Cow Health and School Milk Program

2024

This report has been developed as part of the Netherlands East Africa Dairy Partnership (NEADAP), funded by the Netherlands Embassy in Ethiopia. The report presents information and learning generated by the activities implemented in The Inclusive Dairy Enterprise (TIDE) in Uganda, also funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. TIDE focuses on farm productivity, milk quality and nutrition, of which school milk is the main component. The information presented does not represent the point of view or engage the responsibility of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Research in Veterinary Science, 2018

The cow milk and dairy products, which have been long considered fundamental components of the human diet, are nowadays in the centre of a scientific dispute, as they are claimed to be health threatening for human consumers. This dispute sometimes becomes pseudoscientific due to the huge number of dedicated sites in the web, which deliver incomplete, if not false, information to the consumers. Indeed, in some cases the cow milk is described as a harmful food, rich in hormones and antibiotics, obtained from animals reared under poor welfare conditions, too high in protein content and, for these reasons, not suitable for human consumption. These assertions are well beyond the usual food safety concerns related to the potential microbiological and toxicological risks, and the occurrence of food allergies. In the "One Health" context, veterinary scientists can give a substantial contribution to this dispute in at least three sectors. The first and more obvious contribution is in the sector of microbiology, food hygiene, and animal health. In the EU, the marketing of milk and dairy products requires the achievement of safety standards in accordance with the provisions of the Reg. EC/853/2004 and Reg. EC/2073/2005. Nevertheless, in the last decade numerous cases of food poisoning caused by the consumption of dairy products produced with either raw or pasteurized milk have been reported. This has important consequences by social, economic and trustworthiness point of views. Important goals have been reached over the past 50 years in the eradication of certain zoonoses carried by milk and dairy products (tuberculosis and brucellosis). In addition, the technological innovation in milking systems and an adequate training of the operators have led to a significant reduction in the total milk bacterial load, to a quality improvement with important consequences for both drinking milk and dairy sectors. However, the biological risks is still preeminent and, in some ways, more unpredictable. It can be identified in the presence of pathogenic microorganisms such as E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus and Campylobacter species among others, and requires a deal of

Journal of Dairy Science, 2015

The dairy industry in the developed world has undergone profound changes over recent decades. In this paper, we present an overview of some of the most important recent changes in the dairy industry that affect health and welfare of dairy cows, as well as the science associated with these changes. Additionally, knowledge gaps are identified where research is needed to guide the dairy industry through changes that are occurring now or that we expect will occur in the future. The number of farms has decreased considerably, whereas herd size has increased. As a result, an increasing number of dairy farms depend on hired (nonfamily) labor. Regular professional communication and establishment of farm-specific protocols are essential to minimize human errors and ensure consistency of practices. Average milk production per cow has increased, partly because of improvements in nutrition and management but also because of genetic selection for milk production. Adoption of new technologies (e.g., automated calf feeders, cow activity monitors, and automated milking systems) is accelerating. However, utilization of the data and action lists that these systems generate for health and welfare of livestock is still largely unrealized, and more training of dairy farmers, their employees, and their advisors is necessary. Concurrently, to remain competitive and to preserve their social license to operate, farmers are increasingly required to adopt increased standards for food safety and biosecurity, become less reliant on the use of antimicrobials and hormones, and provide assurances regarding animal welfare. Partly because of increasing herd size but also in response to animal welfare regulations in some countries, the proportion of dairy herds housed in tiestalls has decreased considerably. Although in some countries access to pasture is regulated, in countries that traditionally practiced seasonal grazing, fewer farmers let their dairy cows graze in the summer. The proportion of organic dairy farms has increased globally and, given the pressure to decrease the use of antimicrobials and hormones, conventional farms may be able to learn from well-managed organic farms. The possibilities of using milk for disease diagnostics and monitoring are considerable, and dairy herd improvement associations will continue to expand the number of tests offered to diagnose diseases and pregnancy. Genetic and genomic selection for increased resistance to disease offers substantial potential but requires collection of additional phenotypic data. There is every expectation that changes in the dairy industry will be further accentuated and additional novel technologies and different management practices will be adopted in the future.

