dairy production lec 13

Question 1

what is cow time and what are its goals

Answer 1

-	Cow Time
o	Project funded by government and dairy industry 
o	goals
	Increase Labour Productivity 
	Make Milking Easier, Safer and More Pleasant 
	Good Stock Handling 
•	 calm cows
o	increased milk yields 
o	better health 
•	fearful cows
o	lower MY, more injuries

Question 2

what are the 3 main principle of cow time

Answer 2

o	principles
	Cows 
•	Behavior and flow 
	People 
•	Work rate and attitude 
	Facilities 
•	Design and efficiency 
	all interact

Question 3

what needs to be considered when moving stock from paddock to yards

Answer 3

good design and practise
paddock gateways
laneways

Question 4

what is the advantage of moving animals well from paddock to yard

Answer 4

o	good design and practise 
	Reduce lameness + mastitis 
	Faster easier 
	Cleaner cows 
	Less laneway maintenance 
	Reduced environmental bacteria in milk 
•	contamination- faeces

Question 5

what is the advantage of having a good dairy entry

Answer 5

o	gate entry = width of lane
o	good design
	better flow
	improved milk let down
	reduced injuries

Question 6

what is the advantage of having good practises in the dairy

Answer 6

o good design diary and efficient milking routine will:
 routine easier, comfortable, faster and safe
 cows enter voluntarily
 Keep stress to a minimum
 Improve cow behaviour
 Improve milk quality and udder health

Question 7

what is milk let down

Answer 7

o	milk let down
	Consistent calm routines 
	Takes 60-90 sec 
	Ready when teats are plump 
	milk flow rate is commonly 3-5L/min 
o	milking the cow
	Poor let down leads to longer milking time  
	Uncomfortable for cows – kick out, damages teat 
	Slow milking cows 
•	Cull

Question 8

what are the 2 types of ponds and when are each used

Answer 8

 Anaerobic – no or low oxygen
• bacteria break down solids and reduce sludge
• 3m deep
• Emptied every 5-12 years but not completely as bacteria required for anaerobic process

	Aerobic – oxygen available 
•	2m deep 
••	Irrigated to pasture 
o	careful of levels of some nutrients 
•	pumped to flood wash tank