Setting up and Management of Dairy Farms

Establishment of a reasonably good-sized dairy herd of crossbred cows and buffaloes

requires skill and sound technical competency regarding various farm operations.

Integrated application of large number of operations and activities at appropriate time

is the key to success of dairy farming.

Breeding, feeding, milking, health care and several other tasks are daily routine
functions.

Dairy animals express heat and parturition following the exact calendar dates and
have to be attended to punctually.
Young calves and sick animals require full attention.
Herd management can afford no strike, no lockout or slow-down.
Herd Management calls for hard work, dedication, skill and perspiration.

Two considerations for a small-scale commercial dairy unit of 50 adult dairy animals:

1- maintained nearby or outskirts of urban areas without cultivable land

2- on the countryside that is rural areas with 5 hectares or more of cultivable land.

For rural areas in India, since a single occupant of a herd of 50 adult heads is still a rare
possibility, a co-operative model of several small landholders each with a herd of 10
adult dairy animals is proposed It is assumed that the farmer's family provides full labour
input..

Steps in setting up a dairy farm:

I. Selection of Animals for Foundation Stock:

For dairy purpose, preferred breeds are as follows:

Crossbred cows origin: Holstein Friesian,Jersey

Cows:(local breeds):SahiwaI, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar, Hariana, Gir, Ongole,
Kankrej
Buffaloes: Murrah, Niliravi, Surti, Mehsana.

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The animals may be available from the organized farms, private dairy farms and farmer
herds for constituting the foundation herd by keeping the following consideration in
mind:

Purchase dairy heifers or just calved cows with female calf in phases over a
period of one year.
Buffaloes and cows may be kept in equal number or 60:40 ratio for better viable
units.
Preference may be given to the breeds suitable to the agro-climatic region where
dairy farm is established.
Production records may be available on institutional herds, while very little
information is available with farmers. Therefore, for purchasing milch animals,
due weightage should be given to the quantity of milk produced in two
consecutive milkings depending upon the stage of lactation, breed type, age,
pedigree and health status(disease free) of the animal.

Other attributes of the animal to be considered for selection:

- Animal should have wide deep body, balanced standing on short stout legs with thighs
wide apart, loose and pliable skin, long tail and docile temperament;
- Body capacity - long straight back, wide barrel and deep heart girth;
- Mammary system - well attached large symmetrical udder, prominent milk well and
tortuous milk veins, and small sized well-spaced teats.

For maintaining regular proportionate milk production, care should be taken that:

75 per cent of the adult cows and buffaloes must remain in milk at any time. ~
The foundation herd should not have more than 20 per cent heifers or cows
beyond fifth lactation.
Of the adult cows, about 25 per cent should be dry, 25 per cent in advance
lactation, 25 per cent in peak production period and another 25 per cent in fresh
lactation at any time of the year.
The replacement of livestock is more economical by raising heifers on the farm
rather than purchasing adult animal in milk every time.

A finally established herd of 50 cows and buffaloes with followers will have 35-40 in
milk, 10-15 dry and pregnant, 20-25 pregnant or breeding heifers, 3540 calves of
different age, one cow bull and one buffalo bull.

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 II. Animal Sheds and Space Requirements

Animals in India are kept normally in the loose housing which are cheaper to construct, less
labor oriented and easy to modify. These consist of an open loafing area with covered shelter
on one side. Common feeding through is provided in the covered area while watering trough
in the open area. In case, running water channel is provided it may be made alongside the
feeding manger in full length of the barn. The space requirements per animal for various
categories are given in the below table.

Category of Covered Area Open Area Feeding Water trough (ml)

Animals (sq mt) (sq mt) manger length Radius Depth
(mt)
Adult cows/bull 8 16 1.0 2.0 0.5
Heifers 5 12 0.8 1.5 0.4
9-12 months 4 9 0.7 1.0 0.3
6-9 months 2 6 0.5 1.0 0.2
Young Calves 1 4 0.4 0.8 0.2

Water trough may be circular (centrally located in the shed) or semi-circular (on the
union wall of two sheds).

