S.4 Agriculture Diary Management Caltec S.4

DIARY MANAGEMENT The main reason why farmers keep diary cattle is the product ion of milk. Milk is a white nutritiuos liquid produ ced by a cow ( lactating animal ) after successful parturition. The lactat ing cow produces m ilk from the time of parturition to the period of drying off. Common diary breeds include; • Hollestein Fres ian • Guernsey • Ayrshire • Jersey • Brown Swiss Characteristics of a good diary breed.  It is wedge or triangular shaped ie thin at t he head and wide at the rear.  Have pronounced milk veins for good supply of blood to the udder.  Well spaced teats which are long enough.  Well attached udder .  Large capacity of udder.  Have long gestation period.  Should be able to produce a lot of milk. Bene fits/ advantages of diary farming. ❖ The farmer has a stable source of income and employment to the family. ❖ The cattle convert fibrous mat erials which are useless into high food value products like milk. ❖ The animal s are more efficient producers of human Food compared to other animals. ❖ Are sources of farm Yard manure. ❖ After their production cycle, they are fattened for meat production Limitations of diary farming • It requires a lot of labour. • Requires a lot of capital investment. • Milk is highly perishable. • Requ ires a lot of skills, knowledge and modern equipment. • It has alot of risks. Requirements for successful diary production. ✓ High st andard of management on ✓ Good feeding for the an imals. ✓ Good stockmanahip to look after the animals. ✓ Proper di seases control. ✓ Equipment for feeding, diseases control , milking, etc . ✓ Processing and marketing facilities. Milk composition Milk is …