19 Key Rules for Effective Dairy Farm Management: From Planning to Reduce Production Cost

Dairy farming is raising dairy animals like cows, goats, buffaloes, donkeys, and other livestock and using their milk for human consumption. Therefore, proper planning and below key rules make more profit in dairy farming. 

Key Rules for Effective Dairy Farm Management
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Key rules for effective dairy farm management

Effective objectives of dairy farm management

  • Effective livestock management can play an essential role in improving household livelihoods. The effectiveness of management practices largely determines success in dairy production. 
  • The production systems of dairy farmers worldwide must be able to combine profitability with responsibility for protecting human health, animal health, animal welfare, and the environment. 
  • The primary role of dairy farmers is to ensure that good agricultural, hygienic, and animal husbandry practices are applied at the farm level.  
  • Good dairy farming practices make milk and milk products safe and fit for their intended use. 

Tips for effective dairy farming 

Among all animal products, milk is the healthiest food. It contains essential nutrients for the human body in proper proportions, easily digestible. Adding milk to the human diet also increases the digestibility of other types of food. The Milk production capacity differs from country to country; some countries are excess in production, some are in deficit, and some countries’ availability is according to their needs. 

Key rules for effective dairy housing management

Well-planned and adequate housing of dairy animals is an essential component of effective livestock management. Important considerations include comfortable and sustainable housing for individual animals throughout the year, adequate sanitation, and arrangements for clean milk production within parameters of economic feasibility. In addition, a dairy house is required to protect the cattle from adverse weather conditions. It should include cow sheds, calving boxes, isolation-cum-quarantine boxes, and sheds for young stock.

Good Housing + Good Management = More Milk 

An important and often overlooked issue that is a significant challenge for most dairy farms today is maintaining cow comfort. There are a variety of environmental stresses that must be taken into account in dairy farm management, and these have a direct impact on cow production levels. Some of these stressors are heat stress, poor ventilation, improper stall/feed bunk design, and inadequate access to water.

Such conditions are stressful for cows and greatly affect their physiology and productivity. Many aspects of farm management, such as feeding, breeding, quality milk production, disease control, ease of handling of manure, division of household labor and workload, etc., have always depended on the farmer’s accommodation for dairy animals. 

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Dairy Cow Feeding
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Good management practices for successful dairy farming 

  • Selecting high-yielding and disease-resistant breeds. 
  • Good environmental conditions include adequate ventilation, temperature, light, water, air, and well-drained housing. 
  • They are fed on a balanced ration. 
  • Regular visits to veterinary doctors. 
  • Regular inspection and record keeping. 
  • Cleanliness and hygiene during milking and transportation. 

Farming rules to earn extra money in dairy farming

Production of milk on dairy farms and processing of milk and milk products in dairy plants constitute the dairy industry. Dairy farming is only for those who are passionate about it. Dairy farming takes time and a lot of patience to be successful. Dairy farming is now a profitable business. Most of the youth in the country are behind dairy farming. It is mainly due to the profit margin in cow dairy farming.

One says that the profitability of cow dairy is exciting many people. Apart from this, the opportunities for this business are also very high recently. Not only this, the government at the state and central levels is helping with loans and subsidies for dairy farmers. So many people are showing great interest in starting this cow dairy farming business. Proper management of dairy animals should be done to provide good quality and quantity of milk. Some essential points required for the management of dairy farms are given below:-

  • Selection of good breed of animals with high production potential. It should be disease resistant. 
  • The quality and quantity of fodder should be checked thoroughly. 
  • Proper hygiene and cleanliness should be maintained. 
  • Regular health checkups of animals should be done. 
  • Milk production, marketing, and distribution play an important role in dairy management. 