2011

Milk Sector Study Report, 2021

The study report covers the analysis of the milk sector in Albania for the period 2010-2019 wich will serve as a solid ground for the preparation of IPARD III program and of Strategy for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fishery 2021 - 2027

Organic Agriculture, 2015

Achieving and maintaining a high herd health and welfare status is an important aim in organic livestock farming. The varying farming systems across and within countries call for models that are relevant for different farming types and that can be integrated into local practice. In stable schools, farmers take responsibility for health and welfare planning by identifying issues, setting goals, and acting to improve the health situation based on farmspecific data, e.g. milk production. This paper reviews the results from intervention studies that used a modified 'farmer field school' approach for animal health and welfare planning, providing an overview of ongoing activities and their implementation into advisory situations in selected European countries. Studies on stable schools as an intervention tool showed improvements regarding the specific project aim on the majority of the participating farms. Farmers and facilitators were convinced of the approach and benefits for dairy herds. Farmers' attitude and attention towards their herds and their ownership of the process appear to be crucial success factors for herd health and welfare situations. In some European countries, this method has been implemented in advisory practice, and in other regions, there are relevant and promising opportunities. Org. Agr.

A diet high in saturated fat content, heredity, and various metabolic conditions such as type II diabetes, influences an individual's level of cholesterol. It's a serious condition that increases the risk for heart disease. Most cholesterol in the body is made by the liver from a wide variety of foods, but especially from saturated fats, such as those found in animal products. It has been classified to LDL & HDL cholesterol. Ideally one should aim for total cholesterol of under 200 mg/dL and LDL under 100 mg/ dL. The optimal LDL and HDL ratio is 4:1 (or less). HDL can be raised naturally without the use of medications. Other authentic ways of increasing HDL cholesterol are exercise and selective foods in diet. " HDL cholesterol is a scavenger that cleans up bad cholesterol. Having high levels of HDL cholesterol (at least 60 mg/dL) helps protect against CAD. Milk is a widely consumed beverage that is essential to the diet of several millions of people worldwide because it provides important macro-and micronutrients. Milk is recognized as being useful during childhood and adolescence because of its composition; however, its relatively high saturated fat proportion raises issues of potential detrimental effects, namely on the cardiovascular system. Buffalo is playing a leading role in the national economy by producing milk, meat and draught power. Out of total milk produced in the country, buffalo contributes about 56 %, followed by cattle (34%) and sheep/goat/camel (9%). Due to high fat contents of buffalo milk, it is the most preferred species in India. Buffaloes not only fulfill the protein requirements of the human population by milk and meat, but are also have a great share in providing the traction power for various agricultural purposes. This review evaluates the most recent literature on dairy and human health, framed within epidemiologic, experimental, and biochemical evidence. As an example, the effects of milk (notably skimmed milk) on body weight appear to be well documented, and the conclusions of the vast majority of published studies indicate that dairy consumption does not increase cardiovascular risk or the incidence of some cancers. Even though the available evidence is not conclusive, some studies suggest that milk and its derivatives might actually be beneficial to some population segments. Although future studies will help elucidate the role of milk and dairy products in human health, their use within a balanced diet should be considered in the absence of clear contraindications. The aim of this review paper is to point out the production performance of Pakistani buffaloes with a little touch to exotic buffaloes and the suggestions/recommendations to improve their performance to produce more.

Journal of Dairy Science, 1993

A verage milk produced per cow per lactation continues to increase in the US. Milk production for OHI herds increased from 4160 to 8I78 kg/yr per cow between 1950 and 1990.

Iris Publishers LLC, 2018

Milk fever (parturient paresis-hypocalcemia), a metabolic disease, affects high producing dairy animals usually within one or two days after calving, resulting in a huge reduction in milk production. Therefore, the disease becomes economically important. Hypocalcemia can also be a cause of acidosis, ketosis, mastitis, retained placenta, displaced abomasum and metritis. This article presents a practical, on-farm approach for the prevention of milk fever in dairy cattle.

Veterinary Sciences, 2022

This work aimed to review the important aspects of the dairy industry evolution at herd level, interrelating production with health management systems. Since the beginning of the industrialization of the dairy cattle sector (1950s), driven by the need to feed the rapidly growing urban areas, this industry has experienced several improvements, evolving in management and technology. These changes have been felt above all in the terms of milking, rearing, nutrition, reproductive management, and design of facilities. Shortage of labor, emphasis on increasing farm efficiency, and quality of life of the farmers were the driving factors for these changes. To achieve it, in many areas of the world, pasture production has been abandoned, moving to indoor production, which allows for greater nutritional and reproductive control of the animals. To keep pace with this paradigm in milk production, animal health management has also been improved. Prevention and biosecurity have become essential t...