Dairy Production Cows

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Dairy Production - Cows Goats

• Dayton T. Maxwell
• Assistant Professor
• Agricultural Business
• SUNY Cobleskill

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Ruminant Nutrition

• What is ruminant digestion?
• 4 compartments
• Microorganisms break down feedstuffs for
  physiological functions
• I.e. grass hay, corn silage, soybean meal

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Ruminant Nutrition

• Rumen microorganisms convert feedstuffs into
  volatile fatty acids
• VFAs are absorbed by finger like rumen papillae
  and enter the blood stream

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Ruminant Nutrition

• Volatile Fatty Acids or VFAs
• Acetic Acid used for energy, oxidized in
  muscles
• Propionic Acid converted to blood glucose by
  the liver
• Butyric Acid used for formation of milk fat by
  the mammary glands

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Ruminant Nutrition

• A proper balance of fiber is essential for
  healthy rumen function
• Too much fiber, rumen activity is slow, diets are
  usually low in required nutrients, full
• Minimal fiber, rumen activity too fast, nutrients
  cannot be absorbed, compromised animal health

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Ruminant Nutrition

• Feed Sources
• Forages can provide protein and energy but most
  importantly they provide fiber
• Concentrate feeds provide protein, fat, and
  energy in high amounts per unit
• Be aware of as fed compared to dry matter basis

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Ruminant Nutrition

• Protein Energy Sources
• Protein dry hay, haylage, soybean grain
  products
• Energy corn silage, corn meal, high moisture
  corn, corn grain

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Ruminant Nutrition

• Nutritional requirements are very different based
  on
• Growth
• Maintenance
• Reproduction
• Production
• Gestation
• Climate

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Ruminant Nutrition

• Water, water, water, water, water
• Free choice water
• No nutrition program will work without copious
  amounts of water

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Ruminant Nutrition

• Where to go for information?
• Internet search
• American Dairy Goat Association. info_at_adga.org
• Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle
• Nutrient requirements of dairy goats

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Reproduction

• An animal must give birth in order to lactate!!!

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Reproduction

• Estrus cycle upon puberty
• Doe estrus, every 21 days
• Cow estrus, 20 23 days
• Will not cycle when bred

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Reproduction

• Age and weight at first breeding
• Must observe heats!!!!!
• Goat, 7-10 months, 80 pounds, natural service
• Cow, 12 13 months, 800 pounds, artificial
  insemination

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Reproduction

• Heat detection
• Standing for mount
• Mounting others
• Restless, licking, sniffing
• Blatting, bellowing
• Vulva, swelling discharge, reddening
• Soiling or rough hair on rump and flanks
• Stressed animals, silent heat, be aware

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Reproduction

• Gestation period
• Doe, 145 155 days
• Cow, 280 290 days

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Reproduction

• Kidding/Calving
• The most stressful time in the animals life
• Prepare nutritionally
• Be aware of negative energy balance
• Metabolic disorders -milk fever, ketosis,
  metritis,
• Displaced abomasum be sure fiber levels are
  adequate for proper rumen function
• Colostrum for kid/calf health

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Milking

• Cow, 305 day lactation, 60 day dry period
• Calf/freshen and begin cycle again
• Must have cow bred at 80 100 days in milk
• 12 13 month calving interval
• NYS average 1,920 gallons 305 day lactation

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Milking

• Doe, 305 day lactation, 60 day dry period
• Kidd and begin cycle again
• Must have bred at 215 DIM for 12 month kidding
  interval
• 214 gallons 305 day lactation

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Milking

• Must milk at least 2x daily
• Maintain proper procedure and environment to
  avoid bacterial mastitis
• Somatic cell count
• California mastitis test
• Use antibiotics or natural remedy for mastitis

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Home Processing

• Equipment Investment
• Cow 50,000 - 300,000
• Goat 10,000 - 50,000
• New York State Department of Ag and Markets for
  inspection regulations and grant opportunities
• Must have a market!!!!!!!

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Housing

• Basic for a few animals
• Heavy investment for commercial operations,
  2,000 - 3,000 per head for cows
• Clean, dry beds, and well ventilated, bad air
  out, good air in, free choice feed and water
• Smell manure, not ventilated enough
• Minimize temperature fluctuations

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Resources

• Internet
• Cooperative Extension programs at Land Grant
  Universities