Dairy Cattle Husbandry

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the course, the participants are expected to:

•have been introduced to the correct and proper

husbandry procedures on breeding, feeds and feeding
and animal health;
•have discussed first-hand experiences on dairy animal
management;
•have undertaken hands-on milking of dairy cattle;
•have secured an illustration of recommended animal
housing;
•have understood the importance of hygiene and
sanitation in every step of the dairy process and of
record-keeping; and
•have become familiar with the economics of dairying.
 Definition of Terms
🞇 Dairy a building, room, or establishment for the storage, processing, and
distribution of milk and milk products.; containing or made from milk.
🞇 Husbandry the management and care of farm animals by humans, in
which genetic qualities and behavior, considered to be advantageous to
humans, are further developed.
🞇 Dam/Cow a female that has produced a calf
🞇 Bull a sexually mature uncastrated bovine male.
🞇 Sire a male parent of an animal
🞇 Heifer a female that has not produced a calf
🞇 Calf/calves a young cattle (less than 1 year) of either sex
🞇 Weanling young cattle generally aging 6-8 months
🞇 Yearling a cattle of either sex that is 1 year of age
🞇 Breedable heifer a female cattle that is of breedable age 15-18 months
🞇 Pregnant Heifer also called first calf cow, a female adult cattle that is
pregnant for the first time
Definition of Terms
🞇 Herd a group of animals (especially cattle), collectively
considered as a unit.
🞇 Heat period that period of time when a female will accept a
male in the act of mating. Also called in heat or estrus.
🞇 Calving the process of giving birth to a calf
 Breeds of Cattle and their Characteristics
🞇Classification: Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus

* Beef productions:
Body size, milking potential, age at puberty, hot climate
adoptability, fleshing ability, muscle expression, cutability,
and marbling.
* Dairy productions:
Body size, milk potential (maximum average milk
production), short calving interval, resistant to dss., and
adoptability to hot climate.
Breeds and Selection
COMMON DAIRY BREEDS in the Philippines

JERSEY HOLSTEIN

SAHIWAL
 JERSEY

BREED SAHIWAL HOLSTEIN JERSEY

ORIGIN PAKISTAN HOLLAND FRANCE

SIZE 300-350 kg 450-500 kg 350-400 kg

MILK YIELD ~8-10 liters/day ~30-50 liters/day ~20 liters/day

RESISTANCE Parasite and Prone to Parasite Susceptible to milk

Heat Resistant Infection and Heat fever and tick
Stress borne diseases
SELECTION OF COWS

What to look for:

CONFORMATION TRAITS
- these traits give a good indication of the performance of the dairy
animal and include the udder structure, nature of feet or legs, stature and
general dairy character.

-The udder should be pliable, silky in texture,

sack-like in nature and non-pendulous

-huge udder is not necessarily a sign of a

high milk yield, in fact, it is recommended that
one should choose a cow with a medium-sized
(but wide base) udder that should not hang
below its hock joint

- teats should be average-sized and evenly

placed and oriented (pointing straight down) on
the udder
- Good feet and strong legs lead to longevity of a
dairy cow and facilitates it to be able to feed
comfortably especially when in-calf
- a cow’s hind legs should stand straight and wide apart
while the side view should show a slightly set back
hock (sickled) ending with slightly angled feet. The front
legs should also be straight with a steep strongly
attached pastern.

-cow’s stature should portray a deep, long body with

wide, sprung ribs to provide ample space for the rumen
and other digestive system organs.
- have a wedge shape, long neck, good width between fore
legs, wide pin bones, broad muzzle and strong straight
backline.The classic dairy character is indicated by
sharpness across shoulders and slight general leanness
all over the body ending with a thin fine tail
Fertility Traits

it is important to choose animals with (or from a

family renown for) a good conception rate since
difficult or repeat breeders are expensive to
maintain and cause immense losses.
-will enable a farmer to target a calving interval
of one calf annually per cow.
- fewer the inseminations per conception, the
better the fertility of a particular animal.
Longevity traits
This determines the amount of total lifetime
milk production of a cow but it is usually
influenced greatly by other traits such as health
and fertility.
Choose heifers from families with a history of
cows that can maintain high production
ability across many lactations as well as
have as many normal calvings possible in
their lifetimes.
Health traits
As much as disease-prevention and control
measures are important in ensuring sustained
productivity, some emphasis should be laid on
choosing disease-resistant and hardy animals
to remain in production for long.
In harsh climate areas with a higher prevalence
of tropical diseases, it may be wiser to
undertake crossbreeding between exotic dairy
breeds and indigenous lines since in such
conditions, hybrid animals normally perform
Calving Ease Traits better than purebreds

Physical traits that facilitate easy calving include a

wide pelvic diameter (observed from behind) and
a gentle slope from pin to hip bone (observed from
the side). A cow’s body frame should portray a
strong straight back or loin, which is essential
during gestation in enabling the animal to
comfortably feed as well as carry its foetus to term.
Workability

to choose animals with the right teat size,

shape and opening (position and orifice size).
Bad temperament interferes with oxytocin flow
during milking, thus, one should likewise
consider docility when choosing a dairy
animal.

BULL SELECTION

For a bull, strong feet and legs enable it

to mount successfully though in dairy
animals
 14

• A method of
grading the body
Body condition of an
Cond- animal from BCS 1
to BCS 5.
ition • The BCS reflects the

Scoring amount of fat

covering the body of
the animal.
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BCS 1: Too Thin

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BCS 2: Thin
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BCS 3: Moderate
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BCS 4: Fat
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BCS 5: Too Fat
Why Do BCS?

• Identifying cows that are too fat or too thin then applying
the appropriate steps to change their condition helps in
treating diseases, increase milk production, and improve
breeding performance.

• It is crucial to identify as early as possible cows

that are thin so that the right steps could be done
like treatment or change in the feeding regimen
before the situation worsens.
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The Importance of Body Condition

Scoring
Four Important Stages
in the Life of a Cow:
• Pre-Calving
• Calving
• Start of Milking
•Breeding
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Four Important Stages in the Life of a Cow

Pre-Calving

Calving

Start of Milking

Breeding
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At Pre-Calving Stage
▪Emaciated cows a
few weeks into
calving results in
weak and sickly
calves, low milk ▪Too fat cows
yield, anestrous, results in milk
and even death. fever, mastitis,
limping, and
anestrous.
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▪Emaciated At Calving Stage

cows may
suffer
prolapse,
downing ▪Too fat
(DCS) , and cows may
death. suffer
dystocia.
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▪At start of milking, At Start of Milking

the cow is in a
condition of low
nutrition, so proper
feeding is needed to
prevent fast loss of
weight and
emaciation.
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At Breeding
▪Emaciated
cows are
difficult to
impregnate.
The Right BCS
Prior to Calving 3.5- 4.0
During Calving 3.5- 4.0
Start of Milking 3.0
Breeding 3.0
Mid-Lactation 3.0
End of Lactation 3.0- 3.5
Thank you for listening!!!