Dairy Production

What are the classifications of milk?

class 1 - beverages

class 2 - soft products (soft or frozen ie heavy cream, yogurt ice cream)

class 3 - cheese

class 4 - butter/powder products

What drives milk cost?

supply vs demand

feed, care, labor, replacements

How many lactations until a cow has paid for a replacement?

2 lactations (broken even, everything past is profit)

What are the lactation stages?

calves, weaning, breeding, pregnant, milking

What are some standards for dairy calves?

separated at birth to give high quality colostrum

umbilical care

nutrition key - bottle fed w ad lib water & grain/grass hay

When are vx given?

at 6 wks, prior to weaning

What infectious diseases are you most worried about in calves prior to weaning?

diarrhea

What are some weaning standards?

~ 8 wks

vx prior as stressful

moved into group housing

transition to solid commercial feed/hay

What infectious dz are you most worried about in post weaning calves?

resp. dz

What are some standards for diary heifers?

size based groups and roughage diet

goal is to grow without over conditioned (reduced dystocia risk)

bred at 65% weight

What are some standards for lactating cows?

receive total mixed ration

goal is consistency, fiber length, energy requirements

What are the stages of lactation?

freshening/calving, early lactation, mid lactation, late lactation, dry off

When is peak milk in lactation (dairy prod)?

between freshending and early lactation

45-90 days

What is close-up period (diary)?

21 days prior to calving

adapt to lactation diet (prevent hypocalcemia)

What is mid lactation?

days 100-200

milk yield gradually decreases

What is late lactation?

day 200-305

milk yield decreases

BMI improved for next lactation

What is dry-off?

day 305-365

no longer milked

preparation for calving/subsequent lactation

monitor BCS

What causes ketosis during lactation?

in early lactation milk production rapidly increases but dry matter intake lags behind

energy deficit/imbalance leads to ketosis

How is milking done?

proper management/training necessary

2-3x per day

various parlor types and milking systems

How are udders prepared for milking?

remove dirty

pre-dip to remove environmental pathogens

strip teat

wipe off dip

attach milker

post-dip for contagious pathogens

How many days is lactation in US dairy?

305

What health concerns are commonly seen during lactation?

hypocalcemia, mastitis, ketosis, lameness

What are some keys to profit for dairy?

no shortcuts

low feed costs and good quality milk

cow selection, calf management, dz prevention

cleanliness and record keeping