Doubling of dairy milk production can be done within two months with the correct procedure followed. Feeding cows on silage brings improvement in terms of milk production.
Various methods developed by farmers are customised for their systems They are mostly dependent on location, availability of feeds and system they are using i.e zero or semi- zero grazing. Before doing dairy farming the following factors should be considered: First is Land and second is labour since intensive labour is paramount in dairy production. Lastly capital is important in order to obtain equipment and building of the cowshed.
Grass fermentation
Fermentation is done using molasses as it helps increase milk production. Molasses are important since they provide sugar to dairy animals, improve palatability of feed ration and used in silage making to aid fermentation. It also eases digestion in the dairy animals.
To ferment hay, it is first spread and water sprinkled on it to soften. Molasses is mixed with water in a ratio of 1:1 and spread over hay. The hay mixture is then put in a drum and compacted.
Storage of hay
Hay is stored for 3-4 days in an airtight lid to prevent air from getting in so as to allow fermentation to occur. For semi – zero grazing, cows graze first then they are later fed with fermented hay. On zero grazing system the recommended ratio for a milking cow is 30 kg of silage.
Storing of silage ensures that there is constant milk production in all seasons either dry or rainy hence farmers can realize good profits.
Deworming of animals
First deworming should be done when the animal is 2-4 months or an average of 3 months. Deworming intervals depend on the de wormer used. For lactating cows, they are dewormed one at a time since you have to wait for 48 hours in order to consume the milk.
Calves are dewormed on a monthly basis. To sum up, after deworming, the cow stays up to 72 hours.
