Dairy Herd Management
Calves
• Date of calving
• Disinfection of calving area
Beddings:
- Rice hull
• Cleaning of udder
• Assisting (when necessary)
Calving
• Breathing
Sternal recumbency - chest expansion
Suspending the calf by the hindlimb - compresses the
lungs.
• Cleaning the calf by the dam
• Meconium staining (intrauterine hypoxia)
• Naval cord
Tie - 3cm from the body
Cut - 2cm distal to tied portion
Soak to Iodine
• Suckling of colostrum
Separate immediate to dam max. 3days
• Expulsion of placenta
5-6hrs. After birth
• Weighing and Ear notching
• Daily exercise (open dry lot)
• Avoid paints with lead
• Dehorning
Chemical - caustic potash/soda
Hot iron - electric
Heat soldering iron (1.2cm)
Growing Herd
• Separation of heifers from Bull
(when they reach 6months of age)
• Grouping in size and age (Uniformity)
• Adequate shelter/shade (pasture)
• Training to use the halter
Breeding Heifers
• Age - 18-20mos.
- 250kg.
• Periodic pregnancy diagnosis
- Weighing (monthly)
• Housing
• Routinary milking
- acclimatization before calving
Pregnant Herd
• Mix with dry cows
(2months before calving)
• Nutrition, Care, and Attention
• Avoid stress
• Separation (1wk before calving)
• Calving area
– Beddings
– Sanitation
• Observation for signs of Calving
Signs of Calving
• Reduced appetite
• Distended udder
• Swelling vulva
• Mucus discharge from genitals
• Frequent urination
• Restlessness
Milking Herd
• Proper feeding
• Cleaning the cow
- hygiene, hoof trimming
• Provide cool resting areas
• Avoid too much exercise
• Avoid frightening the animal during milking
• Milking intervals
Milking - once a day
Interval - 1 day
Stop collection
Dry Off:
2 months before expected date of calving
Breeding Sire
• Leading the Bull (6-8 months)
6months - nose ring (4cm)
light weight non rusting
2 weeks - healing (recovery)
10-12months - brass ring (7.5cm)
• Separate housing
• Daily exercise in open yard
Commercial operations:
- semen collection
- natural breeding
- replacement stock (yearling) - 12-20months
- Culling/Death
- 20% replacement/20% loss of the stock/year
- Selection (top producing cows)
