On-farm dairy guide for students and teachers.

On-farm dairy guide for students and teachers.

Contents Page Sample questionnaire -that can be used for a dairy farm visit Literacy & Numeracy in Dairy Production Ag Science Comparison between the composition of whole milk and colostrum Milk Hygiene and milk testing Section through the udder How to maintain hygienic standards Typical lactation curve for a dairy cow Factors affecting milk yield and composition Changes in milk yield over time Comparison between dairy and beef breeds Bovine body and skeletal structures Sample dairy spider diagram Four important dairy breeds Farm maps Notes

Sample Questions Dairy Visit The Farm Owner of the Farm: Location of Farm: Total Size of Farm: Liquid or Creamery Farm? Grassland Management: Grazing Systems used Reseeded Pastures or permanent pastures Grass Species in the sward: Is clover included in the sward? Is grass conserved on the farm? What type of Conservation is used? Are the animals housed during the winter? How much silage (rough figure) per head would a cow eat in a day during the winter? How are stocking rates calculated? Livestock & Breeding: How many in the dairy herd? What breed(s) are the dairy Cows? Why these breeds? Is AI or Stock Bull used?

What is the breeding target on the farm? (Reproductive Efficiency) What is the current Calving Interval of the farm? What happens to males born on the unit? What % of the dairy herd is replaced each year? At what age & weight is a replacement heifer put in calf? Milking & The Parlour At what times are the cows milked? Milking Interval? How many cows can be milked at one time? How much milk on average would 1 cow produce in a milking? How are the animals fed while in the parlour? How does the farmer prepare the cow for milking? Describe the Practices used in the parlour to ensure high levels of hygiene How is the milk transported & cooled as it travels from the cow to the bulk tank What tests are carried out on the milk at site? Describe the machines seen in the parlour & what are their functions?

How much is a pint of milk in the shop? How much does the dairy farmer get? (Rough price) Composition: What is the average butterfat content of the milk? How much does the butterfat vary throughout the year? Any variation in butterfat from morning & evening milk? Average protein content of milk? Does the protein content vary throughout the year? What are the main Factors that affect Composition? Diseases & Disease Control? Average SCC of the Milk? Above what range is SCC deemed too high? Average TBC of the Milk? Above what range is TBC deemed too high? What are the main disease problems in the herd? How are diseases prevented? How are diseases treated?

Literacy & Numeracy in Dairy Production Terms Lactation Alveolus Udders / Teats Prolactin Oxytocin Adrenalin Reproductive Efficiency Calving Intervals Replacement Heifers Resazurin Milking Interval Homogenisation Gerber Apparatus / Butyrometer Delvo test Antibiotic Antibodies Milk sediments Milk contaminants Concepts / Processes Liquid Farms & Creamery Farms Milk Let down The process of (Hormonal Control) Milking The process of to ensure quality (9) Breeds used (Their shape, desirable characteristics) Factors affecting Milk Composition and/or Yield Production rations & Maintenance ration Management of animal during early / Mid / Late lactation: Feeding, breeding, housing & health Milking off her back Process of & Reasons for Drying Off / break in lactation Methods of & importance of Heat Detection Hormonal control of Oestrus (FSH, Oestrogen, Progesterone) Calving Signs of Birth, Management at birth, Management of cow & Calf after birth Feeding & management of calf (taken after 24hrs)

Numeracy Composition of Milk Length of lactation in days & months Length of dry period Graph: Lactation Curve Mathematical formula: Calculation of TLY Target Reproductive Efficiency (Weaning Rate) Target Calving Interval Length of Oestrus Length of Gestation Replacement Rate of dairy herd Replacement Heifer target weights Minimum age & weight of maiden heifers Condition Scores at critical Times ie Mating / Calving Temperature & Length of time for UHT of Milk Temperature & Length of time for Pasteurisation of Milk Ideal temperature for refrigeration of milk Abbreviations: TLY FSH LH PRID / CIDR EBI UHT LU

Comparison between the composition of whole milk and colostrum Milk constitute % in milk % in colostrum Fat 3.8 4 Protein 3.1 15.2 Non protein nitrogen 0.2 0.2 Lactose 4.6 1.4 Minerals and vitamins 0.8 1.2 water 87.5 78 Note This may vary depending on the breed of cow, quality of feed, time of year etc... Points to note Butterfat & Protein content increase as Cow starts to go dry (Late Lactation) Butterfat & Protein % tends to decline with age Morning milk contains less Butterfat than evening milk Fibrous feed (Silage / Hay) increases Butterfat content whilst leafy grass increases protein content

Milk Hygiene and Milk Testing Total bacterial count (TBC): Used as an indicator of hygiene on a farm. TBC can be high as a result of mastitis, dirty milking machinery or failure to properly cool the milk. Somatic cell count (SCC): A measure of the health of the udder. Somatic cells are normal body cells (In this case - white blood cells). These increase if the udder has mastitis. Click to view Wikipedia site on SCC. Antibiotics: Must be absent from milk at all times as antibiotics interfere with the processing of the milk. Delvo test : is carried out on raw milk to identify the presence of antibiotics. Note-Having Antibodies in milk that may pass into food chain may cause a build up of antibiotic resistance in Humans Sediment: Milk must be free from sediment (residues) and undissolved particles. The udder and the teat should be cleaned prior to milking and the milk filters must be changed regularly. Milk lines are washed & sterilised each day

HUSBANDRY AND MANAGEMENT TO MAINTAIN HIGH HYGIENE STANDARDS Maintain clean housing, cubicles and dairy parlour. Wash cow s udder and teat. Check for mastitis. Use dry-cow treatment at drying off. Filter milk. Wash bulk tank and milk line regularly. Ensure proper cooling of milk. Typical lactation curve for a dairy cow

FACTORS AFFECTING MILK YIELD & COMPOSITION Factors Affecting Yield Breed Age Diet Milking Interval / Frequency Lactation stage Health Factors Affecting Composition Breed Age Diet / season Milking Interval / Frequency Lactation Stage Health Changes in milk yield over time Age Lactation Number Lactation yield (% on maximum yield) 2 1 75 3 2 85 4 3 90 5 4 95 6 5 100

Comparison between dairy and beef breeds Beef Breeds Bottom line and Underline Parallel Shoulders & hindquarters wide and meaty Head short and wide Back level and well fleshed Legs are long, wide and deep Dairy Breeds Top Line and Underline converge at point. Shoulders narrow, hindquarters narrow. Head long & narrow Back level but thin Legs are long, wide strong but not fleshy

Dairy- Spider diagram Diseases Breeds Dairy Milk composition Replacement Heifers Calf rearing Management of the cow

Dairy breeds British Friesian Holstein Friesian Jersey Ayrshire

Farm yard and farm maps Farm layout 10 marks Candidates are required to present a sketch plan indicating the farmhouse and buildings the farm and to demonstrate their ability to discuss the farm buildings and how they provide the environmental conditions required on the farm and to demonstrate the physical/ aesthetic layout of the house in relation to the farm, farmyard and general surroundings. Suitable information/ discussion points might include e.g. planning for economy of labour, aspect, roadways, fencing, shelter, grazing methods, crops grown. Farm yard map

Farm map- (grazing system, silage fields etc.)

Notes

Notes