Dairy Notes - Working Doc. .docx

**Dairy Production** +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | **Breed** | **Picture** | **Characteristics** | +=======================+=======================+=======================+ | British Friesian | | - -...

**Dairy Production** +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | **Breed** | **Picture** | **Characteristics** | +=======================+=======================+=======================+ | British Friesian | | - - - - | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Holstein |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | - | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Holstein - Fresian | | - - - - - | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Ayrshire |  | - - - - - | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Jersey | A group of cattle | - - - - - - | | | standing on a lush | | | | green field | | | | Description | | | | automatically | | | | generated | - | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Kerry |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | - | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Montbéliarde | | - - - | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Norwegian Red |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | - | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Jersey x Holstein - | | - - - - - | | Friesian | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ **Calf** -- a young animal from birth to 9 months old **Heifer** -- a female that hasn't had a calf **Cow** -- a female that has had a calf **Bull** -- an uncastrated male **Steer/bullock** -- a castrated male **Weanling** -- a young animal between 9 months and a year **Yearling** -- a young animal from 12 months old Milk production in Ireland is a low cost system, based on producing milk from grass. Therefore, 80% of calving on Irish farms occurs in the spring. This is to ensure as cows milk they utilise grass. Autumn calving is rare but some farmers are obliged to Autumn calve to ensure they can supply milk all year round. **[Milk Composition]** Milk is a suspension of protein, fat and other solids in water Farmer is paid for the nutrient value of milk SNF=Solid non fats (protein, lactose, minerals) Component Percentage ----------- ------------------- Water 87.8 Butterfat 3-4 (approx. 3.5) Lactose 4.7 Protein 3.2 Minerals 0.8 **[Factors that affect milk composition ]** 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. - - - - - - **[Factors that affect milk yield:]** 1. 2. 3. **[Milk Quality: ]** 1. - - **2. SCC= Somatic cell count** - - - 3**. Temperature** - **[Methods of ensuring high milk quality: ]** 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. **Dairy production in Ireland:** In Ireland demand for milk is all year round Cows will only lactate for 305 days (10 months) So, farmers split their calving between spring and autumn to ensure a constant milk supply. +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **Liquid Milk Production** | **Manufacturing Milk Production** | +===================================+===================================+ | - - - - - - | - - - - - | | | | | | - - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **Milk Price Calculation** - 1. 2. 3. Milk Price is set monthly (at the end of the month) - - +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Milk Price Scenario** | +=======================================================================+ | **Discuss the impact of milk quality on milk price.** | | | | - - - - - - - - - | | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | *Farmer* | *A* | *B* | | | +=====================+=====================+=====================+ | | | Milk yield for one | 16,000 litres | 16,000 litres | | | | month | | | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | Protein | 3.9% Protein | 3.4% Protein | | | | | | | | | | | 5.4 x 3.9 = | 5.4 x 3.4 = | | | | | **21.06c/l** | **18.36c/l** | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | Fat | 4.1% Fat | 3.9% Fat | | | | | | | | | | | 4.3 x 4.1 = | 4.3 x 3.4 = | | | | | **17.63c/l** | **14.62c/l** | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | Processing charge. | **-4.5c/l** | **-4.5c/l** | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | Storage Bonus | **0.39c/l** | N/A | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | High SCC | N/A | **-0.15c/l** | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | High TBC | N/A | **-0.5c/l** | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | Price before VAT | **34.58c/l** | **27.83c/l** | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | VAT @ 5.4% | **1.87c/l** | **1.5c/l** | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | Total milk Price | **36.45c/l** | **29.33c/l** | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | | | | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | *Payment received* | ***€5,832*** | ***€4,693*** | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | | 1. | | | | | | | | A. B. C. D. E. | | | | | | | | 2. | | | | | | | | A. B. C. D. E. | | | | | | | | 3. | | | | | | | | A. B. C. D. | | | | | | | | 4. | | | | | | | | A. | | | | - - - | | | | B. | | | | - - - - | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Milk Price Question:** | | | | The Brady family farm is producing milk with 3.46% protein and 4.01% | | butterfat. In addition, they get a storage bonus of 0.45c/l for | | having the refrigerated capacity for seven milking. | | | | Calculate their total milk price. The milk processor has a set value | | for A = 5.466 and B = 4.218 and C = 4.5. The rate of VAT is 5.4%. A | | storage bonus is 0.45c/l. | +=======================================================================+ |  | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ **[Cows Udder and Milk Let Down]**  - - - - - - - - - **Milk Let Down:** **Oxytocin** Is the hormone responsible for milk let down - - - 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. **[Management of Dairy Herd:]** The lactation curve plots the milk production of a cow over the lactation year (305 days). Cow should hit peak yield within the first 60-70 days post calving. The lactation year is broken into early, mid and late lactation. While the dried off period makes up the final 60 days of the year: +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | **Early | **Mid | **Late | **Dry Period** | | Lactation** | Lactation** | Lactation** | | +=================+=================+=================+=================+ | 1. 