should be in place to produce good-quality milk. The availability of marketing facilities is also necessary, as milk is a perishable product. Efficient transport and refrigerated tankers are required for the milk to reach customers while it is in good condition.

Note: Hand milking and machine milking are the two methods mainly used. Cows are milked from the left-hand side.

Milking a cow

The Milk-making Process

1. Pasteurization. This technique heats milk to 72°C for no less than 15 seconds, then cools it immediately to destroy any harmful bacteria and microorganisms. Milk is preserved by the method of pasteurization. Pasteurization is done to kill bacteria from milk, thus preserving it for a longer time. In this process, foods such as milk and fruit juice are treated with mild heat (less than 100°C).
2. Homogenization. This is the process of breaking up the fat globules into very small sizes in order to prevent cream formation.
3. Centrifugal separation. The centrifugation technique is used to separate components of milk (mixture) having different densities.
4. Ultrafiltration. This is the process of passing milk over a specialized semi-porous membrane.
5. Reverse osmosis. This is used in the dairy industry for the concentration of milk to reduce shipping volumes and transport costs.
6. Ultra osmosis.
7. Spray drying.
8. Permeate.

Milking Procedures

1. Clean teats as necessary.
2. Completely coat each teat to the base of the udder with an effective teat disinfectant.
3. Observe the foremilk by stripping milk into a strip cup (not under the cow).
4. Wipe dry with an individual towel.
5. Attach unit.
6. Adjust the unit to minimize liner slip.

Activities to be Carried Out Before the Introduction of Dairy Breeds of Cattle in The Tropics

The area must be cleared, that is to say, cut the bush and uproot the tree-free stumps from the area. The land should be double-fenced, and it is necessary to keep out other cattle and wild animals that are likely to introduce diseases on the farm.

The land to be grassed must be plowed, and pastures (both legume pastures and grass pastures) should be planted to ensure that all the paddocks have clean drinking water. Put in place tick control units, for example, a crush, dip, or spray race. Introduce local cattle on the farm.

The purpose of introducing local cattle on the farm is to pick up ticks as they are grazing, and they are dipped or sprayed regularly to ensure the eradication of ticks. Planting of trees to act as shade for cattle. When the farmer is convinced that most ticks have been eliminated, then exotic breeds can be introduced.

Factors Considered When Introducing a Dairy Herd.

Establishing the necessary infrastructure, such as a milking parlor, fences, drinking troughs, and feeding troughs, requires sufficient capital. Additionally, a large piece of land is necessary for growing pastures, and there must be a market for dairy products.

It is also important to have access to water for cleaning the milking parlor, milking troughs, and for the animals to drink. In terms of selecting breeds, farmers must choose high-yield breeds with good or high butterfat content.

Colostrum

Colostrum, also known as the first milk, is the initial type of milk produced by the mammary glands of humans and other mammals immediately following birth. When referring to the first milk of a cow or similar animal, it may be called beestings. Most mammals begin to produce colostrum just before giving birth.

Colostrum is produced by the cow in the first 3-4 days after calving (giving birth) and contains high levels of immunoglobulins, antimicrobial peptides, and growth factors. It is essential for supporting the growth, development, and immunological defense of neonates (newborn animals).

Colostrum differs from ordinary milk in several ways. Firstly, colostrum is thick and has a yellowish color, making it easily distinguishable from the milk produced later on. Secondly, colostrum contains antibodies, which are important for the newborn's immune system. Finally, colostrum is much richer in fats, proteins, sugar, and vitamins than ordinary milk, providing the newborn with all the nutrients it needs to thrive during its first few days of life.

Benefits of Giving a Calf Colostrum The First Few Days of Its Life

It opens up the digestive system by cleaning the duct, provides antibodies to protect the body against diseases by strengthening the immune system, provides nutrients in much larger quantities, helps to establish a healthy gut by coating the intestines, and offers ideal nutrition for the newborn calf.

It has a laxative effect that helps the newborn baby clear meconium (your baby’s first poop) and lessens the chances of jaundice.

The Significance of Dairy Production

Dairy production provides numerous non-marketed economic benefits, such as using manure as fuel or organic fertilizer on the farm. In several farming systems, manure is the sole source of nutrients for crop production.

Keeping a dairy herd in production throughout the year provides a steady source of income due to the stable prices of dairy products. When practicing mixed farming, dairy cattle can help maintain soil fertility through manure decomposition.

The use of farmyard manure from the dairy section can reduce fertilizer costs by 70-80%. Additionally, dairy animals can be fattened to produce high-quality meat at the end of their milking life, and the dung and urine can be used to produce gas

Characteristics of a Good Dairy Cattle

1. Shows a lean appearance, lean hind quarters, a concave back, and a large udder which is wedge-shaped.
2. The udder capacity should be large and should be well carried forward and back underneath.
3. Should have good milking ability, indicated by the prominence of the veins on the outside of the udder.
4. The body's capacity should be large enough to enable it to cope with quantities of different foods.
5. Its cross-section should have a well-developed string of ribs.
6. It should have sound legs to enable it to walk well.
7. Hind legs should be straight to support the udder well.
8. The animal should be in good health and have a thriving appearance. It should be docile with a good temperament for easy milking.

Reasons Why a Cow Should at Least be Dried-off Two Months Before Calving

1. To enable udder tissues to return to normal before the next lactation.
2. To allow the cow to gain weight.
3. To meet the extra nutrient feed demands for the growing fetus.
4. For the body to replenish minerals releases.
5. To avoid nutritional diseases like milk fever.
6. To prepare for the next calving.
7. To get a cow into proper physiological conditions for proper milk secretion.

