4/28/13 MP-1: Lesson 6.
GENERAL DAIRY FARM PRACTICES AND IDENTIFICATION OF CATTLE (PART-1)
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4/28/13 MP-1: Lesson 6. GENERAL DAIRY FARM PRACTICES AND IDENTIFICATION OF CATTLE (PART-1)
It consists of piercing outlines of desired number or letter or a combination of both on inner side of ear and applying black vegetable pigment into
the punctures. It is most suited for marking calves. Tattooing set comprises of Tattooing forceps, tattooing ink and series of letters and numbers.
The imprints should be made conveniently on inner side of ear avoiding ear veins. The part to be tattooed should be thoroughly scrubbed with
soap and water, wiped dry and spirit is applied to remove grease. Later tattooing ink is liberally applied over the part. The desired number or letter
is fixed into the tattooing forceps and firmly printed over the part by pressing the forceps. The desired tattoo number is to be checked on a leaf
before applying the tattooing forceps on animal. After tattooing some more ink is rubbed into tattooed punctures with thumb finger to get into
punctures deeply.
Fig. 6.2 Tattooing
6.2.3 Tagging
Tags are made of aluminum, brass, strong plastic with the numbers stamped on them and fixed to ear with tagging forceps. Two types of tags are
available 1). Self-piercing type 2). Non-piercing type.
Self-piercing variety has sharp ends and can be directly fixed to the ear with a forceps. In non-piercing type, a hole is made with a tag punch. One
end of tag is placed through the hole and locked in position with pincers. The hole is punctured in the upper edge of ear as close to head as
possible. The hole should be far enough from edge so that the tag is neither tight on ear nor freely swinging leaving sufficient space for growth of
ear. The numbered side of tag should be on top of ear. Several types of tags are available like Aluminum tags, plastic tags, bronze tags along with
a separate tagging forceps suitable to each type.
Fig. 6.3 Tagging
6.2.4 Photographing
Generally animals are photographed to get side view, rear and hind views. The animal should be photographed in such a way the angle of vision
of camera shouldn’t exceed the angled vision of human eye.
6.2.5 Electronic tags
Electronic tagging is carried with the help of a syringe. It is specially designed to push the chips just under the skin of the animal. The implanted
chips bear a number which is read by a scanner.
6.3 General Dairy Farm Practices
The general management practices that help the animals to be active, healthy, cleanliness and comfortable are –
1. Exercising
2. Grooming
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4/28/13 MP-1: Lesson 6. GENERAL DAIRY FARM PRACTICES AND IDENTIFICATION OF CATTLE (PART-1)
3. Bedding
4. Dehorning
5. Castration
6.3.1. Exercising
Minimum exercise is necessary for all animals. It keeps the animals thrifty and active. It helps in normal metabolic process and maintenance of
good health. Exercising is to make muscles active and the animal physically fit. Outdoor exercise by exposure to sunlight helps in supply of
vitamin D. Breeding bulls are to be provided loafing area of about 120 square meters for each bull to keep them in good condition. In large
livestock farms and semen banks, a bull exerciser is used to exercise a number of bulls simultaneously avoiding obesity in animals.
6.3.2. Grooming
Grooming comprises of brushing the hair coat of animals. It is essential for all the show animals. It is done for cleanliness, improve appearance,
massage and stimulate cutaneous and lymph blood circulation, removal of waste products like skin secretions, loose hair, skin parasites from hair.
It helps in keeping the skin pliable and brings out natural oil in the hair. Cows are regularly groomed before milking to avoid falling of dust in
milk. Before milking, brushing of rump, sides of thigh and buttocks should be done.
Dandy brush made of stiff fibres, whisks of paddy straw or any brush with stiff bristles can be used for grooming the animal. Start grooming at the
neck behind the ears and is carried out in same direction as the flow of hair. At times, brushing has to be carried out against flow of hair to
remove dirt sticking to hair. Work bullocks are also groomed to keep them active and to make them recover from tiredness and fatigue quickly.
Fig.6.4 Grooming
6.3.3. Bedding
During winter suitable bedding should be provided to young calves to provide warmth. In tropical countries like India, provision of bedding is not
important as in western countries. Bedding is used primarily for keeping animals clean and comfortable. Bedding soils up the urine and makes
manure handling easier.
6.3.4. Dehorning / Disbudding
Dehorning is removal of horns of animals. Disbudding means arresting the growth of horn buds at an early age. Horns serve no useful purpose
on dairy cattle. They can cause many body and udder injuries on other animals. Horned cattle require more space. Dehorn calves as early as
possible, when horn buds are very small, causing little discomfort to animal. Dehorn the calf when it is four to 10 days old or as soon as horn
buds can be easily detected. Dehorning is done mostly in spring or post monsoon season to avoid flies. There are several ways of dehorning by
using chemicals, saws, clippers, hot iron,
[Link] Chemical method
Chemicals like caustic soda (NaOH) or caustic potash (KOH) are commonly used chemicals available in form of sticks, paste. Clip the hair
around the horn bud of calves and surround the area with grease or Vaseline to protect the eyes from chemicals. Rub the chemical over the horn
bud until blood appears resulting in arrest of growth of horn buds.