Certain requirements of hygienic animal houses are as follows:

1. Floor should be hard, impervious to water, non-slippery and easy to clean, with a
slope of 3cm in 3m length.
2. Floor of covered area should be a little above the open area with slope towards
drain
3. Open drains should be located near the junction of covered and open area
Drain should be 0.6 m wide with a 7 in 25 cm slope from covered area and 15 cm
deep and 15-18 cm wide drain channel towards open paddock.
4. Manger width - 0.9 m, height of rear wall 0.8 m and front wall 0.4 m. and tops of
the manger walls should be arched.
5. The height and width of the shed walls should be 1.5 m and 0.3 m.
6. Shed design should be such that it permits sufficient light without glare.
7. To allow proper ventilation, sufficient arrangement to permit inflow of fresh air.
8. For sanitation of shed, ensure good slope for drainage of dung slurry with
minimum labor.
9. Gates should be hinged and generally double barred with 1.5 m height and width
both and resting flat on side wall.
10. Each entrance should be provided with a 2.5 cm depth footbath with soaked mat.
11. Central road should be 2.4 m and side roads 1.5 m wide.

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 12. Asbestos roof of the shed with slope from covered to open area side with height
3.6m and 2.4 m, respectively, and falls of 0.6 m beyond walls

III. General Management

Preliminaries

The dam number tattooed on the inner side of the left ear should identify each animal at
birth. Final identification marketing of the individuals own number should be done at
6-9 month of age by hot iron branding on the hindquarters of the animal. Plastic ear tags
with engraved number may also be used for identification. Branding should not be done
during rainy season and care should be taken to prevent injuries to be inflicted by birds or
flies. Dehorning of calves should be done between 5-15 days of age using electric dehorner
by burning horn core at the poll region.
Casting or throwing the animal on the ground for branding, treatment etc. should be
done on sandy, grassy or kuccha ground. Simple restrain of the animal for other operations
may be done by using cattle crush or milkman's rope or tie the animal with a straight jacket.

Health, hygiene and Sanitation

For health maintenance, some of the essential features are:

General measures of health and hygiene like daily critical observation of all animals
both in the morning and evening. Isolation of sick animals, maintaining good
sanitation and hygienic conditions throughout.
Seeking Vet's advice for treatment at an early stage of disease condition.
Seeking Vet's advice promptly to prevent spread of epidemics.
Strict vigilance for cases of sore feet, milk fever, mastitis, bloat, impaction, etc.
Follow good sanitation and disinfestation programs.
Ensure proper health and hygiene of herdsmen, too.
Thoroughly clean the housing, mangers and water troughs which is most essential to
keep healthy herds and avoid occurrence of diseases.
Follow the vaccination schedule strictly for calves.
Keep the calves free from parasites (ecto, endo) and epidemics.

Prenatal management

Isolate the advance pregnant cows in calving pens and ensure protection from extreme
weather conditions. Keep parturient cows in hygienic environment to avoid incidence
of infections.

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 Provide 1 kg extra concentrate feed per day for a fortnight before expected calving,
incorporating enough minerals by including bone meal and large dose of Vitamin D to
avoid milk fever after calving.
Watch for the parturition signs and provide care during parturition. Keep the animal
under observation during 2-4 hours of labour pains and look for normal posture of
foetus during parturition. Provide expert help in case of any difficulty.
Normally the placenta is discharged in 5-8 hours after calving. Dispose of the placenta
by burying in ground and clean cow's body with warm water. Feed moistened bran
with molasses or Gur.
At first milking of cow, ensure to clear blockages of teats and dispose of first few
striping of milk from each teat. The cow may be milked three times a day until the
inflammation of the udder disappears.
Provide succulent, legume, green and palatable fodders. Provide 1 kg additional feed,
incrementing based on increase in milk production until the full production is
attained.

Calf Management

Keep the calf under observation immediately after birth, ensure initiation of normal
breathing, provide artificial breathing if required and clean the mucus from mouth and
nostrils of calf.
Dam should be allowed to lick it to dry.
Provide assistance to clean and dry the body of calf and any help till it stands upright
on four legs and starts moving.
Cut the naval chord at 5 cm from body, with sterilized scissor or blade and dis
infect by applying tincture iodine .
Ensure the passing out of meconium (first faecal material).
Feed colostrum after birth within one hour, after properly cleaning the udder and
teats of the cow. This is essential to make available maximum antibodies for proper
development of immune system of the calf.
Let the calf suckle the dam 3-4 times during first 24 hours to ensure that calf has
consumed 2-3 kg of milk in a day so that sufficient quantity of antibodies are
absorbed. Suckling of colostrums 2-3 times a day be continued for 4-5 days.
Calf may be allowed to suckle the dam during the whole lactation or it may be
weaned and fed artificially keeping away from the dam. Feed 2-4 kg milk per day
increasing gradually (about 1/10'h of the body weight) up to 5 weeks. Subsequently,
feed this quantity of milk less 1, 2 and 3 kg in 6th, 7th and 8th week, respectively, so
that the calf is completely dried off from milk consumption at 2 months of age.
Milk replacer is a cheaper substitute for milk and provides nutritional needs of calf at
critical stage. It has to meet the requirements of non-ruminant calf (Le. rumen is not

