What is the Significance of Diary Farm Management?

Dairy farm management comes with various key advantages, such as it plays a greater role in improving reproduction results, herd health, animal welfare, and farm management. In addition, it also helps in saving money.

FREMONT, CA: Herd management plays an essential role in dairy farms that maintain high production levels over the long term. There are several factors to manage successfully: cow nutrition, reproduction, comfort, and milking. Besides these essentials, dairy farms must also deal with weather, transportation, and expenses. Proper planning and thoughtful use of the latest dairy farm training and technology can balance it all. 

This article explains how to maintain high milk production and happy cows by properly managing a dairy herd by illustrating these principles: 

Cow nutrition begins with ensuring cows receive enough energy, which they get from starch and fat. Depending on the region, starch may come from wheat, maize, barley, sorghum, or other grains. Milk is fermented by grain fermentation. Up to 6 percent of a cow's ration should be fat. Among their sources of fat are cottonseed, brewer's grain, and oils. Solid fats are generally easier to digest for cows than liquid fats. Cows also need vitamins. Fresh forage contains sufficient vitamins and minerals for cows. If dried feed is used during the off-season, it may be necessary to supplement it with vitamins. 

Forage selection: Feed management includes maintaining forage and storing silage. Dairy farms use grass as the cheapest and highest-quality forage. Keeping pastures in a young vegetative state when they contain the most nutrients is the goal. Fertilization, irrigation, and grazing rotations must be maintained regularly. Some farms will need to supplement with natural grass during certain seasons. Hay can be dried on farms with sufficient grass. Other staple forages include maize, barley, and legumes. Depending on the region, the most affordable and best-quality crops may vary. The forage chosen will likely require concentrates and protein supplements, such as soybean or canola meal, rice bran, or citrus pulp. As a result, these supplements fill the nutritional gaps left by dried forage. 

Management of feeding: A constant supply of high-quality feed and clean water is essential for cows. Each milking cow requires 60-70 liters of water a day, plus an additional 4-5 liters per liter of milk. For this to happen, they need consistent access to water troughs. Milking cows drink a large portion of their daily water right after milking, so ample trough space is essential as they leave the milking parlor. Fresh forage availability should also be consistent. There should always be more than enough space for each cow to access the forage. This is to prevent dominant cows from bullying younger ones and preventing them from eating. Forage should be fed first, then nutritional concentrates. A cow should be fed 1 kilogram of concentrate for every 2 kilograms of milk it produces. Therefore, they receive enough nutrition.

Reproduction and breeding 

Planning and goals: Planning is the key to effective reproductive management. Every dairy farm, no matter how extensive or small, should have a detailed routine for monitoring cows. The records kept on the farm will also help predict when cows will be in heat. In addition, management should have plans in place to deal with any health issues that arise during pregnancy and the transition period. 

Healthy Calfs: Calf health is largely determined by whether they are kept in a clean environment for their first few weeks. Calves should be placed in a clean, dry pen as soon as they are born. After that, they can be kept individually or in small groups. Scours, the most common calf disease, is caused by manure pathogens.

Care provided by veterinarians: The health of cows will be monitored by veterinarians on a regular basis. The staff can manage many aspects of cow welfare, but a veterinarian will be essential for administering medication, addressing medical emergencies, performing tests, and certifying slaughter. As a result, if a group of cows needs antibiotics or treatment for mastitis, a team of experts should be there to help.