Find out which type of dairy cow is best to raise for production purposes.
Dairy farming is a very good and attractive business that has many benefits and makes the farmer satisfied especially for those who love this job. However, it is necessary to start by laying a solid foundation even before thinking about what type of seed you will take for breeding. It is good to know that, management is one of the most important things that if done carelessly can even change the dairy cow to be as poor in production as local cattle.
Different breeds of dairy cattle have different needs, so the level of your preparation is very important. You need to understand that you have to meet your nutritional needs, not only for the initial needs but also for the future needs of your cattle. This issue has caused many farmers to fail because they enter this business without looking at the basic requirements and making solid plans.
Even if all the nutritional and other requirements are the same, a dairy cow must produce to its full potential. If you can afford to raise a real dairy cow, you must also realize that high milk production also requires high management. For this reason, it is best to raise a standard cow (preferably a crossbred) that will suit your ability to care for it.
It is worth looking at two types of dairy cows that are capable of producing a lot of milk;
1. Friesian
The Friesian cow is easily recognizable due to its black and white color, and is a cow with excellent milk production. These animals are large and can also have white and black or red and white patches. If well fed, a mature Friesian weighs up to 550 kilograms and stands 150 centimeters tall at the shoulder. A cow can be bred at five months of age and weighs 360 kilograms.
While some cows have a longer lifespan, the average lifespan of a Freshiani is six years. However, this breed of cow is a good milk producer, producing an average of 7,800 kilograms in 360 days with a lower fat content than other breeds of cow.
In addition, this type of cattle requires a lot of feeding, so it is recommended for livestock farmers who are sure to have good and sufficient nutrition throughout the year.
2. Ayrshire
This type of cattle has brown and white stripes almost the same as other types of cattle which tend to be colored (Mahogany). These cows have a normal average, with a weight of 540 kilograms at maturity. In addition, they can handle any type of farming and are not prone to any foot problems.
Ayrshires can do well on any type of pasture unlike other dairy cows. With good management and good feeding, the average milk production is 5400 kilograms with a higher fat content compared to the Freshian. Ayrshires are a good breed for raising especially due to their strength and high milk production. This type of cow is recognized for having a good shape with its teats appearing to be of good quality. In addition, the composition of its milk has made its milk very good for the production of butter and cheese.
Ayrshire milk is known as the “best drinking milk” due to its ability to contain sufficient fat and high protein content. For a beginner farmer, this breed of cow is very good to start with and later add fresh milk after your ability to care for it is established. Native breeds are very expensive and also difficult to find, so the easiest way for beginner dairy farmers is to find good conventional cows which are often crossbred, then improve them using the method of grafting good and high-producing sires. And this requires sufficient knowledge about the selection of sires.
*Important: When buying cows for breeding, it is good for the farmer to realize that, dairy producers often do not sell their cows with good production, instead they sell those that do not produce at a good rate, those with problems such as infertility, heat problems and those that are frequently attacked by diseases. For this reason, in addition to the type of cow you need to buy, it is very important to be careful not to buy a cow with any problem because that is where your production will start to become problematic and not reach the goal.
A barn and space for dairy cows,
a smart barn. Before a farmer thinks about housing for his cows, it is very good to ask himself how many livestock he will need to have after a few years, thus enabling him to allocate enough space for the livestock he will bring.
An easy way to figure this out is to ask yourself how many livestock you would like to have in the future and what level of milk production you would expect to achieve from your cows.
The first question is very important for the farmer to ask himself, as the size of the herd is determined by the amount of feed that will be required to feed the animals on a regular basis. Typically, one acre of land is sufficient to feed only one Fresian or two Jersey dairy cows.
One dairy cow ( Frisian , Guernsey, Jersey) consumes about 5 tons of green or dry fodder per year. This is equivalent to 25,000 kilograms of reeds or the amount of grass you have grown on one acre. Even with good management of grass pastures, or a mixture of forages such as legumes or plants such as desmodium , it is clear that you will still need at least an additional 0.75 acre of land to be able to feed your cows properly.
In general, dairy cows require a higher level of feed than beef cows, and often produce more when the quality of the feed is high. Similarly, if you produce your own feed, you will still need another source of additional feed in case of any problems with the feed.
This table shows the amount of feed required for various breeds of dairy cattle, as well as the land for producing pasture.
Indoor farming
In indoor farming, cattle need to be kept in a clean environment, and their housing should be sufficiently protected and provide them with freedom. Most herders have been investing a lot of money in building their livestock, and in the end they run out.
lack of money to feed the livestock. A beginning livestock farmer is advised to build good and affordable housing for his livestock and later develop the sheds from the income generated.
Things to consider when building barns
Space: A large cow needs enough space for feeding, resting and exercising, which most farmers do not consider and instead place their livestock in a small space which ultimately slows down the growth of the animal and overall production. For this reason, one large cow needs 8 square meters apart from its resting area. The easiest way is to allocate this area in front of the barn/shed. Remember, when you have more space, you create better production.
On:
It is good to have a roof to protect the livestock from wind, rain and hot sun. Make sure the roof is high, to give your livestock freedom to move around inside the barn without any problem. Make sure the slope of the roof does not affect the resting area and feeding area of the livestock, especially by allowing water to enter those areas.
Floor:
Make sure the floor has a good drainage system to allow water and urine to pass through, thus keeping the animals in good condition. You can make a cement floor that is easy to clean. However, since it costs money, a beginner farmer can use clay or another type of hard soil to make the floor. If you floor the barn, the floor should not be slippery because the cows can slip and get hurt. The floor should be slightly sloped and the slope should be towards the place where they urinate and defecate.
Bedding:
The area where the livestock rests should be well-lined. You can use any dry material that can absorb urine and manure. The lining should be changed regularly.
Water and feed troughs: Ensure there are sufficient troughs for feed and water. Stalls should be located close to sources of clean and safe water. On average, a cow needs to drink between 50 and 80 liters of water per day, equivalent to 5 to 8 buckets of water (10 liters each).
Compost pit:
Well-fed livestock produce a lot of manure, which can be a problem for people around you, especially if it spreads everywhere and causes a bad smell. If you raise a lot of livestock in a small area without having a special place to put the manure from the livestock, then it is obvious that you will cause misunderstandings with neighbors, but it will also cause the animals to live in a state of discomfort. It is good to prepare a special pit for manure, especially for domestic livestock, before using it for putting on pasture fields.
How to start a dairy farm easily
Before deciding to start a dairy farming business, good preparation is one of the factors that will determine whether you will succeed or not. Even before deciding what kind of cow you will buy, you must first think about what you will feed the cow.
Think feed, think hay
To raise cattle, you must have adequate feed. You can’t keep a cow producing when you don’t have enough good feed, including grass, legumes and grain straw. One good way to focus is on hay.
A beginner breeder must consider these for nutrition;
• Make sure you maintain the native grasses that are present on your pasture
• Add to your pasture by planting new grasses
• Buy pasture where you can graze your livestock
• Rent or buy land to grow pasture and then cut and feed the livestock
• Buy grass from people who own pastures or who sell cut grass.
