A proposed structural approach to improve cow-claw health on Dutch dairy farms

Despite extensive research leading to an improved understanding of the risk factors and pathogenesis of infectious and non-infectious disorders, claw health has not structurally improved in recent decades. Several studies have shown that claw disorders harm milk production, fertility and longevity of the dairy cows and job satisfaction of the farmer. This is enough reason to structurally improve claw health on dairy farms. The focus should be on a rapid curative intervention when lameness occurs and above all the prevention of claw problems. Most claw disorder diagnoses are nowadays made during regular claw trimming by the professional trimmer or the dairy farmer. Registration of the detected disorders during claw trimming is not always done consistently, so the estimated prevalence (number of cows with a claw disorder) is in most cases an underestimation of the real prevalence. The quality of these records often makes it difficult for consultants to formulate appropriate claw health advice. To be able to give good advice on claw health, insight into the prevalence of the various hoof disorders on a farm is a key condition. However, good quality advice alone is not a guarantee for an improved claw health situation on a farm. Research has shown that in addition to high quality substantiated advice, the communication style between the consultant and the dairy farmer is essential for the interpretation and motivation of the dairy farmer to implement the advice. In this paper a 7-point plan is presented as a guidance for herd advisors who want to support dairy farmers to improve claw health.

Case Study on Successful Dairy Farmer of Virudhunagar District

Food security means that all people must have access to adequate, healthy, reliable and nutritious food both physically and economically in order to meet the nutritional needs and food priorities that are necessary for an active and healthy life at all times. Dairy farming in today’s world is an essential system of agriculture to meet out the growing nutritional needs of the country. India is the largest milk producer and the second largest milk products producer in the world. This paper deals with the case study of a dairy farmer Mr. Perumal who had experience of thirty years in dairy farming and hence runs a dairy farm successfully which is located at the Alagiyanallur village of Virudhunagar district. Case study method of research was adopted. The data was collected through the semi-structured personal interview schedule and the results were documented. He owned about 1.5 acres of land in which the Cumbu Napier Co 4 for feeding the livestock were grown. His dairy firm comprises of 20 milch animals, 10 goats and 50 chickens. He runs his firm in terms of low investment since the seeds were distributed to him at free of cost as he was a member of SEEDS company which is located at Mallaginar village and the chickens were fed with the ration rice. It was found that the success factors of his firm were the selection of HF breed which is the high milk yielding breed followed by the proper maintenance of the livestock from diseases and the feeding of Krishi Bypass cattle feed. He initially had five animals left over by his father and later he developed his firm by availing loan from the bank. He mainly concentrates on the dairy farming. The expenses and the returns of the firm were recorded and documented. He had helped his villagers for the start up of the dairy farming as he came to know the importance of dairy production and he also provided the advices on the management practices of the livestock.He had further planned to develop his success path by starting up a dairy enterprise. SWOC analysis was conducted and the findings were documented. The factors that contributed for his success include Selection of HF breed, Maintenance of the livestock from diseases, Feeding provided along with the Krishi Bypass cattle feed.

Participation of Farm Women in Dairy Management Practices in Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh in India

An investigation was conducted to study the participation of farm women in dairy management practices in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh .A total of 225 farm women were selected based on their land holding capacity. The study revealed that women from small farmer category had more participation in taking animals for pregnancy diagnosis (81.33%) and post calving care (77.33%).Women under landless category were more involved in regularly taking animals for grazing (45.33%), green fodder collection and feeding (68%) and feeding animals with concentrates (88%).Feeding of animals with dry fodder regularly was more in small women dairy farmer category (89.33%) and landless (86.66%) than that in medium (56%) farm women category. Cleaning of animal sheds regularly was high in landless (76%) and small (69.33%) farm women than in medium (44%) farm women. Majority of women under landless category were regularly using disinfectants for cleaning of animal sheds (49.33%).Regular involvement in disposing of dung and composting of dung is high in women under landless (69.33%) and small (65.33%) farm women categories. Feeding of Colostrum to the calves regularly is high in small (86.66%) farmwomen category and cleaning of calf after birth is high in landless (84%) women category. Women in landless (77.33%) and small (74.6%) farmer categories are regularly washing the animals before milking. It was observed that 12% of women under medium farmer category and 8% under small farmer category are engaging labour for milking of animals. Women under small (76%) and landless (73.33%) farmer category were regularly taking care of sick animals. Sale of milk regularly through cooperatives was observed to be high in landless (85.33%) and small (90.66%) farm women categories. More number of women under landless (21.33%) were regularly participating in insurance of animals than small (6.66%) and medium (10.66%) farm women categories. More number of medium (9.33%) women dairy farmers were regularly involved in purchase of animals compared to landless (5.33%) and small (1.33%) farm women.

