Ca le Produc on Bullock: It is the castrated male of ca le used

for work.
Mari Denise Amphy A. Layola, DVM Associate
Professor I basic biology

Introduc on to Ca le Produc on Mammalian Monotocous Viviparous Cud

chewing even-toed ungulate Main prehensile
Taxonomy
organ would be the tongue Dental pads are
Kingdom: Animalia present Stomach is divided into 4 sec ons
Presence of horns for both genders for defense
Phylum: Chordata
A grazing cow will use her tongue to wrap
Class: Mammalia around grass and pull it into her mouth
Order: Ar odactyla what makes a ruminant a ruminant?
Family: Bovidae They ruminate Rumina on or cud-chewing -
Subfamily: Bovinae process by which the cow regurgitates
previously consumed feed and chews it further.
Genus: Bos Their stomach have 4 compartments
Species: Bos taurus or Bos indicus Rumen (paunch)

Re culum (“honeycomb”)
History Omasum (“manyplies”)
th
Aurochs-Neolithicum-Middle Ages-17 Abomasum (“true stomach”)
Centrury- Modern Ca le

Ca le domes ca on started in the 9th

millennium BC in Southwest Asia. Domes cated
ca le were then introduced into Europe during
the Neolithic transi on.

Terminologies

Sire: The male parent of the calf.

Dam: Female parent of the calf.

Calf: Young one of ca le or buffalo below the

age of six months is called calf.
Heifer: younger female of ca le above age of six
months to first calving.
Cow: adult female of ca le from the date of first
calving is called cow.
Bull: ca le used for breeding or covering the
cows.
Rumen
largest stomach compartment fermenta on vat
can hold 25 gallons or more of material
depending on the size of the cow A good blood
supply to the rumen walls
Re culum
pouch-like structure in the forward area of the Bos tauros - ideal for temperate countries
body, close to the heart has a capacity of 10– 20 European breeds
L
Ca le Types

Beef – meat-type
Omasum
Dairy – milk-type
globe-shaped structure containing leaves of
Dra - working-type
ssue (like pages in a book) absorbs water and
other substances from diges ve contents Dual-purpose – meat and milk; meat and dra
Abomasum

only compartment lined with glands glands Breeding and Reproduc on

release hydrochloric acid and diges ve
enzymes, needed to breakdown feed similar to
a nonruminant stomach
Reproduc ve Physiology
cons tutes several types of ma ng where
desirable genes are made to combine different
ways by adop ng on or more of the systems of
non-random ma ngs.

Puberty onset: 13-14 months Seasonal breeders

Estrus dura on: 10-30 hours Estrous cycle: 18-
24 days Average: 21 days Gesta on period: 283
days Average: 283

current ca le status in PH

top five (5) major producing regions

CALABARZON with 8.48 thousand metric tons,
liveweight;
Ilocos Region with 6.52 thousand metric tons,
liveweight;
Bicol Region with 6.28 thousand metric tons,
liveweight; and
Breeding and Reproduc on
Estrus cycle: 17-23 days (Ave. 21 days) Estrous:
8-30 hours (Ave. 19h) Heifer show signs of heat
at: 6-8 months Cows manifest heat 22-52 days
a er calving best me to breed heifers: 18-20
months or 220-250kg

Western Visayas with 4.71 thousand metric

tons, liveweight.

Ca le Types

Bos indicus - ideal for tropical countries Zebu

ca le humped ca le
Estrus Detec on
Breeding and Reproduc on
Hand ma ng- an excellent beef bull should be
allowed only 5-7 services per week or one cow
per day at the most. 18-month old bull: 12-15
cows 2-year old bull: 20-25 cows >3 years old:
40-50 cows
ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
technique in which semen with living sperms is
collected from the male and introduced into the
female reproduc ve tract at proper me with
the help of instruments.
allows full maximiza on of bulls more hygienic
allows tes ng of disease from semen and early
iden fica on of morbidity control and prevent
diseases allows long deceased bulls to replicate
and reproduce allow spread of gene c material
of bulls
When to inseminate for max. concep on?
Insemina on between mid estrus and the end
of standing heat (even up to 6 hours a er
estrus)
Low concep on rates: insemina on prior to
mid-estrus or later than 6 hours a er cessa on
of estrus.
PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS
Signs: Cessa on of estrus Enlargement of
abdomen and increase in live weight
Rectal Palpa on
Recommended method for determining
pregnancy done by trained technician 2-3
months a er breeding uterus has extended
beyond the pelvic brim 4-8 finger wide: size of
pregnant horn
Care of Pregnant Cows
Do not take animals on last trimesters far away
for grazing, uneven paths should also be
avoided (WHY?) Lacta ng animals should be
dried within a period of 15 days a er the 7th
month of gesta on Pregnant animals should
have enough space for standing Pregnant
animals need suitable ra on Water should be
provided round the clock (75-80L of fresh and
clean drinking water) Heifer a er 6-7 mos of
gesta on should be ed with milking animals
Calving Presenta on of calf

