The genetic potential of a buffalo or a cow is used to determine milk production and fat proportion. It is impossible to raise milk yield above its genetic capacity. However, most dairy farmers in India do not receive their full potential milk production of dairy cows. The main cause of malnutrition is that dairy cattle are subjected to a variety of stressors.
As a result, the simplest way to maximize milk yield is to correct the nutritional requirements as well as address and regulate the stress factors.
How to correct the Nutritional Requirements?
20-25 kg of Green Fodder: Don’t only offer them one kind of green fodder; blend legumes like hedge Lucerne and cowpea in with standard fodder like C04, Sorghum, and other grains. Green fodder should be chaffed to maximize food consumption while reducing waste.
10 kg of dry fodder: After evening milking, dry fodder should be provided.
4 kg of concentrate feed: For high milkers, raise this amount. Don’t use only one kind of feed; instead, combine 1 oil cake (cottonseed cake, groundnut cake, or whatever is available locally), 1 grain (maize powder), and 1 husk (black gram husk, paddy husk, etc.). Through soaking it overnight, the feed will ferment and the food intake will improve.
This is critical: Have 50 grams of the mineral mixture. If you do not have a mineral blend, micronutrient deficiency can occur, lowering milk yield and possibly causing reproductive problems.
30 litres of hygienic/clean water: It is very necessary that you should provide your dairy cow with 30 litres of clean and hygienic water every day.
How to Address and Regulate Stress Factors?
- Every day, stick to the same schedule.
- Animals should be washed twice a day.
- Ensure that the dung is cleared three times a day.
- Ascertain that the animals are not hurt or threatened.
- Be sure the shed is free of mosquitoes.
- Milking should always be done at the same time and by the same person.
- Milk production would be reduced if the milker takes too long to milk the whole milk.
- Make sure the animals are dewormed on a daily basis. The amount of milk produced would be greatly reduced if the stomach is infested with worms.
- Animals should not be tied in direct sunshine.
- Allowing the animal to graze for at least a few hours would boost its appetite and make it happier, which means more milk will be produced.
Final Thoughts
India is the world’s leading producer of milk. The Indian government intends to raise milk production by 23 per cent per year. Dairy is a major source of protein in India, where the majority of the population is vegetarian. Additionally, paneer, ghee, yoghurt, and sauces made from milk are all staples of daily life in India. This makes India the world’s largest consumer and manufacturer of dairy products.
However, India’s milk yields are slightly below global expectations due to a combination of low genetic ability. Additionally, factors like inadequate nutrition control and a lack of veterinary assistance in dairy cows also play a role. Moreover, the genetic ability of a buffalo or a cow is used to determine milk production and fat proportion.
Dairy cows’ milk production cannot exceed their genetic capacity. However, most dairy farmers in India do not receive their dairy animals’ full potential milk production. In fact, the main cause of malnutrition is that dairy cattle are subjected to a variety of stressors. Therefore, the simplest way to maximize milk yield is to correct nutritional requirements as well as stress factors.
