OVERVIEW OF DAIRY

INDUSTRY
 DAIRY PRODUCTION
- refers to the process of obtaining milk and
milk products from domesticated animals,
primarily cows, but also goats, sheep, and
buffaloes.
- It is a crucial aspect of agriculture and
food production, providing a significant
source of nutrition for human
consumption.
 WORLD DAIRY SCENARIO
World Top 10 milk Producing Countries
Rank Country
1 India
2 United States of America
3 Germany
4 Pakistan
5 China
6 Russia
7 Brazil
8 France
9 New Zealand
10 United Kingdom
 IMPORTANCE OF DAIRY FARMING
Dairy farming in developing countries:
- helps directly in agriculture by making available
drought power, manure, and cash income on a day-to-
day basis
- It provides socio-economic security to the farmers,
especially to the small and marginal farmers.
- good sources of income for cattle owners of the
various livestock products like milk and milk products
- Cattle manure can be used for organic agricultural
production. The dung is complete manure having all the
major elements required by crops.
IMPORTANCE OF DAIRY FARM
MANAGEMENT
- An efficient dairy animal and good
profitability is the result of better
breeding, but its reproductivity
depends on care and management
including feeding.
 ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
Breeds: Different breeds of dairy animals are raised for milk
production. Common dairy breeds include Holstein, Jersey,
Guernsey, and Brown Swiss for cows, and Saanen, Nubian, and
Alpine for goats

Housing: Proper housing is essential for the well-being of dairy

animals. Facilities should be designed to provide comfort, protection
from the elements, and hygiene.

Feeding and Nutrition:

•Dairy animals require a balanced diet to ensure optimal milk
production. Feed typically includes a combination of grains,
forages, and supplements to meet the nutritional needs of the
animals.
Reproduction:
•Efficient reproductive management is essential for a continuous
and sustainable milk supply. This involves artificial insemination,
breeding programs, and proper care during pregnancy and calving.

Milk Production:
•Regular milking of dairy animals is a fundamental aspect of dairy
production. Modern dairy farms often use automated milking
machines to streamline the process.

Milk Processing:
•After milking, the raw milk undergoes processing to ensure safety
and quality. This can include pasteurization, homogenization, and
separation of milk into various components (e.g., cream, skim
milk).
The productivity of milk varies
in different countries, as some
countries are surplus in
production, some are deficit in
production, and in some of the
countries, availability matches
their requirement. The annual
milk production in India in
2015–16 was 155.5 million
tonnes and the per capita
availability of milk was 337
grams per day.
LIFE CYCLE OF DAIRY CATTLE
ANIMAL HOUSING
OBJECTIVES
OF ANIMAL
HOUSING
 Protection
 Feeding
 Watering
 Isolation
 Comfort
 Hygienic
condition
 SELECTION OF SITE FOR
ESTABLISHMENT OF A DAIRY FARM

1. Topography – it
should be high and
somewhat level with
no abrupt slopes
 SELECTION OF SITE FOR
ESTABLISHMENT OF A DAIRY FARM

2. Soil – it
should be fertile
and sandy loamy.
Fertile soil is
very important
for fodder crop
cultivation
3. Nearby market
- marketing of farm purchases and by
products are important for viability and
profitability of a farm.

4. Labour
- Availability of skilled and unskilled,
reliable, honest, laborious and cheap labour
is essential for smooth running of a dairy
farm.
5. Accessibility
- the farm should be located near the main road
with good connectivity.
-this will reduce transportation cost and helps in
quick purchasing and disposal of materials.
6. Electricity
- there is a need for enough and a
continuous supply of electricity for speedy
work.
7. Water supply
- good quality water should be available
abundantly. It is required for feeding animals,
washing, and cleaning of animals and equipment,
irrigations etc.
8. Sun exposure and wind protection
- the farmstead should be located to get
maximum sun exposure in the north and in
maximum sun exposure in the south.
9. Surroundings
- the farm should be located nearer to the
towns, but not within human habitations.
- the surrounding should be safe and clean

