Higher Milk Yield - Cows

Modern Dairy Farming

Milch animal yield poor in the Indian sub-continent!

900 kg per year V/s 9000 kg per year (Local average v/s Global average)

Why is the yield poor?

What are milk farmers in leading milk producing nations, namely in Europe, talking with regard to yield…

Study by Cornell University shows that dairy cows using the DeLaval Swinging Cow Brush (SCB) register higher milk production and lower clinical mastitis cases.

The study compared different groups of cows housed in pens using the Swinging Cow Brush to the similar reference groups kept in identical pens under the exact same conditions but without the SCB. The research team concluded that second lactation cows using the SCB showed a significant and increasing difference in daily milk production of up to +1kg per day.

"The Swinging Cow Brush provided a favourite pass time for the cows in this herd. It was fun to watch their interaction with this grooming device.


The added benefit of increased production and reduced clinical mastitis makes me think that every farmer should utilize the Cow Brush to make the cows and themselves a bit happier" said Ynte H. Schukken, Professor of Herd Health at Cornell University.

Installation of the SCB resulted in an immediate increase in cow grooming behavior. Farm workers noticed instantly the frequent, intense use of the brushes and the eagerness of the cows to use them, according to the Cornell research team. A second major finding was the significant drop in clinical mastitis cases (over 30%) among second and older lactation cows housed in pens with a SCB present.

According to the study investment made on SCB can be covered several times over by the profits made through increased milk production and the cost savings achieved through mastitis prevention. Additionally, the SCB keeps cows clean, active, calm and more balanced.

Mind you milk yield is already high in Europe Milch animals yet these leaders are experimenting and finding solutions to increase Milk yield – What about the dairy farmers in the Indian subcontinent? What are they talking?


Do post your comments.

Modern Dairy Farming

Milch animal yield poor in the Indian sub-continent!

900 kg per year V/s 9000 kg per year (Local average v/s Global average)

Why is the yield poor?

Let’s review the Dairy farm operations.

Dairy Farmers, in the Indian sub-continent, perceived the Dairy business as traditional with family members running the operations for generations.

Most dairy farmers were not entirely aware of the economics of the day to day business. As animal feed was grass or shrubs available around the dairy farms & family members never asked for a salary. This pattern particularly of feeding & watering has been quite the same for a long time.

What’s changing now?

A large percentage of dairy farmers are aware of:

• Animal management practices
• Milch animal comfort &
• Animal Health

being directly related to milk yield, hygiene and overall quality of milk.

However, few have taken up to modern dairy farming, in-spite of being aware of the truth – that Dairy Businesses are profitable and long-lasting.

Rural prosperity by dairy farming is the dire need of the hour.
The Present is challenging and changing….

DeLaval INDIA TURNS TABELA TO A MODERN DAIRY FARM

Indian Exotic Ice Creams Pvt. Limited has recently put up green field commercial Buffalo Dairy farm near Igatpuri (Nashik) for 700 Buffaloes with a total milk production of approximately 6000 Liters per day with best of hygiene and quality.

The Company has been in traditional dairy farming business for last three generations and adopted new technology this dairy farm project.

The project is promoted by forward looking Visionaries & young dairy farmer brothers. They have had traditional Buffalo farms in Mumbai wherein Buffaloes are tied up to a post and milking done by hand or by milking machines.

The temptation for a new technology, Labour challenges, Limitation to expand while working traditionally, Consumers demanding good milk- quality, milk yield and Pollution-sanitation rules were the motivations for them to relocate farm away from urban localities and try new concept of this large commercial farm which they have been evaluating since last few years.

DeLaval assisted the Project going in stages.

• The first stage was farm mechanization at Mumbai with Bucket milking machines which was successfully introduced to Buffaloes and operational in their existing set up with the Technical inputs from Delaval, who are global leaders in Milking Technologies from last 125 years.

• Needless to say that bankers believed in them and agreed to provide necessary support. After the success of these Machines, they decided to completely automate the operations and decision was taken with calculated risk in mind to start up a first commercial Dairy project with technical support from Delaval for farm planning and set up.

• They also went around the globe in various countries i.e. Sweden, Italy and saw successful dairy farms to understand the management routines and the advantages of the mechanized systems and working.

• The new farm provides focus on animal comfort Researched and Deployed by Delaval globally - buffaloes are free to move on their will and wish ( they are not tied to a post), they get specially formulated feed from a feed management system are monitored closely for their activities with help of software , milking is done in a fully automated parlour and milk is sent through pipeline to a bulk milk cooler.


Milk Untouched by hand – A complete Hygiene !! .

The process ensures least pollution, better yield and complete control over milk quality and animal health. The farm operations started since April 2009.

On their road to this concept they have certainly faced many challenges, namely:-

• educating labour,
• convincing bankers,
• convincing family members and the community of traditional tabela owners

However, their passion, vision and willingness to learn and implement Continual-improvements drove them to achieve this new milestone.

Their future vision is to improve the genetics of the buffaloes, In-House calf rearing activities, improving milk quality for better milk price realization and improvement in Milk Production.