Write a note on management of dairy animals.
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Amongst the environmental factors, hot ambient temperature has significant impact on the productive and reproductive performance of livestock species. Several factors are responsible for causing heat stress and major factors are high ambient temperature and high humidity.
Signs of heat Stress
Common symptoms of heat-stressed animal include
Animal moves to shadeWater intake enhanced while feed intake reducedPrefers standing than lying downIncreased respiration rate, body temperatureIncreased production of salivaOpen-mouth panting
Reproductive and Production Challenges
Heat stress challenges the production and reproduction performance dairy animals. The milk production declines. Milk composition like milk fat%, SNF% are also affected. Heat stress negatively affects follicular development and estrous cycle.
Strategies to reduce the negative effects of heat stress
Breeding Management
As cows exhibit lesser heat symptoms during heat stress zones as compared to thermal comfort periods, it is necessary to adopt a good heat detection program to detect cows with marginal heat symptoms. It is always advisable to continue AI breeding instead of using bulls because in natural breeding both bull and cows suffers infertility due to summer stress. Genetic selection of heat tolerant animals and inclusion of heat tolerance as a trait in selection programme will be a boon to the farms.
Cooling systems in the farm
Fans in combination with water sprinkling facility provide the best cooling option. Excessive sprinkling should never be practised as it can result into wet bedding making animal prone to mastitis and other diseases. The farm should be well ventilated.
Feeding Management
Heat stressed animals are more likely to have lower reproductive and productive performance. Feeding high quality forages and balanced rations will decrease some of the effects of heat stress and will boost performance of the animals. Some nutritional management tips to manage heat stress are:
Provide high quality feeds like total mixed rationsIncrease the frequency of feedingsFeed during cooler times of the dayKeep feed fresh as much as possibleProvide high-quality forageProvide adequate fibreUse of by–pass proteins can enhance the milk yield and protein content.Intake of sufficient cool water is probably the most important strategy for animals to undertake during heat stress.
Providing natural or artificial shade area
Plantation around the farm will help in alleviating heat load from the animals. But, in today’s commercial dairy industry, it is not always practicable. Therefore, provision of artificial shade area by shade cloth or a naturally well ventilated structure with open sidewalls can keep the animals away from direct solar radiation.
Selection of heat tolerant animals
Genetic Selection of animals based on specific molecular genetic markers for heat tolerance will definitely be a boon to alleviate heat stress in cattle and buffaloes by identifying the heat tolerant animals.
Hope it helps
Signs of heat Stress
Common symptoms of heat-stressed animal include
Animal moves to shadeWater intake enhanced while feed intake reducedPrefers standing than lying downIncreased respiration rate, body temperatureIncreased production of salivaOpen-mouth panting
Reproductive and Production Challenges
Heat stress challenges the production and reproduction performance dairy animals. The milk production declines. Milk composition like milk fat%, SNF% are also affected. Heat stress negatively affects follicular development and estrous cycle.
Strategies to reduce the negative effects of heat stress
Breeding Management
As cows exhibit lesser heat symptoms during heat stress zones as compared to thermal comfort periods, it is necessary to adopt a good heat detection program to detect cows with marginal heat symptoms. It is always advisable to continue AI breeding instead of using bulls because in natural breeding both bull and cows suffers infertility due to summer stress. Genetic selection of heat tolerant animals and inclusion of heat tolerance as a trait in selection programme will be a boon to the farms.
Cooling systems in the farm
Fans in combination with water sprinkling facility provide the best cooling option. Excessive sprinkling should never be practised as it can result into wet bedding making animal prone to mastitis and other diseases. The farm should be well ventilated.
Feeding Management
Heat stressed animals are more likely to have lower reproductive and productive performance. Feeding high quality forages and balanced rations will decrease some of the effects of heat stress and will boost performance of the animals. Some nutritional management tips to manage heat stress are:
Provide high quality feeds like total mixed rationsIncrease the frequency of feedingsFeed during cooler times of the dayKeep feed fresh as much as possibleProvide high-quality forageProvide adequate fibreUse of by–pass proteins can enhance the milk yield and protein content.Intake of sufficient cool water is probably the most important strategy for animals to undertake during heat stress.
Providing natural or artificial shade area
Plantation around the farm will help in alleviating heat load from the animals. But, in today’s commercial dairy industry, it is not always practicable. Therefore, provision of artificial shade area by shade cloth or a naturally well ventilated structure with open sidewalls can keep the animals away from direct solar radiation.
Selection of heat tolerant animals
Genetic Selection of animals based on specific molecular genetic markers for heat tolerance will definitely be a boon to alleviate heat stress in cattle and buffaloes by identifying the heat tolerant animals.
Hope it helps
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Management of the dairy animals:
• The feeding and grazing procedures of the dairy animals are very important and necessary in order to achieve a great amount of dairy production.
• The maintenance of the animals (eg. Cleaning them, vaccination etc) are also necessary for a great management of the dairy animals.
• The milk extraction process is also vital part of the whole management procedure.
And many more.
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