Mr. M.KAMALESH,
III BVSc & AH
VETERINARY COLLEGE AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE,TIRUNELVELI-627358.
TAMIL NADU VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY
Guide: Dr V Ramakrishnan, Assistant Professor, Veterinary College and Research Institute,Tirunelveli-627358,Tamil Nadu Veterinary And Animal Sciences University.
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In India about 70% farmer’s livelihood relies upon agribusiness division. Farming part assumes a significant job in Indian economy. In India salary of ranchers shifts from state to state. Current Income isn’t adequate to satisfy their regular schedule need in 21st century. So here it is critical to concentrate on twofold the rancher’s salary. After the Green Revolution, India’s food creation increased by 3.7 occasions while the populace duplicated by 2.55 occasions . In India food creation has expanded from 51 million tons to 273 million tons in 1950-51 to 2016-17. Net outcome has been a 45% expansion in per individual food creation, which has made India not just food independent at total level yet in addition a net food sending out nation. Multiplying of rancher’s pay by 2022 given by Hon. PM Narendra Modiji and was reported by Hon. Account Minister Arun Jaitley during his spending discourse on February 29, 2016 in Bareilly (U.P), Dairy farmers willing to increase their milking herd have to be careful. It is important to choose healthy, strong cows which can produce more milk over a longer period of time.So there is a need for selection of good dairy cows. Proper selection is the first and the most important step to be adopted in dairying. Records are the basis of selection and hence proper identification of animals and record keeping is essential.
What you need to consider when choosing a dairy cow?
Before seeking the right dairy cow, the cattle should have
- Suitability and adoptability to the environment.
- Disease resistance and parasitic resistance.
- Good quality and quantity of milk.
- High feed conversion ratio.
- Good body conformation.
- Young and healthy.
Selection criteria
1) PRODUCTION TRAITS
They mainly refer to milk volume and the contents, that is, percentage of fat level, protein and solid not fat .Milk volume should be considered relative to amount of feeds consumed since more produce from relatively lesser fodder is proof of a high feed conversion efficiency. More solids in milk generally increase the quality. It is of no use at all to breed a fantastic looking cow, which produces no milk. Therefore, one must select animals that are positive for milk production
2) CONFORMATION TRAITS
These traits give a good indication of the performance of the dairy animal and include the udder structure, nature of feet or legs, stature and general dairy character.The udder should be pliable, silky in texture, sack-like in nature and non-pendulous but firmly attached with strong suspensory ligaments high up near the vulva region. A huge udder is not necessarily a sign of a high milk yield, in fact, it is recommended that one should choose a cow with a medium-sized (but wide base) udder that should not hang below its hock joint. The teats should be average-sized and evenly placed and oriented (pointing straight down) on the udder.
Good feet and strong legs lead to longevity of a dairy cow and facilitates it to be able to feed comfortably. For a bull, strong feet and legs enable it to mount successfully though in dairy animals, more emphasis is on the cows and heifers due to the preference and comparative advantages of artificial insemination over natural mating.
Observed from behind, a cow’s hind legs should stand straight and wide apart while the side view should show a slightly set back hock (sickled) ending with slightly angled feet. The front legs should also be straight with a steep strongly attached pastern.
- The ideal cow’s stature should portray a deep, long body with wide, sprung ribs to provide ample space for the rumen and other digestive system organs. A good dairy cow should have a wedge shape, long neck, good width between fore legs, wide pin bones, broad muzzle and strong straight backline.
- The classic dairy character is indicated by sharpness across shoulders and slight general leanness all over the body ending with a thin fine tail.
3) FERTILITY TRAITS
The number of inseminations per conception will always determine the success of a breeding programme. The fewer the inseminations per conception, the better the fertility of a particular animal.It is important to choose animals with a good conception rate since difficult or repeat breeders are expensive to maintain and cause immense losses.This will enable a farmer to target a calving interval of one calf annually per cow .
4) LONGEVITY TRAITS
This determines the amount of total lifetime milk production of a cow but it is usually influenced greatly by other traits such as health and fertility. Choose cow from families with a history of cows that can maintain high production ability across many lactations as well as have as many normal calvings as possible in their lifetimes.This can be easy by maintaining proper records of cow.
5) HEALTH TRAITS
As much as disease-prevention and control measures are important in ensuring sustained productivity, some emphasis should be laid on choosing disease-resistant and hardy animals to remain in production for long.Due to viral diseases like FMD, many parasitic diseases and mastitis cause severe loss in dairy farms. So periodic vaccination, usage of antihelminthics play vital role in prevention of such losses.