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 functioning It is desirable that milk replacer contains dried butter milk, SMp, dried
whey, etc together with fishmeal and Vit A,D,E Powder given at the rate of 0.45 kg
per day in 3 litres of water Le. mixture to have 14 per cent solids. If this is costly then
the milk replacer may have: Wheatflour 10 per cent; Fishmeal12 per cent; Linseed
meal 40 per cent; SMP 13 per cent; Coconut oil 7 per cent; Linseed oil 3 per cent;
Citric acid 1.5 per cent; Molasses 10 per cent; Mineral mixture 3 per cent; Butyric
acid 0.3 per cent, Antibiotics 0.2 per cent; Rovimix ABD 0.125 per cent. Milk re-
placer is discontinued at 2 months age.
Feeding of milk plus milk replacer may be followed by calf starter-succulent fodder.
This feed may be fed @ 1.5 kg per day from third to sixth month and two kg per day
from sixth to ninth month to achieve growth rate of 700 grams per day in body-
weight.
Follow the vaccination schedule and instructions and treat for diarrhoea and
pneumonia with the help of local veterinarian.

Heifers, dry cows and breeding bulls/bullocks management

Various tips for feeding are:

Total dry matter feeding @ 3 kg/100 kg body weight, one-third of which to be met
from concentrate feed and remaining two-thirds from good quality green and dry
fodders in a proportion of 2:1.
Ideal feed and fodder requirements based on weight and age group are given in below
Table
Quantity of concentrate feed as given in Table can be reduced by 1 kg per day in case
of dry non-pregnant cows only, without reducing the quantity of fodder. A suitable
concentrate feed may have grains, cakes, and brans of 40, 35 and 22 percent,
supplemented with 1 and 2 per cent of mineral mixture and common salt respectively.
Working bullocks and breeding bulls can also be fed according to above schedule

Age Groups 9-15 months 16-21 months 22-27 months Above 27 months
Body wt (kg) 175 200 225 250 275 300 350 400
above
Green fodder 20 25 28 30 32 35 45 50
Concentrate 2.00 2.25 2.50 2.75 3.00 3.25 3.50 4.00
Dry Fodder 2.0 2.5 2.8 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.5

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Management of Lactating Cows and milking function

This is the major function that needs to be looked after very carefully observing all
hygienic and technical precautions. The following pre-requisites are important:
Proper cleanliness of milking barn at least 2 hours before milking, so that water is
fully drained off, followed by sprinkle of sanitizer.
Insecticide killing equipment may be installed at suitable places.
Grooming of cattle during winter or washing of cows and buffaloes before
milking.
Udder is thoroughly washed and wiped with cloth dipped in sanitizing solution,
before milking and after suckling by calf. Before milking, the milkman should
wash his hands in the same solution. Hands should be completely dry at the time
of milking
Milking can be done by using milking machines.
Utensils or bucket of milking machine used in milking should be seamless. These
should be washed before and after milking with hot water, followed by mild
detergent solution and finally with clean water.
Suckling is the best letdown mechanism, but gentle massage of udder and teats
and concentrate feeding before milking will stimulate letdown.
Gentle, proper and full hand milking must be completed in 5-7 minutes from
letdown time. Strip out the last milk from each teat.
Ensure that there is no dust, noise or disturbance around milking area.
Use of milking machine should be as per the directions of the machine supplier.
Cows lactating up to 5 kg milk should be provided with ration according to age /
weight group given above. In addition to that, concentrate feed fortified with
protein-rich ingredients @ 1 kg per additional 2.5 kg of milk per day (200 gm per
1h kg milk per day) should be provided. This quantity should be increased or
decreased with increase or decrease of milk production over whole of the
lactation.
Ensure proper treatment of cows with inflammation or injury of udder or teats, no
letdown, producing red or clotted milk, etc.