10. Miscellaneous
- facilitates like bank, post offices, shopping
centers, schools etc. are needed to provide a
proper working environment to the staffs and
connectivity.
 SYSTEM OF HOUSING
- There are broadly
two types of housing
systems for housing
cattle.
A. Loose housing
system
B. Conventional
housing system
1. LOOSE HOUSING SYSTEM
- this system comprises an open paddock
with a covered area along one side.
- the animals are kept free so that they can
move freely, feed, and drink water at their will.
- the covered area consists generally of an
asbestos shed with 4.6 m height at the center,
and 2.4 m at the sides from the floor.
LOOSE HOUSE
ADVANTAGES:
1.Cheaper to construct as the initial building
cost is less. Since there are not many
elaborate buildings to repair the
maintenance cost is also less.
2.Easier to expand when the need arises
without many changes
3.The system requires less roofed area per
animal housed
4.Animals feel free and comfortable
5.Animals get adequate exercise
7. Facilities heat detection
8. Improves labor efficiency and fewer
numbers of labor required compared to the
conventional system
9. About 10-15% more stock than the
standard can be accommodated in each
loose house shed for a shorter period
without unduly affecting their performance.
DISADVANTAGES
1. Requires more space compared to the
conventional system
2. Animals are more exposed to
microclimatic conditions
3. Chance of disease transmission is more
than in the conventional system
4. If the animals are not grouped properly
there may be a chance of fighting and injury
5. Animals are less clean than a conventional
system.
2. CONVENTIONAL HOUSING
SYSTEM / STANCHION BARN
- in this system, the animals are confined to
allotted space by tying with ropes or chains or
built-in stanchions (a special type of metallic device
constructed in the sheds to fasten the animals)
- in this system, the animals are not allowed
to move freely.
- The animals are fed as well as milk in the
barn.
ADVANTAGE
1.Require less space compared to a loose
housing system
2.Animals are less exposed to harsh
weather conditions.
3.Animals can be kept cleaner
4.Disease control is better compared to
a loose housing system
5.Less chance of injury due to fighting
DISADVANTAGE
1.High cost of construction compared to
the loose housing system
2.Animals do not get optimum exercise
and will not feed comfortable as their
freedom of movement is restricted
3.Heat detection are difficult
4.Labor requirement is more than the
loose housing system
Types of a conventional system
1.Single-row system
2.Double row housing system
- tail-to-tail system
- face to face system
A.Single row system
❑ Feeding passage –(feeding alley)
- this is a passage roughly 1 m wide in front of the
manger to carry a feeding trolley for filling the
manger.
❑ Manger (feeding through )
- this is the place for feeding the animals. It can be
made of stone slabs, wooden planks, bricks lined with
cement mortar or cement concrete.
The floor of the manger is raised 10 -15 cm above
the floor of the house to facilitate adequate feeding,
drainage, and cleaning of the manger.
❑ Standing space
- this is the place where the animals stand. The
dimension of the standing space varies
according to the size of the animals but is
generally 1.5 to 1.8 m in length and 1.2m in
width.
- The floor should have a slope of 1 in 40
towards the drain. Partitions separating the
animals can be given which protect the udder
of one cow from being damaged by the other
and prevent defecation to other animals’
places.
❑ Drain (gutter)
- A shallow “U” shaped drain 20cm wide and
10-15 cm deep with a slope of 2.5 cm for
every 3m length is constructed just behind
the standing space.
❑ Passage
- this is the passage for milking, inspection, and
cleaning dung, bedding materials, etc.
- Generally, it is 1m wide for easy movement of
trolleys, milking machines, etc.,
B. Double-row housing system
- the animals are managed in two rows in the same
barn. Floor space requirements and dimensions are
the same in a single-row system and two single
rows will be there side by side, except for a central
passage of 1.8 m in width in the middle with a slope
from center to outwards.
❑ Tail–to–tail system
-the animals are housed in two rows
with their head facing outward.
ADVANTAGES:
1. Easy access to the back region of the cow which is
important as time spent at the back of cows is four
times more than the time spent in front of them.
2. Less chance of spread of diseases among the
animals
3. Animals can get fresh air.
4. Inspection during milking is more efficient
5. Any injury or disease in the hindquarters of the
animals can be detected quickly.
6. Cleaning of the drain, dung removal, milking, and
heat detection is easier compared to a face-to-face
system.
❑Face to face system
- In this system, the animals are housed in two
rows with their head facing each other.
ADVANTAGES:
1.Require less space compared to a tail-to-
tail system
2.Feed distribution is easier
3.Direct sunlight can reach the drain
4.Easier for the cows to get into the stall
5.Cows make a better show for visitors
MILKING PARLOUR/ MILKING BARN
- this is the place where milking is done.
A separate milking parlor is required in a loose
housing, but in conventional system is not
necessary.
- the purpose of the milking parlor is to ensure
clean milk production and efficient milking
operation.
Milch/ Dry Cow Shed
- there should be provision of housing for milch or
dry cows separately. The sheds can be constructed
according to a loose housing system or a
conventional housing system.
Maternity (Calving) Pens
- the pregnant animals are transferred to the
maternity pens 2-3 weeks before the expected
date of calving.
- Calving boxes – this is an individual partitioned
stall for housing pregnant animals separately.
Calf Shed
- calves should be housed separately from adult
animals. The calf shed should be near the milking
barn. This facilitates taking calves to their dams
quickly at milking time if weaning is not practiced
and feeding of milk to the calves if weaning is
practiced.
Heifer Shed
- older female calves above 6 months of age till breeding are housed separately.
Heifers can be grouped according to their age (6months – 1 yr old, and 1 year to
breeding age and so on)
Bull shed
- the bull shed should be constructed at one
end of the farm and away from the breedable
females.
- the bulls are kept in separate pens with
adjacent paddocks for exercise.
Sick animal shed (isolation box)
- this shed is for keeping sick animals in isolation and should be located well away
from other animal sheds.