Getting the baseline ready for dairy farming
Photo : Madeline Kriel
Dr Carel Muller Research Associate , Faculty of Animal Sciences ,
University of Stellenbosch
Many new farmers consider dairying as an option . It seems to be a simple operation , i . e . feeding and milking cows . However , unlike other farming operations that are based on a seasonal production system , dairy farming must be conducted daily . Other farming systems have a distinct planting season followed by a harvesting season . For a dairy herd all classes of animals ( cows , heifers and calves ) must be fed daily while the harvesting of milk is usually done twice a day . In some cases , this may even be done three times a day . Although the production pattern of cultivated pastures and forage and grain crops , such as oats ( for hay ) or maize ( for grain or silage ), are seasonal , cows still must be fed daily . Usually , in a pasture-based system , additional hay or silage is fed during the times when pasture growth is limited or to increase farm stocking rates .
Dairy farming has become very scientific and
AgriKultuur | AgriCulture highly dependent on technology because of the high cost of starting-up a new dairy . New dairy farmers not only require practical skills with regards to feeding and milking cows , they also need to have a range of technical knowledge to apply most management actions . The following aspects should be considered before starting a new dairy .
Breeds to use While most cows can be milked for house-hold purposes , four cattle breeds are recognised as specialist dairy breeds to be used for commercial milk production . These are Ayrshires ( from Scotland ), Guernseys ( from Guernsey Island ), Holsteins , derived from the original Dutch Friesian and Jerseys ( from Jersey Island ). Minor dairy breeds include Brown-Swiss and Milking Shorthorns . Some European dual-purpose breeds , derived from the Simmental breed , are also currently being milked in South Africa . These include the Fleckvieh and Montbéliarde from Germany
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