Key rules for selecting dairy breeds for good management

Breed characteristics of high-yielding dairy cows
  • It should have bright eyes with a lean neck. The udder must be well attached to the abdomen. The skin of the udder has a good network of blood vessels. All four quarters of the udder must be well marked with well-placed teats. 
  • To choose the right breed, start by finding your needs and limitations, such as your budget and how you will use the cow (and milk). Next, spend some time learning about dairy breeds like Holsteins and Jerseys. Ultimately, you can choose the best dairy cow for you with care. 
Selection of breeds for commercial dairy farm

Proper selection is the first and most crucial step in dairying. Under Indian conditions, a commercial dairy farm should have at least 20 animals – about ten cows and ten buffaloes. You can then easily increase the strength to 100 animals in a ratio of 50:50 or 40:60. But then, you need to assess your strength and market potential before opting for expansion. The best breeds are:

  • Holstein
  • Jersey   
  • Brown Swiss 
  • Ayrshire
  • Milking Shorthorn
  • Friesian
  • Girolando
  • Guernsey
  • Illawarra
  • Irish Moiled
  • Kerry
  • Lineback
  • Meuse Rhine Issel
  • Milking Devon
  • Montbéliarde
  • Normande
  • Norwegian Red
  • Randall
  • Sahiwal

Key rules for selecting dairy cow breeds for commercial farm 

Good quality dairy cows are available in the market, and their daily milk production costs around Rs 2500 to 3000 per liter. (For example, the price of a cow producing 10 liters of milk per day will be between Rs. 25000 to 30000). If properly cared for, the cow regularly gives birth to a calf at an interval of 13-14 months. They are more docile and easily handled. Good milking breeds (Holstein and Jersey cross) are well adapted to the Indian climate. The fat content of cow’s milk ranges from 3-5.5% and is less than that of buffaloes. 

Effective tips for dairy farm shed design 

The ideal dairy barn depends on the area, especially the climate. Dry composting can work well in a dry area, as it provides plenty of space and is inexpensive to set up. However, rain produces mud which significantly increases the risk of disease. Compost barns consist of sawdust or other bedding material in a large shed. A compost barn can be a comfortable and inexpensive design if you have enough affordable bedding material. 

Building a free stall warehouse is more expensive but offers some advantages. Free stall barns have individual cubicles on the sides with a wide open space in the middle. Cows can enter the stalls freely to lie down or eat. This arrangement gives the cows room to move and makes it easier to manage to feed and keep manure separate from the bedding. 

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Dairy Cows
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Best shed design

When designing a cow shed, you must focus on several important areas. Although these details can be expensive to improve, they will pay off in dairy animal health and productivity.

  • Stalls with enough space for dairy cows to move forward and to the sides
  • Ventilation
  • Non-slip flooring outside of the stalls
  • Space for feed
  • Effluent management conditions that keep manure separate from food and bedding
  • Soft bedding that is fluffed daily and then replaced regularly
  • Access to clean water and food

Rules for selecting good quality dairy breeds 

  • An important point in the dairy farming business is the selection of animals with good breeding characteristics. This approach is mainly for farmers who want to do commercial dairy farming. 
  • Animals should be selected that reflect the character of the true breed. Reproducibility is of greatest concern in this standard. For example, the crossbred Holstein Friesian has a high feed intake and good milk yield compared to other breeds. Still, it requires a high-quality, balanced diet and forage. If breeders cannot meet the requirement, they ultimately suffer losses due to low production and imbalanced diets leading to deficiency diseases that take longer to recover.

Milking management rules for dairy farming

  • A good milking technique is an essential factor in dairy farming. No single duty in a dairy operation carries as much responsibility as the actual act of milking the cows. 
  • Good breastfeeding is a skill that can be learned through practical experience. Therefore, the harmonious interaction between the milker and the cow is of utmost importance regarding a cow’s milk yield and farm profitability.
  • A good milker develops a routine during each milking. It cannot be overemphasized that if the habit of drinking milk is good, the results will be good. The dairy farm conditions in question determine the choice of hand or machine milking. Whatever system is used, the milker must be familiar with the lactating cow’s basic milk secretion and udder shape. In most other countries where animal milk production is good, they prefer machine milking. 