6) CALVING EASE TRAITS
Physical traits that facilitate easy calving include a wide pelvic diameter (observed from behind) and a gentle slope from pin to hip bone (observed from the side). A cow’s body frame should portray a strong straight back or loin, which is essential during gestation in enabling the animal to comfortably feed as well as carry its foetus to term.
7) WORKABILITY
Milking speed is of essence in maximising yield since milk let-down is controlled by oxytocin hormone whose concentration levels in blood diminish with time. It is, therefore, important to choose animals with the right teat size, shape and opening (position and orifice size). Bad temperament interferes with oxytocin flow during milking, thus, one should likewise consider docility when choosing a dairy animal.
Unified scorecard method
The unified scorecard system gives a good body conformation of the animal.
| A. General appearance : 18 | ||
| 1 | Size of animal- ideal to breed and age | 3 |
| 2 | Form of animal- symmetrical or stylish | 2 |
| 3 | Dairy character –lean ,angular | 5 |
| 4 | Skin quality-thin, pliable, hairs smooth, fine and soft | 4 |
| 5 | Temperament- active vigorous disposition and docile | 4 |
| B. Head and neck : 09 | ||
| 6 | Muzzle- wide nostrils and large | 2 |
| 7 | Face – clean cut , facial veins prominent. | 1 |
| 8 | Forehead- wide fine at poll | 1 |
| 9 | Horns- fine , typical of breed | 1 |
| 10 | Neck-Slender, medium length | 1 |
| 11 | Eyes- Large , bright prominent | 1 |
| 12 | Ears- Typical of breed size, well set | 1 |
| 13 | Dewlap- Thin, light, graceful folds | 1 |
| C. Fore-Quarters :07 | ||
| 14 | Withers-Clean refined , free from fleshiness | 3 |
| 15 | Shoulders- light oblique, well attached free from fleshiness | 2 |
| 16 | Legs-Straight, well apart, fine and smooth | 2 |
| D. Body :20 | ||
| 17 | Chest, wide, deep fore-flank full | 6 |
| 18 | Back-Straight, strong, vertebra, well defined | 4 |
| 19 | Lion- Broad strong , leveled, free from flesh | 3 |
| 20 | Ribs – wide apart and well sprung | 6 |
| 21 | Flanks- Thin, deep and full | 1 |
| E. Hind Quarters :12 | ||
| 22 | Hip bones- Prominent, and wide apart | 2 |
| 23 | Rump-Long, wide leveled | 3 |
| 24 | Pin bones-Prominent ,and wide apart | 2 |
| 25 | Tail setting –Long fine, tapering. | 1 |
| 26 | Thigh- Thin, widely separated and incurring. | 2 |
| 27 | Hind legs- Straight carried well apart, fine shank. | 2 |
| F. Mammary Development :34 | ||
| 28 | Udder, (a) Shape | |
| (i) Fore Udder: Full attached forward | 5 | |
| (ii) Rear Udder: Full Attached, high and wide | 5 | |
| (B) Symmetry: Quarters even balanced, floor of udder leveled | 3 | |
| (C) Capacity: Large, Texture, pliable, Free from fat and fibrous tissue | 12 | |
| 29 | Teats: medium sized, squarely placed | 4 |
| 30 | Milk Veins: Long, Tortuous | 3 |
| 31 | Milk Wells: Large, numerous | 2 |
| Total | 100 | |
(Score card by Puja Mondal)
Grade Score
- Excellent 90 and Above
- Very Good 85 to 90
- Good 80 to 85
- Acceptable 70 to 80
- Fair 60 to 70
- Poor below 60
- Animals scoring below 75 must be discarded.
Conclusion
India ranks 1st in world’s milk production. In India 80% of the people income mainly depend on cattle rearing. By which they get income and nutritious milk to fulfil their needs. Farmers needed to transform into entrepreneur to double the farmer’s income through adopting innovation approach and technology. Guide the farmers in regards to animal cultivation the executives practices, for example, taking care of, house and wellbeing the executives, anticipation of financial significance of maladies. Give data about animals approach and plans; Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Program, National domesticated animals strategic the landless and little ranchers. Give information on esteem expansion of milk and milk by item and furthermore to manage them for send out. Instruct ranchers with respect to profit of expansion in animal cultivation division. Thereby, it is necessary to select a good dairy cow not only for the income but also for the welfare of the farmers.
