Organisation of a Dairy Farm | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional for UPSC PDF Download

Management of Animals

Housing

• Importance of proper shelter for cows and buffaloes.
• Protection from sun, rain, and adverse weather conditions.
• Simple, high-roof buildings with pillars, suitable for the tropical climate in India.
• Use of locally available materials for cost-effectiveness.
• Adequate water provision for drinking and cleaning.
• Ensure proper drainage for dung and urine.

Feeding

• Critical role in the success of dairy farming.
• Balanced and nutritious diet for optimal health and milk production.
• Consideration of local availability of fodder and cost-effectiveness.
• Focus on feeding practices for different categories of animals.

Breeding

• Importance of strategic breeding practices for good milk production.
• Consideration of cross-breeding and selection of suitable breeds.
• Monitoring conception and ensuring healthy breeding stock.

Disease Control

• Vital aspect to maintain animal health and overall productivity.
• Periodical vaccinations and preventive measures.
• Detection, testing, and treatment of diseases.
• Proper record-keeping for breeding and health management.

Management of Labour

• Efficient use of labor resources.
• Minimizing labor costs for economic dairy farming.
• Utilizing family labor and hiring additional help during peak periods.
• Emphasizing the importance of a skilled and well-trained workforce.

Management of Equipment

• Proper maintenance and utilization of farm equipment.
• Investment in essential machinery for efficient operations.
• Regular checks and repairs to ensure longevity and functionality.
• Cost-effective practices in equipment management.

Management of Milk and Milk Products

• Handling and processing milk for quality and safety.
• Consideration of storage and transportation requirements.
• Potential diversification into milk-based products.
• Adherence to hygiene standards and regulations.

Record Keeping

• Importance of maintaining accurate and detailed records.
• Records for animal health, breeding, milk production, and financial transactions.
• Utilizing technology for streamlined record-keeping.
• Facilitating informed decision-making and future planning.

Feeding

• Optimal feeding practices are crucial for economic dairy farming.
• Farm should cultivate its fodder to ensure cost-effectiveness.
• Balanced rations for different animal classes: young stock, milch, pregnant, and dry stock.
• Milch animals fed based on yield, emphasizing green fodder.
• High yielders may receive additional concentrate feed.
• Agricultural operations should supply fodder consistently throughout the year.
• Preservation of fodder as hay and silage for periods of scarcity.

Breeding

• Establishing a robust breeding program to avoid missed heat periods.
• Identifying and treating animals with breeding challenges.
• Periodic culling of old and unproductive animals.
• Ensuring a steady supply of milk by maintaining two-thirds of cows in milk consistently.

Disease Control

• Regular prophylactic vaccinations against prevalent diseases.
• Timely treatment of diseases when they occur.
• Periodic culling of old and unproductive animals.

Care and Management of Stock

• Importance of maintaining replacement stock from within the farm.
• Female calves raised to serve as future replacement stock.
• Ensuring proper care from birth until the calf becomes a productive cow.
• Holistic care and maintenance of cows of all ages.

Labour

• Efficient organization of labor is challenging due to its increasing cost and scarcity.
• Minimizing reliance on hired labor, using it mainly for specific tasks.
• Providing necessary facilities and fair treatment for permanent labor.
• Emphasizing mechanization to reduce manual labor, as seen in successful dairy operations globally.

Equipment

• Small dairies may have fewer equipments like milking pails and milk cans.
• Larger dairies may invest in more sophisticated machinery like chilling plants, pasteurization plants, tractors, trailers, and harvesters.
• Ensuring proper maintenance of equipment for smooth dairy and agricultural operations.
• Mechanization helps in reducing manual labor and increasing efficiency.

Milk and Milk Products

• Dairy profitability is influenced by milk disposal methods.
• Fluid milk yields higher returns compared to milk products.
• Selling in urban areas is more lucrative than rural areas.
• Proper transportation is vital for distant sales.
• Ensuring milk is pasteurized and served correctly for longer shelf life.
• Consider various factors when deciding whether to sell milk directly or as products.

Record-keeping

• Crucial for understanding the dairy's actual status and planning effectively.
• Covers all aspects: feeding, breeding, and overall management.
• Aids in timely breeding, providing balanced rations based on milk yield, and assessing individual cows' milk production.
• Enables tracking profit and loss, ensuring the farm is well-organized.

Organizing a Dairy Farm

• Essential to have knowledge in:
• Caring for different classes of dairy animals.
• Breeding and managing diverse dairy stock.
• Understanding nutritional requirements for both adult and young stock.
• Maintaining machinery and equipment.
• Cultivating various forages and crops for cattle.
• Awareness of common contagious diseases and preventive measures.
• Implementing effective record-keeping in a dairy farm.
• Managing labor efficiently.

Key Points

• Proper milk handling and sales strategy impact profitability.
• Record-keeping aids in planning and assessing the dairy's performance.
• Diverse knowledge is essential for successfully organizing and managing a dairy farm.