2. 3. 4. | 1. 2. 3. 4. | 1. 2. 3. 4. | 1. 2. 3. 4. | | 5. 6. | 5. 6. | | | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ Cows are in a negative energy balance in early lactation. Daily requirement of a cow cannot be met by the energy she consumes. Cows physically cannot eat enough to meet the demands of lactation so -- *milking off her back.*  **[Limiting Negative Energy Balance]** - - - - **[Implications of Negative Energy Balance]** Fertility Issues- Anoestrus (cow does not cycle) or takes longer to come back into heat -- longer calving interval **[Milking Parlours:]** 1. a. b. c. 2. d. e. f. 3. g. h. **[Life cycle of a replacement heifer: Birth to 2 Years. ]** **Calves of a dairy herd:** - - - - - **Once the calf is born:** - - - - **Calf Rearing:** - - - 1. Heifer calves being reared as replacements for the dairy herd. 2. Heifer or bull calves being reared as weanlings or fattened up for beef production. - A calf cannot digest concentrate ration at an early age, as its rumen (stomach) has not developed fully. - The normal procedure is to feed the calf using the following sequence of feeds: 1. 2. 3. 4. 1. Is the first milk produced after a cow gives brith. - - - - - 3-2-1 Rule: - - - - Benefits of feeding colostrum: - - - - - Fresh Milk Colostrum --------------- ------------ ----------- Water 87.5% 78% Solids 12.5% 22% Protein **3.2%** **14.9%** Fat **3-4%** **6.7%** Lactose 4.7% 2.5% Vit. & Min 0.8% 1.2% Immunoglobins 0.09% 6.0%  2. Calf is taken away from the mother but still fed fresh milk. 3. A powdered milk mixed with water. Milk Replacer: Is a dried milk powder that is made up using warm water. - - - 4. Gradually introduced to develop the rumen microflora. This is referred to as 'scratch factor'. Ear Tagging: - - Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) is a virus. Animals with this virus must be identified and culled. Housing: Calves shed should: - - - - Weaning: - - - - - Overwintering: - - - - **Year 2 - Turning into a replacement heifer:** Now in year 2 of their life, they may be selected to replace older cows in the herd. Older cows are culled because: - - - - **Grading up** the herd - Improving the genetic merit of the herd. Replacing lower yield cows with higher yielding heifers. **Selecting replacement heifers:** They should: - - - - - - Body Condition Score (BCS) of cattle, sheep and pigs allows the animal producer to assess the level of fat reserves an animal has at various production stages. It is the ration of lean meat to hat. BCS of heifers should be 3.25 at mating and reach a target weight of 300/330kg. - - - - - **Bull** selection for replacement heifer: Economic Breeding Index (EBI): Sub-indexes: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. **Target weight for heifers:** Should have a LWG of 0.6-0.7kg per day. Grass, silage with 75% DMD ad lib Ad-lib: a constant supply of food. Animals can eat as much & as often as they want. Table - shows target weights for a replacement heifer that will reach a full mature weight of 590 kg. +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | **Age** | **Month** | **% of Mature | **Weight** | | | | Weight** | | | | | | **(kg)** | +=================+=================+=================+=================+ | **Birth** | February | - | 42 | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | **3 months** | May | - | 123 | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | **6 months** | August | 30% | 164 | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | **9 months** | November | - | 246 | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | **12 months** | February | - | 308 | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | **15 months | May | 60% | 370 | | (Placing in - | | | | | calf)** | | | | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | **19 months** | September | - | 452 | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | **21 months** | November | - | 493 | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ | **24 months | February | 90% | 554 | | (pre - | | | | | calving)** | | | | +-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+ **Farm Safety:** - - - - **Exam Question Focus:** **[Choosing a Replacement Heifer:]** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **[Characteristic]** | | +===================================+===================================+ | 1. **Good Body Conformation** | - - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 2. **Temperament** | Docile for easy management | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 3. **Good Health** | - - - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 4. **Age and Weight** | Weight: **[300-350kg at | | | mating]** | | | | | | Age: **[15 months]** | | | | | | Both to ensure she has reached | | | puberty | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 5. **Good Udder Health** | - - - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 6. **Good Feet** | - - | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 7. **Milk Production** | Records of parents to determine | | | her potential or daughters of | | | high yielding cows /high solids | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **[Benefits of Transition Milk]** - - - - - **[Reducing Total Bacteria Count]** **[Reducing Somatic Cell Count]** ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Lime** on cubicles **Lime** on cubicles **Change liners of clusters** in milking parlour regularly (twice a year) **Milk infected cows last** to stop the transfer of bacteria to other cows or disinfect clusters **Cool milk to \