[Link] Hot iron method
A specially designed hot iron rod is applied on horn buds of young calves. The dehorning irons are heated in portable forge. The hot iron method
is bloodless and used in any season of year for young calves only. Electric dehorner is also available which has even temperature of iron rod.
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4/28/13 MP-1: Lesson 6. GENERAL DAIRY FARM PRACTICES AND IDENTIFICATION OF CATTLE (PART-1)
Fig.6.5 Electrical dehorner
[Link] Dehorning saw or clippers
Clippers are useful for removing horns of young cattle whereas, dehorning saw is used to remove brittle horns of adult cattle.
[Link] Elastrator
It is an instrument of specially made rubber ring for dehorning cattle with horns of 5 to 10 cm long. Smaller horns drop off in 3 to 6 weeks, where
as longer horns may take 2 months to drop off.
[Link] Castration
It is the removal of testicles which produce male germ cells. Male cattle & buffaloes used for work are castrated so that they are docile and
amenable. Male calves are castrated at one year of age. Castration should be performed during cold season, strictly avoiding rainy season for fear
of fly menace. Under Indian conditions the best method for castrating cattle and buffaloes is with pair of Burdizzo castrator.
Burdizzo method of castration is bloodless in which the testicles are made functionless by destroying nourishment to them. When using Burdizzo
castrator, see that the spermatic cord does not slip out and one cord is clamped at a time for few seconds. Complete atrophy of testicle occurs. A
simple castration knife can also be used for the purpose. The knife as well as the operators hand should be clean and disinfected. Grasp the tip of
scrotum and hold it tight while cutting off the lower end. Draw out the exposed testicles together with the surrounding membranes with hands and
tear off.
Fig. 6.6 Castration
6.4 Weighing of animals
Weighing of animals is an important operation in a dairy farm to know the growth rate of calves, to calculate the amount of feed and fodder to be
offered to animals and for calculation of drug dosage of animals. Weighing of the animals can be done by two ways, 1. Direct Method
2. Indirect Method
6.4.1 Direct method
The animals are passed through the weighing yard and weighing is carried out on the platform balances. Allow the animal to stand for a while on
the platform before recording the weight.
Weighments of the animals are to be done in the morning before feeding and watering to get the accurate weights. This method is followed mostly
in organized farms.
Fig. 6.7 Direct Method
6.4.2 Indirect method
The weight of the animal can be obtained indirectly by measuring the girth and length of the animal using a measuring tape. The length of the
animal is obtained by measuring the distance between the points of shoulder to the point of pin bones. The girth of the animal can be obtained by
measuring the circumference of the chest of the animal just behind the elbows. After obtaining the length and girth of the animal, the following
formulae are applied to get the weight of animal.
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4/28/13 MP-1: Lesson 6. GENERAL DAIRY FARM PRACTICES AND IDENTIFICATION OF CATTLE (PART-1)
1. Shaeffers formula: It is commonly used for cattle and buffaloes.
Live weight in lbs = Length × (Girth)2 / 300
2. Aggarwal’s modified Shaeffers formula
Live weight in seers = (Girth × length) / Y
Where 1 seer is equal to 0.93kg
Where Y is equal 9.0 if girth is less than 65”
Y is equal to 8.5 if girth is between 65-80”
Y is equal to 8.0 if girth is over 80”.
3. Mullick’s formula buffaloes
X = 25.156(Y) – 960.232
X = estimate of body weight in lbs
Y = Heart girth in inches.
6.5 Farm Record Maintenance
Record keeping is key operation to know the progress of dairy farm. It is maintained for the following purposes.
1. To know the pedigree and history of the animals maintained.
2. It helps in knowing the dairy activities carried out in the farm like deworming, Vaccination, deticking, castration, identification etc.
3. It helps in identification of each animal in the herd and knowing the production performance of the animals.
4. It helps in knowing the herd average, milch average, average daily milk yield, lactation number, lactation length etc.
5. It aids in breed wise improvement of herd.
6. It helps in culling and removal of the unproductive stock from the farm.
7. The economics of the farm can be worked out.
8. It helps in selection of the animals for future breeding purposes.
9. It helps in identifying the elite animals and registration of animals in central herd registration book.
Some of the registers which are essential in the dairy farm are livestock register, calving register, lactation record, mortality register, morbidity
register, feed register, breeding register, day book, vaccination register etc.
Table 6.1 Stock register of cattle
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4/28/13 MP-1: Lesson 6. GENERAL DAIRY FARM PRACTICES AND IDENTIFICATION OF CATTLE (PART-1)
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4/28/13 MP-1: Lesson 6. GENERAL DAIRY FARM PRACTICES AND IDENTIFICATION OF CATTLE (PART-1)
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