6. Dairy cattle technologies 젖소 품종 개량 기술

B5 Dairy cattle technologies (housing, feeding and milking systems)

 

Dairy cattle (cows)- cattle cows bred to produce large quantities of milk, from which dairy products are made

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​Technology of dairy cattle keeping:

Life of a cattle:

• a dairy cattle life starts with birth: the cow & calf are most commonly together during the first 3-4 days (colostral period)

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milk feeding period:

• the calf Is separated from its mother but still needs to be fed on milk or milk replacement for 90 days
• no direct contact btw the calves to avoid contaminations and bacterial spreading
• during this period, they get their ear tags and horns removed
• after this period, they kept together in groups of max 15
• heifers (young female cow that hasn’t born a calf) are separated from males
• at 9 months they are kept in larger groups – their weight is measured continuously
• heifers are sexually matured at the age of 12 months
• at 15 months’ age: the breeding time: done by insemination
• after the first calving and first lactation the heifer has become a cow

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housing systems:

• animals are grouped according to their daily milk yield (lactation has 4 periods)
• the cows need drinking water & a salt stone all the time

barns can be (the large farm building for housing livestock):

open systems:

• popular during 80s and 90s. paddock (the small enclosure) in connection with the barn to which the cows could go
• it Is a limited type of keeping  needs more space

closed systems:

• tied model: each animal has its own box, sleeping place, where it is getting milk, food and sleep. It is tied in a chain around the neck. The stable has a central corridor for breeding, which occurs on the ground
• un- tied model: cows are allowed to walk around and are only tied while feeding and milking. There are individual sleeping places but the cows are free to walk around.
• There are special areas in the un-tied system where the cows are being inseminated, or where blood samples are taken.

​Roundhouse cattle house is stress-free, low disease challenge environment, resulting in longer lifetime milk production. [Courtesy]. A typical Roundhouse he explains, has eight compartments and can hold about 80 cattle with cubicles inside where animals are place according to their age and developmental needs for instance calves, pregnant and nursing cows​

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Feeding systems (fodder):

• Base fodder: usually silage (conserved- type fodder). The composition is changed during the cycle of a cow, depending on high lactation, calving, etc. higher needs during lactation.
• Concentrate fodder: mixed fodder from different sources. TMR: total mixed ratio. Has to be mixed properly so the animal will eat everything
• Transponders: electronic feeding system. important for individual feeding, recognizes the animal and gives the right amount of feed.

​Feed Management: To improve health and productivity, it’s best to feed each cow an individualized diet. Feed management software calculates feed amounts and supplementation needs based on yield, milk quality, and body weight. This makes it much easier for farmers to manage customized feed and improve production.​

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Milking systems:

• During milking the milk is collected & the amount is registered
• For hygiene- teats are cleaned and disinfected.
• Milking systems can be: tied system, untied system, robot, carousel, or standing in a line to enter one at a time to the milking facility
• Milk Meter: Measure the amount of milk as it is being milked with a high level of accuracy. This enables Israeli dairy farmers to closely monitor milk yield per each cow or goat, an essential step for managing productivity effectively.
• Milk Analyzer: Sometime built right into milk meters, milk analyzes milk for quality and potential health problems in the stock. Can sense the warning signs of health issues such as ketosis, mastitis, ruminal acidosis, and nutrition deficiencies.

Other cattle technologies systems:

• ​Liquid Nitrogen semen tanks: One of the reasons that AI can go wrong is poor semen quality and number two is poor semen handling and thawing.
• ​Advanced dairy unit monitoring system: Milking robot, automatic feeding systems etc.
• ​Pedometer: Attached to the cow’s leg or collar, pedometers measure a cow’s body heat and walking activity. This information helps to monitor the cow’s health, and most importantly, it helps to determine exactly when a cow is going into estrus, or heat. This is essential for increasing pregnancy rates while keeping the cost of breeding low.
• ​Herd management software: compiles data from all dairy farm sensors, including information on fertility, milk production, feeding, and health. It analyzes this information and presents it in an accessible format that helps dairy farmers make decisions to improve dairy performance, productivity, health, and fertility.

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