Key rules for dairy feed management

  • When planning a dairy farm, you need to feed your cattle with nutritious feed. It is also very important for healthy milk production and healthy growth of the calf. 
  • Consult a nutritionist about feeding lactating cows and even dry cows. Many farms are seen to produce feed for their animals. 
  • Preparing your farm for grazing animals or livestock and harvesting crops can save you a good investment. But since it requires a lot of space and time, you can hire operators who can help you plant and harvest the crops. 
  • Double cropping can benefit the dairy farming business if you have your land. A balanced diet improves milk production and meets the animal’s nutritional needs. 
  • Forage should be chaffed before feeding to prevent wastage and increase digestibility. In most dairy herds, nutritional management is the most important determinant of herd productivity. The link between nutrition and productivity begins at birth. 
  • A milking system provides each cow with the necessary nutrients at the right stage of growth and lactation to maintain maximum productivity.

Feeding and watering of dairy animals to reduce the production cost

The health, milk quality, safety, and productivity of dairy animals mainly depend on the feed and water. The Diet and nutrient requirements of dairy animals depend on factors such as body condition, milk production level, age, body condition, weight, weight gain, health status, activity and exercise level, climate, and weather. 

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Dairy Shed
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  1. Feed and fodder requirements vary from animal to animal depending on age, production level, pregnancy status, etc. 
  2. In consultation with the concerned Veterinary Officers of the Animal Department, always give the animals a balanced minimum cost ration consisting of good quality feed and fodder. 
  3. Provide adequate green fodder in the ration. Grow green fodder on your land as much as possible. Cut the forage at the flowering stage when the production of digestible nutrients is maximum. 
  4. Preserving fodder for use during the lean period (in the form of hay/silage) and strengthening poor-quality straw can be done under the guidance of a local veterinarian. 
  5. Change from one type of feed to another should be gradual. 
  6. Improper feeding practices should be avoided as they may result in diseases like bloat, acidity, metabolic problems, laminitis, etc. 
  7. Half crushed grains are preferred for eating instead of finely ground grains. 
  8. Moisten the concentrate mixture before feeding. 
  9. Provide adequate vitamins and minerals either through fortified salt licks (preferred) or by adding mineral supplements to concentrated rations. 
  10. Different feed ingredients can also be mixed to make Total Mixed Ration (TMR). This ration can be divided into 3-4 equal portions daily. It will reduce spoilage and feed choice and increase digestion. 

Techniques of dairy farming for effective management

The guiding aim of the good dairy farming practice is to produce milk on the farm from healthy animals under generally accepted conditions. To achieve this, dairy farmers need to implement: 

  • Animal Health 
  • Milking hygiene
  • Feed and water animals
  • Administration of veterinary drugs
  • Activities carried out on the dairy farm to food safety and food hygiene
  • Animal welfare and 
  • Environment
  • Safety and health practices relating to dairy farm operators

Tips for starting a dairy farm business plan 

  • One first needs to decide on the aims and objectives of the farm. Each year there should be a progressive goal for breeding (in which the number of animals is to be maintained) and production. 
  • You can visit dairy farms that are run on a commercial basis and interact with experienced farm owners. Consult local veterinarians for more information if needed.
  • If you plan to manage a farm, look for opportunities to work for an existing farm for at least six months. 
  • Develop an interest and study your area’s feed and fodder market and its difficulties with the seasons. 
  • Manage a good team of workers. You need to choose hard-working, reliable people preferably with some experience. Then, you can train them for specific jobs. 
  • Visit the dairy animals market occasionally. Observe the animals at the sale and talk to the people buying the animals. 
  • Read magazines and websites on the dairy industry and keep yourself informed. 

Make a dairy business plan for reducing production cost

It is an important thing to do before starting dairy farming. Creating a detailed dairy business plan is the key to a successful dairy farming business. 

Seek advice from professionals – It is advisable to consult and consult with experienced people in the field. They can give your ideas for business plans and help you set up the initial structure of your business. Try visiting other dairy farms to see how they run the business. Consider each farm’s plus and minus points when giving this field trip. While meeting others, try to get as much information as possible from these experienced people like veterinarians, nutritionists, investors, bankers, etc. 

