Personnel Management | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional for UPSC PDF Download

Personnel Management in Dairy Farms

• Complexity of Human Management:
  • Managing people is more intricate than handling machines or animals.
  • Keeping personnel content is crucial in any industry, especially in a dairy farm.
• Critical Nature of Dairy Operations:
  • Unlike other industries, dairy farms cannot afford interruptions, as cows need continuous care and milking.
  • Cows cannot go without food or milking even for a day, as it leads to health issues like mastitis and economic losses.
• Devotion to Animal Care:
  • Dairy farm personnel must be devoted and attentive to the animals, noticing any unusual behavior.
  • Recognizing signs of sickness is crucial for timely intervention, preventing losses in milk yield and potential harm to the animals.
• Impact on Milk Yield:
  • Different personnel may elicit varied responses from healthy animals, affecting their daily behavior and milk production.
  • Employee loyalty is essential, as any negligence can reflect in the animals' conditions and the quantity/quality of milk.
• Responsibilities of Dairy Workers:
  • Workers must be active, sincere, and faithful in their duties.
  • Negligence in feeding animals can lead to reduced milk yield due to underfeeding or wastage due to overfeeding.
• Handling Employee Mistakes:
  • Mistakes can be deliberate or inadvertent, impacting feed management and animal care.
  • Identifying and addressing errors promptly is essential for maintaining the health and productivity of the dairy herd.

Effective Personnel Management in Dairy Farms

• Challenges in Personnel Management:
  • Recruiting and managing personnel in a dairy farm is a challenging task.
  • While trained personnel can be hired at higher levels, training and employing individuals at all levels are often necessary.
• Necessity of Training:
  • Training personnel is crucial, and often, on-the-job training is employed.
  • Those managing personnel must be comprehensively trained to handle various tasks on the farm.
• Versatility in Skills:
  • Managers should be capable of performing any farm task themselves, ensuring effective supervision in the absence of skilled or unskilled workers.
  • For example, a dairy manager should know how to milk a cow to assess proper milking techniques and prevent milk loss.
• Efficiency in Work Hours:
  • Although specified work hours exist, working on a livestock farm is essentially a 24-hour commitment.
  • Personnel may be required at any time to address issues such as calving, sickness, or injuries in animals.
• Teamwork for Success:
  • Success in dairy farming requires teamwork between employers/organization and employees.
  • Both parties need to collaborate effectively to ensure the well-being of the animals and the overall success of the dairy farm.

Effective Employee Management in Dairy Farms

• Employee Cooperation for Success:
  • The success of a dairy farm relies on the full cooperation of its employees.
  • Employee contentment and happiness play a crucial role in ensuring their wholehearted involvement in the work.
• Incentives and Fair Remuneration:
  • Offering employees a share in profits, such as bonuses, serves as an incentive for dedicated work.
  • Fair remuneration, including pay and additional benefits, contributes to employee satisfaction.
• Health and Medical Care:
  • Employers should prioritize the health of employees and their families, providing consistent medical aid.
  • Ensuring proper medical care reduces absenteeism and contributes to the production of high-quality, uncontaminated milk.
• Discipline and Recognition:
  • Discipline is essential for punctuality and other aspects, but employers should recognize and appreciate extra efforts, especially during out-of-office hours in tending to animals.
• Mutual Welfare Concerns:
  • Employers should genuinely care about the welfare of their employees.
  • Reciprocal loyalty is expected from employees, who should understand that the growth or decline of the organization impacts their own growth.
• Balancing Art and Science:
  • Personnel management in a dairy farm involves a mix of law, custom, science, and psychology.
  • It requires a humane approach, recognizing the unique dynamics of managing people dealing with animals rather than machinery.