Marketing:

This is the most crucial aspect of commercial dairy farming due to perishable nature of
milk. Different modes of milk marketing are - dairy cooperative, private entrepreneur or
contractor and milk vendor.
Dairy cooperatives ensure farmer's participation at village, cluster and district level
set-up of dairy co-operative, with a linkage between village collection centre, chilling
centre and milk plant. The milk is collected at the village collection centre, from where it

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is lifted by the chilling centres en route to the milk plant. It is an assured market with
regular payment at short intervals. Eg. Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation
(AMUL), Andhra Pradesh Dairy Development Co-operative federation Ltd. (VIJAYA)
Private entrepreneurs / contractors with their establishment in large towns and cities
manage to lift milk from cluster of dairy farms / farmers for selling or processing of
milk. They offer competitive rates variable from season to season but payments may be
irregular and in lump sum.
Milk-vendor is a convenient mode for selling small quantities of milk, although
with some amount of uncertainty on quality.
Dispensing through vending machine may be an another option provided quality is
protected by proper vigilance.

General Feeding Management:

Feed fresh, easily digestible, palatable, succulent, quite appetizing and variety of
feed and fodders.
Feed at regular intervals during the day.
Avoid sudden changes by gradual replacement of ingredients in ration
Iingredients like silage or dusty material like hay may be fed after milking so that
flavour or microbial quality of milk is not adversely affected.
During abundant availability of green forages, replace them @ 12 kg/lkg
concentrate feed. But ensure constant supply of dry fodder in order to avoid bloat.
Surplus green fodder may also be stored as silage or hay for utilization during
lean season.
During lean seasons (when enough green fodders are not available) requirement
may be met by replacing with silage equal to half of hay / dry fodder or one-
fourth of the quantity of green fodder.
During scarcity or being economical in feeding, the items like urea-molasses,
uromin licks, poultry droppings, treated straws etc or as directed by the nutrition
experts.
Be economical in feeding and feed formulation. Avoid over-feeding of con-
centrate feed as far as possible.
Ensure plentiful supply of clean drinking water throughout the day or at least 3-4
times a day.
Concentrate feed should be a mixture of energy-rich items like grains/ bran and
protein-rich ingredients preferably oilseed cakes, properly crushed and mixed or
soaked / boiled in water.
Schedule for growing green fodders for the farmers holding cultivable land is
given in Table A and composition of some concentrate mixtures is given in Table
B

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 Table A

Region July-October November-April May-June

Northern Napier Napier + Lucerne
Napier + Lucerne
Sorghum Berseem + Mustard
Sudangrass
Bajra/Jowar Lucerne Oat
Lucerne
Cowpea Early Maize
Central & Western Napier/Para grass Napier/para+ Napier/para +
Maize + Cowpea Lucerne Lucerne
Jowar/Bajra Jowar + Cowpea Cowpea + Maize
Lucerne Lucerne
Eastern Napier Napier + Berseem Napier + Berseem
Maize Dinagrass + Berseem
Cowpea Berseem Oats
Jowar Cowpea Oats + Bajra
Oats
Southern Napier/Para grass Napier/Para + Napier/Para+
Jowar+Cowpea Cowpea MaizeSudan/Guinea
Bajra/Jowar Cowpea+Maize grass
Cowpea Early Maize+ Oats

Table B:
Ingredient %
Groundnut Cake 20
Cotton Seed 25
Wheat/Barley 30
Rice Polish 22
Min-Mix + Salt 3
Mustard Cake 35
Barley Grain 32
Wheat Bran 20
Rice Polish 10
Min-Mix + Salt 3
Groundnut Cake 25
Barley grain 32
Pulse Churi 15
Wheat bran 25
Min-Mix + Salt 3

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 IV. Reproduction Management

For maintaining high level of reproductive efficiency and increasing life time production,
a cross bred sow and a buffalo must mature sexually by 2 and 3 years and produce first
calf earliest by 3 and 4 years, respectively.
While inseminating a heifer for the first time, ensure that it has attained a
body weight of 230-250 kg. in case this weigh is attained by 18 months of age, missing
one r two heats before first insemination would be desirable.
A post-calving reproductive rest of 50 to 70 days is provided before
inseminating the cow for next conception. Subsequent to producing a normal lactation of
300 to 320 days and an average dry period of 60 to 90 days, a dairy animal should
deliver a healthy calf every 12 to 15 months.