Profitability and Correlation Between Koica Milk Shop and Dairy Farm in Selupu Rejang, Bengkulu, Indonesia

The objective of this research was to analyze profitability and correlation between KOICA milk shop and dairy farms in Selupu Rejang, Rejang Lebong, Bengkulu, Indonesia. Data driven were general condition, performance of Milk Shop, performance of dairy farms, and the correlation between KOICA milk shop and dairy farmer are evaluated. The methodology started by census that chosen only KOICA milk shop owner and dairy farmers who pooled the milk to KOICA milk shop. Data collected then tabulated and analyzed using Excel and Regression. The result showed that both KOICA milk shop and dairy all were gained properly benefit from dairy business. For the average, it was about IDR 6,557,057.75 per month equivalent to USD 493 as a profit in KOICA milk shop. The profit was depending on the milk production from dairy farmer only, if they couldn’t milk from dairy cow, KOICA milk shop won’t be able to earn money. The dairy farmers were also got IDR 3,620,311.09 (USD 272) per month as the average profit from milk, compost and calve. There was very high correlation between the milk produced by dairy farmers then processed by Koica Milk Shop and its profit was r : 0.99. The discovering of this research was very valuable information, and also important to whom it may concern in dairy business as well as dairy farmers and Government for applying or understanding to develop new strategies for reducing production costs and to increase the profit by using model of whom successful in dairy business.

KORELASI KADAR LEMAK DAN LAKTOSA DENGAN BERAT JENIS SUSU SAPI FRIESIAN HOLSTEIN DI KECAMATAN NGABLAK KABUPATEN MAGELANG

Milk density and fat content are used as indicators of milk production from dairy farmer by Milk Proccessing Industry (MPI). Some MPI determines the price of milk based on fat and milk lactose content. This research was aimed to study the correlation of fat content, lactose content, and milk density. The material used were 90 of lactation FH cows in the II – III lactation periode and month of lactation are 2 – 3. The analysis method used was simple linear correlation regresion. The results showed that during increased milk fat and lactose contents, will increased milk density. Fat and lactose content are significantly correlated with milk density (P<0.01). The overall calculation shows that there was a relationship between fat content and lactose content to milk density, each 70.8 and 68.7%. Fat content with milk density, and lactose content with milk density showed a strong positive correlations. In conclusion, there was a correlation between fat content and lactose content with milk density. The correlation of fat content and lactose content with milk density were the higher fat and lactose content, higher milk density.

Lameness in dairy cows: farmer perceptions and automated detection technology

This Research Reflection provides an overview of three interrelated topics: (i) lameness in dairy cows, demonstrating the underpinning importance of the condition, (ii) dairy farmer detection, diagnosis and treatment of lameness and associated foot lesions as well as dairy farmer perceptions towards the condition and (iii) lameness detection technologies, and their potential application on farm to automate the detection of lameness in commercial dairy herds. The presented literature clearly demonstrates that lameness is a major health issue in dairy herds, compromising dairy cow welfare and productivity, and resulting in significant economic implications for dairy farmers. Despite this, dairy farmers fail to perceive lameness as a serious threat to their dairy business. This restricted perception of the importance of lameness may be a product of limited ability to detect lame cows. Many automated lameness detection technologies have been proposed to assist dairy farmers in managing their herds. However, limitations such as cost, performance and dairy farmer perception of the usefulness of these technologies, has lead to poor uptake. It can, therefore, be concluded that there is a need to more thoroughly evaluate the effectiveness of these technologies under on-farm conditions, potentially in the form of a demonstration farm network. This will allow generation of the necessary data required to show dairy farmers that these technologies are reliable and are economically rational for their dairy business.