Hello friends, welcome to another week.
Dairy farmers play a vital role in agriculture by raising livestock, such as cows, to produce milk. This milk is not sold directly but is also processed into dairy products.
Sustaining a dairy farm demands a holistic mindset that is essential for the health of the farm and the community it serves. The diary farmers put lots of practices together to sustain their farm which include:
Reusing water
Dairy farmers use water to cool milk, which may be used in some cleaning farm tools and barns and later reused for irrigation farming in crops. Dairy farmers use water wisely.
Use of technology
Modernization contributes to increased productivity. Dairy farmers leverage technology to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their operations.
Fencing waterways
To get better quality water, the dairy farmers fence off the waterways.
Keep diary cow healthy
The cows should be kept in a clean home with comfortable stalls and bedding; for the cows to produce healthy and safe quality milk, there should be reduced use of antimicrobials in dairy farming, and their overall hygiene should be improved.
Considering site specificities
Dairy farmers should consider a lot of factors when choosing a site for their operation, like the surrounding activities, topography, and social and ecological conditions are crucial elements that should inform the planning.
Dairy farmers use the cow's manure in numerous beneficial ways including:
Compost
Dairy farmers compost their cow manures and sell them to other farmers for vegetable farms and flower nurseries. Composting reduces the use of chemical fertilizers
fertilizers
Dairy farmers use cow manure as fertilizers to help prevent pollution on their farms.
Plaster
There are some places where cow manure is used as plaster for buildings. A dairy farmer sells to such people
Fuel
Dried cow manure is used to process heat for cooking; people who travel far in the desert use cow manure as their source of cooking heat.
When a dairy cow gets sick, the first thing to do is to identify the sick cow; a means of identification is to label the sick dairy cow and withdraw from the herd to avoid mixing up with the healthy ones. They are then given appropriate treatment and antibiotics during the period of withdrawal from the herd. Their milk will be discarded throughout the treatment period and while they are in their recovery period, their milk will be in continuous check or testing until there is no trace of antibiotic before the milk from that cow can be saved again.
Feeding a sick cow depends on what the illness is and what needs to be replenished. You need to feed the sick cow with a balanced diet to gain energy and health. But in general, a sick cow needs a diet rich in protein and carbohydrates and includes lots of fibre.
Of course, dairy farming contributes greatly to the economy by creating a wide range of job opportunities at various levels ranging from farm workers, logistic personnel and sales personnel. Also, dairy farming plays an important role in guaranteeing food security and providing a steady supply of nutritious dairy products, which are important for a balanced diet.
Additionally, dairy farming generates substantial income for farmers and supports livelihood, strengthening the local economy. However the development and growth of dairy farming, also leads to expansion in livestock farming practices, resulting in better animal health and pro-productivity
Dairy farming plays an essential role in the economy, contributing significantly to food production and the economy.
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