Heat Detection:

Detection or observance of heat symptoms at least for half an hour is carried out twice
daily at dawn and dusk time. In absence of detection by bull, some of the following signs
may be observed:
Cow may mount other cows or may be mounted by others.
Cow may twitch its tail frequently and often raise it.
The vulva may be slightly red and swollen
Clear mucous secretion may come out of vulva.
Frequent urination, restlessness and bellowing.
Decline in milk production and loss of appetite.
In buffaloes silent heat, particularly in summers is a potential problem and they shall
be critically observed in the mornings. Measures to protect them from hot winds may
be ensured. If allowing the buffaloes to go to the ponds is not possible then, it is
recommended to splash water on them 3-4 times daily.

Nutrition:

Nutrition also plays an important role and therefore, it is very important to provide a
balanced, palatable and energy-protein rich diet specially during first three months of
lactation, which is the peak production period and entering point for subsequent reproduction.
Mineral deficiencies may be overcome by including 2% and 1 % mineral mixture and
common salt respectively in the concentrate feed and providing mineral licks.
To overcome the vitamin deficiency, supplement feed with vitamin A, E and B12 rich
substances.

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 Area-specific deficiencies of minerals like copper, magnesium, iron, zinc, selenium, etc.
may be overcome by providing desired supplements on recommendation of nutrition experts.

Insemination
Ensure that cows and buffaloes do not get served by the scrub bulls, but get artifi-
cially inseminated (AI) by expert inseminator with good quality semen of genetically
meritorious bulls. The facilities available from government or private agencies can be
utilized. Otherwise, it will be better to keep one meritorious cow /buffalo bull along with a
herd of 50 adult animals with followers. For maintaining the reproductive health of the
breeding bulls it is essential to provide them regular exercise, higher profile of feeding and
get them screened for contagious diseases. The breeding bulls should be replaced every 56
years to avoid inbreeding. It would be better to replace the bull by exchange or purchase from
different herd preferably institutional, rather than the farm born one.

Pregnancy diagnosis and calving expectancy

If a cow does not exhibit estrus two months after the insemination/ service, get it
verified for expected pregnancy by an expert. It will help in planning the management of
pregnant animals during advance stage of pregnancy, in prediction of milk production at a
particular time of the year and sale / purchase of cows.
With detection of non-pregnancy of cow, watching for next heat, treating for
reproductive problem, if any, and to plan the culling and herd replacement would be possible.

Reproductive health care

Delayed -onset of puberty, silent estrus, prolonged period between consecutive

estrous cycles, anoestrus, reduced fertility and poor conception rate are several
conditions that affect the reproductive efficiency adversely.
In addition to the points mentioned above, better management and good
hygienic conditions at the time of insemination and calving be ensured. Treatment and
follow up by an expert for the cases of dystocia, still birth, abortion, retention of
placenta, cervicitis, metritis and repeat breeding must be ensured.
Cows detected for infectious venereal diseases may be immediately culled
or disposed of as advised by the experts.

V. Breeding Management

Breeding of cows and buffaloes of indigenous breeds should be restricted to the

breed without any sort of crossbreeding.

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 Breeding of crossbred cows should be carried out in such a way that exotic
inheritance is maintained from 50 to 65%, by oscillating the bulls with different
exotic inheritance.
Selection of replacement stock should be based on faster growth rate, lower age
at sexual maturity f first calving, higher dam yield, persistent higher milk
production, higher feed and reproduction efficiency and better adaptability and
disease resistance.
Depending upon the scope of culling, the cows lower than the herd average
should be culled. The cows with extremely low milk production in first lactation
should be culled.
Herd recording: Maintaining records of purchase of animals, machinery and
equipment, feed and fodder, medicines and treatment cost and payment of in-
terest and loans is essential to keep an account of expenditure. Recording the
components of output in terms of milk production, calving, growth, reproduction,
and sale f disposal of animals provides important information on the economic
status of the herd and helps in planning the breeding strategy for genetic
improvement. Day-to-day records should be maintained in daily diary and
transferred in activity-wise registers and animal-wise lifetime history sheets.
Computerization of the data is preferred.

VI. Economics of Dairy Farming Units

A comprehensive integrated farming with other components like other livestock (pigs,
sheep, goats), poultry, aquaculture, sericulture, bee keeping, crops and horticulture is
also effective for sustainable economy. To obtain best fish production, the ponds should
be fertilized with raw cow and biogas slurry. in addition to some inorganic fertilizers.
Source:
Dairy India 2007
Published by Dairy India Year Book,
A-25, Priyadarshini Vihar,
New Delhi-110092
India
Emali:dairyindia@gmail.com
Ph: +91-11-225543326

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