Nutrition & Milk Production

Animal nutrition has a major influence on milk yield, reproductive performance, body condition, and overall health. Dairy animals need diets that meet their changing nutritional requirements throughout the production cycle.

Feeding should provide appropriate amounts of forage, concentrates, minerals, and other nutrients according to the animal's age, body condition, pregnancy status, and milk production stage.

Health Monitoring

Common dairy problems include mastitis, reproductive disorders, lameness, metabolic problems, heat stress, poor body condition, and inadequate calf growth.

Farmers should regularly monitor milk yield, appetite, body condition, udder appearance, milk colour and consistency, temperature, and behaviour.

• Swollen or painful udder
• Abnormal milk colour or consistency
• Sudden reduction in milk production
• Loss of appetite
• Changes in behaviour or movement

Housing, Water & Heat Management

Dairy animals should have clean, comfortable, well-drained housing with adequate ventilation and sufficient space for resting and movement.

Clean water is particularly important because lactating animals can have high water requirements. During hot weather, shade, ventilation, and access to adequate drinking water can help reduce heat stress.

Milking Hygiene & Milk Safety

Milking hygiene is essential for producing safe milk and reducing mastitis risk. Animals, udders, hands, and milking equipment should be kept appropriately clean.

Milk should be handled carefully and stored under appropriate hygienic and temperature-controlled conditions to help maintain quality and reduce contamination risks.

• Maintain clean milking areas
• Keep equipment hygienic
• Handle milk carefully
• Follow appropriate storage conditions
• Monitor udder health regularly