Procedures(ways) that can be used to dry off a cow.

1. Incomplete milking: Here, a cow is milked halfway and then stopped 3-4 days after which milking is stopped.
2. Intermittent milking: Here, a cow is milked on alternate days for 3-5 days, after which milking is stopped completely.
3. Dry cow therapy: This involves including antibiotics in the cow's feed.

Factors Affecting Livestock Distribution.

1. Climate: The type of animal or breed to be kept in an area will be highly influenced by the climate, either directly or indirectly. High temperatures can affect the reproductive performance of cattle and lead to embryonic death and fetal dwarfing in ewes.
2. Pests and diseases: Profitable animal production requires efficient husbandry of healthy animals. Pests and diseases continue to limit profits in tropical regions, where the climate - particularly rainfall and high temperatures - is conducive to the rapid multiplication of parasites and vectors, such as ticks and tsetse flies, that spread diseases.
3. Population density: Certain forms of animal production, such as cattle ranching, require a significant amount of land. As a result, areas with high population densities may not have enough space to support ranching operations, while sparsely populated areas may have the capacity to maintain large herds of cattle. Additionally, factors such as social norms, religious beliefs, political stability, market demand for animal products, government policies, availability of animal feed, presence of large-scale livestock farms, infrastructure, management practices, level of education, and soil conditions can also influence the success of animal production.

Problems Associated With Livestock Rearing.

Pests and diseases: Many animals are affected by pests and diseases, such as ticks, which can cause tick-borne diseases in cattle.

Climate change: In some parts of Africa, periodical droughts caused by climate change not only reduce pasture but also leave animals with no clean water to drink, leading to animal deaths.

Lack of veterinary services: Most farmers have no access to veterinary services, and when available, the services are often very expensive. Additionally, some governments have withdrawn subsidies on veterinary drugs.

Poor feeding: Malnutrition is the main reason why cattle in most parts of Africa do not produce much milk and beef. This is due to unimproved pastures, poor transport, and communication, which make it difficult for farmers to take their products to the market.

Primitivity: Some farmers are conservative and do not want to embrace modern farming techniques and methods.

Lack of capital: Farmers lack the required funds to buy farm inputs, such as drugs, feeds, and animal handling equipment. Most areas where animals are kept, especially cattle, have poor soils, and poor management is often the result of low levels of education.

Factors Considered When Selecting The Dairy Breed.

To determine the market demand, it's crucial to establish whether milk, butter, or cheese is the product needed. For butter production, it's recommended to select a breed with high milk butterfat content.

When selecting a dairy breed, several factors must be considered, including the animal's adaptability to the environment, its health status, age, and temperament. A healthy and docile animal with good foraging ability is preferred.

The ideal dairy animal should have the capability to convert grass into valuable products such as milk and meat. Additionally, it's essential to choose a breed that can calve annually for continuous milk production while maintaining high levels of milk and meat performance.

One should avoid selecting old animals as they may have low production life and unfavorable traits that could lead to slaughter.

NOTE: Animals with superior characteristics (highly heritable breeds) are selected from a herd and then allowed to mate among each other at random while animals with inferior characteristics are selected against.

Conditions that Encourage Milk Let-Down in a Cow:

1. Washing/massaging the udder.
2. The presence of the calf on site.
3. Suckling of a calf or attachment of teat cups.
4. Approaching milking time, with the rattling of milk utensils.
5. Seeing other cows being milked.
6. The noise made by milk drops from other cows/milking machines.

Items That Should Be Included in the Dairy Production Record:

1. Production records, such as lactation records, milk yield, butterfat content, and total milk yield.
2. Breeding records, including the date and time of service, expected date of drying off, breed of sire and dam, expected date of calving, and calving interval.
3. Health records, including information about pests, parasites, diseases, and treatments given, along with treatment dates.
4. Feeding records, including the type of feed used, the number of feeds given, and the frequency of feeding the animals.
5. Labor records, including the number of people working on the farm and the hours spent working.
6. Calving records, including dates of calving, sex of the calf (male or female), birth weight of the calf, and identification information such as tag number, name, and marks of identification.
7. Sales records, including sales of milk and animals from the farm.
8. Inventory records, including the number of animals kept, tools and equipment, and other assets on the farm.
9. Financial records, including information about losses of equipment, transport charges, repairs and maintenance, wages, costs of drugs and feeds, net profit/losses, and net capital."

Conclusion

In conclusion, successful dairy farming requires a combination of effective management practices, proper milking procedures, and attention to factors that contribute to the overall health and productivity of the animals. It is crucial to prioritize high standards of nutrition, hygiene, and disease control to ensure the production of clean and high-quality milk. Adequate infrastructure, including milking equipment and marketing facilities, is essential for the efficient processing and distribution of milk.

Furthermore, understanding the milk-making process and the significance of colostrum in supporting newborn calves is vital for the overall success of dairy farming. By providing a calf with colostrum, farmers can help establish a healthy gut, strengthen the immune system, and supply essential nutrients for proper growth and development.

Additionally, keeping detailed dairy production records is key to monitoring and improving the farm's performance. These records should include information on production, breeding, health, feeding, labor, sales, inventory, and finances. By maintaining comprehensive records, farmers can make informed decisions and optimize their operations for increased productivity and profitability.

Dairy farming presents both challenges and opportunities, but with proper management and a focus on quality and efficiency, farmers can thrive in this rewarding industry.