Before parturi on Put cows into a loose box to

isolate them from other animals Advance stage
of pregnancy: separate into calving boxes
Guarding against milk fever provide minerals
(Calcium thru bone meal) Vitamin D - a week
period to calving (why is Vitamin D needed for
milk produc on?) Avoid milking prior to
parturi on

Signs: Udder become large and distended

Depressed or hollow appearance on either of
the tail head Vulva enlarged in size Thick mucus
discharge from vulva Uneasiness of the animal

During parturi on Dila on Phase let down & get

ups uneasiness due to labor pain

Period: 2-3 hrs first me: 4-5hrs or more Watch

pregnant animal carefully to avoid abor on due
to fights Feed trace mineralized salt At risk for
vaginal prolapse Isolate the animal 8-10 days
before the expected due ate

What is a good calving environment? Clean and

comfortable area that provides cows with
adequate drainage Shaded structures Calves are
usually born without assistance A er removal of BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION/ BEEF CATTLE
calf, milk the animal - it will help in removal of BREEDS
placenta Normally expelled with 2-6hrs a er
Angus:
calving If it goes beyond 12 hrs, call a vet

A er parturi on Observe feed intake Milk

produc on Rectal temperature Ketone levels
What are ketones?
Official name: Aberdeen- Angus Scotland Oldest
breed in Britain Black in color, smooth hair coat,
polled, compact and low-set body Cow: 550kg,
Bulls:850kg Alert and vigorous breed perform
well in the feedlot desirable carcass of high-
quality, well-marbled meat Dominant polled
gene
Red Angus
United States Developed from crossing red with
red from Black Angus Recessive gene offspring is
always red Similar in all respects to the Angus,
except for its gold red color
Beefmaster
developed in Texas 1st Composite Breed Dual
purpose Result from crosses from (25%)
Hereford, (25%) Shorthorn and (50%) Brahmans
Color: Red, Dun Horned or polled Good
disposi on, fer lity, weight gain, conforma on,
hardiness and milk produc on, excellent
mothering ability
Belmont Red
Tropical beef breed 50% Africander, 25%
Hereford and 25% Shorthorn. Developed in an
a empt to improve the Bos indicus fer lity
while retaining the characteris cs of heat and
ck tolerance. High carcass yield, docility,
fer lity, adaptability Predominantly red in color
but some color difference are occasionally
evident
Belted Galloway
Temperate beef breed Origin: Scotland Color:
Black with white belt around middle of en re
body larger than Galloway Naturally polled,
double coat of long hair Bull: 815-955kg, Cow:
400-600kg more of beef conforma on, lean &
flavorful meat calves - hybrid vigor, grow rapidly
Beefalo good”cutout”, min. outside fat Medium size,
bull: 700-900kg cow:450-635kg

Charolais

Cross between bison (buffalo) (3/8) and

domes c ca le (5/8) of any breed - 1960s 3/8
Temperate beef breed Origin: Charolles, France
Bison 3/8 Charolais ¼ Hereford Large frame,
Color: White or cream, golden wheat or straw
docile, hardt in extreme cold and extreme heat
Characteris cs: Flesh to pink color of skin and
Quality tasty healthier meat Efficient, non-
mucous membranes stoutly built and large size
selec ve grazers Easy calvers low birth weight,
wavy hair coat Efficient fedlot gains and carcass
excellent rate of gain, high weaning rates.
cutout values (tremendous muscling and
Brahman conformity) Ease of calving Easy to manage in
terms of temperament.

Chianina

“Brahma” Beef type Grey , red to almost black

Mothering ability – rated high Tolerate drought Temperate beef breed Origin: Chiana Valley in
condi ons, tendency to later maturity, ck& Italy Color: Porcelain white hair, pigmented skin
heat tolerant intelligent, inquisi ve, shy (black tongue, palate, nose, eye area & switch)
Humped High dressing percentage, Dark skinned Largest breed & oldest of ca le
breed in the world Bull: up to 1,800 kg, cow:
800- 1000kg Very late maturer Calves are
dropped as reddish brown Excellent lean but
marbled beef
Devon
“North Devon”, “Red Rubies” Temperate beef
breed,prev. dual purpose Origin: Country of
Devon, England Descended from Bos lonqifrons
Color:Red, rich “ruby red” being most popular
Characteris cs: Yellow skin, creamy white horns
with black ps cows - horns curved upwards
bulls - straight to curving outwards and
downwards good walkers and excellent rustlers
and grazer
Galloway
Temperate beef breed Origin: Galloway,
Scotland Color: Black; brownish or reddish nt
amongst black is acceptable Polled, long, curly
hair, shorter legs and longer bodies compared to
Angus Insula ng hair coat, no excessive ou sde
fat, high omega-3 content Couragous, docile
good maternal breed, easy calvers,good milk
supply Bull: 770-1000kg, Cow: 450-680kg
Hereford
Hereford, England 1st English ca le to be
recognized as a true breed dark red to red-
yellow, white faces, crest, dewlap, underline,
flanks, below knees and hocks Horned, short
thick horns, curve down at the side of the head
Docile, easily-handled Superior foraging ability,
vigor, hardiness, higher % of calf crops low-set,
rectangular bodies with thick haircoat
 pendulous skin under throat and along the
dewlap
Limousin
Maine Anjou