Think about the initial investment – Dairy farming is an investment-intensive business. Basic needs are land, buildings, cows, and some other goods. Bank loans are available to farmers to start their agro-based industries. 

Challenges in dairy farm management 

  1. Breeding infrastructure and genetics: The success of Indian dairy was primarily due to an increased number of animals and not productivity. Increasing productivity per animal is essential when resources are limited. Therefore, good animal genetics, breeding infrastructure, and advanced methods like artificial insemination, embryo transfer, etc., are in high demand. 
  2. Livestock Fodder and Fodder: There is a severe and ever-increasing shortage of green fodder and good quality feed. The growing trend of high-breed animals is creating a huge demand for good quality feed and fodder to meet the nutritional requirements of dairy animals. Also, a prophylactic approach uses feed premixes to avoid many health and nutritional complications. 
  3. Animal health: Good health care and diagnostic solutions for animal diseases are required. As mentioned above, high-yielding animals demand extra care, driving the animal health sector for many years. 
  4. Farm mechanization: Farm mechanization is being welcomed by farmers to deal with the situation. 
  5. Cold chain ​​infrastructure: This segment is bound to see growth opportunities as the government and the private sector invest heavily to secure sufficient procurement. 
  6. Availability of Power: Many chilling plants are affected by lack of power and do not operate efficiently, due to which milk quality and shelf life deteriorate. An opportunity within this segment could be solar-powered milk chillers.

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Dairy Farming Setup
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Health Management tips for dairy farm management

Health management is critical to ensure optimal care and welfare of dairy cattle and to reduce productivity losses due to disease and mismanagement. Cattle health is often discussed about the whole herd. It is because whether you have one cattle or 100, what hurts one can easily affect others. Therefore, the health of every animal on the farm is equally important. 

Veterinarians will be a regular part of cow health management. Manage many aspects of the cow’s welfare; a veterinarian is necessary to administer medication, deal with medical emergencies, perform examinations, and confirm necessary slaughter. Therefore, it’s important to factor vet bills into your budget; ideally, you’ll want to establish a relationship with a local vet of your choice. That way, whenever a group of your cows needs antibiotics or treatment for mastitis, you already have a team of professionals. 

Key rules to improve dairy animal health care 

Healthy, well-fed animals produce more milk than thin and sick animals. Dairy animal diseases, such as tuberculosis, brucellosis, and mastitis, can also affect milk quality and safety. However, many drugs sold over the counter are expired or counterfeit. Animal health care can be improved by following three principles: 

  1. Keep your dairy animals healthy. Get them vaccinated and treat them immediately if they get sick. Have a few healthy, productive, well-fed animals instead of many thin, hungry animals. 
  2. Buy accurate medicines only from a reputable dealer. Make sure to use the right medicine at the correct dose. 
  3. Milk only from disease-free animals 

Hygiene can be improved by following the following pointers. 

  1. Wash your hands and udder with clean water before feeding. 
  2. Wash the milking bucket and all accessories thoroughly. Keep the milking area clean and then free of dust and flies. 
  3. Use stainless steel or aluminum buckets and cans to store milk. Do not use plastic jerry cans, which are impossible to clean properly. 

Key rules for production and marketing of hygienic milk 

Maintaining high hygiene standards is one of the most important objectives of milk production today. Hygiene will ensure high-quality milk is produced from healthy animals. High-quality raw milk provides good economic benefits to dairy farmers. From a public health perspective, milk is an excellent medium for the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms.

Thus, the risk of illness to the public from infected milk during production, handling, and marketing can be easily assessed. Furthermore, as a business, milk unavailable for human and economical consumption is a loss for the producing farmer.

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Dairy Cows
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Conclusion

Dairy farm management is an important factor in maintaining long-term high production. They must manage many key factors like cow nutrition, reproduction, rest, and milking. Along with these essentials, all dairy farms must deal with weather, transportation, and logistics costs. Therefore, the above key rules are effective for getting more profit in dairy farm management.

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