How to increase milk productivity in cows & buffaloes

Milk is an important component of diets for all humans as it is high in essential amino acids that are most likely to be deficient in diets based on vegetable protein. Although milk is a high-cost source of protein and fat relative to vegetable sources, it is readily saleable particularly in the more affluent urban areas of developing countries. Improving milk production is therefore an important tool for improving the quality of life particularly for rural people in developing countries.

In addition the diet, rearing conditions and herd management have a direct impact on the amount of milk produced per cow per day. The key factors that affect milk productivity are:  nutrition, health, environmental and herd housing.

  • Management of reproductive issues: poor reproductive performance increases the calving to calving interval and, therefore, the average length of lactation. As a direct effect, low reproductive performance can prevent the diet from being fully utilized.
  • Control of health issues: the various diseases commonly encountered in dairy herds can reduce the efficiency  of digestion and cause disorders in eating behaviors as well as affect secretory tissues.
  • Housing conditions: housing must favor a better expression of the full potential of animals’ behavior. Animals should have permanent access to the feed bunk and drinking water. Appropriate housing must also prevent the emergence of diseases inherent to rearing contexts.

Basic Principles

  • To make the digestive system of the cow as efficient as possible by ensuring optimum conditions for microbial growth in the rumen.
  • To optimise production by balancing nutrients so that these are used as efficiently as possible for milk production without jeopardising the reproductive capacity of the cow.

Any further increases in production may be obtained by the use of supplements of protein, starch and lipids to provide nutrients for milk production above those obtained when the efficiency of utilisation of the basal feed has been optimised. These supplements should be processed and must by-pass the rumen and become available for digestion in the intestine and in this way provide the nutrients in exactly the correct balance for additional milk production.

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