Temperate beef breed Origin: an ancient breed

of France Color: light brown with a range from
Temperate beef breed Origin: Western France
apricot to dark red and black; calves born as
Dual-purpose (beef & milk) Color:Dark red with
light fawn or brown - -> deep black at fully
white underlines, roans are also possible Largest
mature age Majority of animals are horned
of the French breeds but has more emphasis on
yellow horns at the base, dark towards the ps
the beef type frequently used for crossbreeding
horizontal then curve forward and upwards
Rapid growth, weight gain, late maturing, well-
Large, fine, strong boned frame Bull: 1000kg,
marbled muscle with min. fat cover Bull: 990-
cow: 650k
1300kg, cow: 680-860kg
Indu-Brazil
Marchigiana

Origin:India – US by way of Brazil and Mexico

Color: Light to silver gray to red Prominent Pronounced mar-key-jah-nah, also called Del
forehead and long droopy ears symmetrical Cubante Origin: Marche & surrounding
horns which draw upward and to the rear provinces of Italy (rough terrain & poor feed
prominent hump over the shoulders with loose, quality) Resembles Chianina (light gray to
almost white) in color & conforma on Skin is Santa Gertrudis
pigmented & tongue, muzzle & external
opening are black, tail switch & eyes dark Polled
or horned Short-haired

Red Poll

Tropical beef breed Developed in Kingsville,

Texas 5/8 Shorthorn, 3/8 Brahman cherry red in
color, horned, Bos indicus x Bos taurus
a ributes Short, straight slick coat, loose &
moveable skin with red pigmenta on Horned or
polled Bulls: 900kg, Cows: 750kg ADG:
1.5kg/day Outstanding foraging ability, can
thrive in harshest condi on
Temperate beef breed, some mes dual purpose
Origin: Norfolk & Suffolk England Color: Deep Shorthorned
red with good eye & udder pigmenta on Polled;
longer body compared to other beef breeds but
more flesh than dairy Easy to handle, easy
calving, excellent mothers, adapt to extensive or
intensive systems Milk has small fat globule,
next best to goat’s milk

“Durham” England Dual purpose breed Color:

red, white, roan Short horns that curved inward,
blocky conforma on Easily-handled, good
disposi on Excellent crossing ability with other
breeds, bulls are ac ve aggressive breeders.
Good mothers w/ excellent ability Desirable
carcass Polled Shorthorns from Minnesota
Simmental
Simmental Valley. Switzerland Old breed
(Middle Ages) Most popular breed in Europe
Ini ally dual type, but now is bee ype Color:
red (varies from dark red to almost yellow) and
white, some have almost solid color Have white
face Well muscled and heavy boned with good
temperament Cows are good milkers
Simmbrah
Beef breed Purebred Simmbrah = 5/8
Simmental and 3/8 Brahman. Developed Gulf
Coast area = Texas to Florida. Color: solid red to
yellow and white face or black with bit of white
on the face Slight hump above the neck, larger
ears than European beef breeds. Excellent
maternal traits, rapid growth, hybrid vigor, heat
tolerance, lean high qual. Beef
Senepol
Caribbean breed of beef ca le Cross from Red
Poll & N'Dama Color: red Medium sized,
naturally polled ca le Good conforma on which
produces a good carcass Maternal efficiency &
early maturity Longevity - 15 to 20 years
produc vity Being u lize in the Philipines &
other tropical countries.
 Trait Selec on
Sussex
 The animal’s own phenotypic merit -
determine by visual appraisal and
performance test
 Pedigree informa on and collateral
rela ves informa on e.g. milk yeild
 Progeny Test - selec on based on the
performance of the individual's progeny
or offspring

Selec ng animals as parents of the next

genera ons should be based on the following:

 Comparable produc on records

Developed in Southeast England – ini ally a  Physical characteris cs
draught breed but now a beef breed (ancient  Weaning weights of calves of the
breed) Size: medium-sized, dark red coats and respec ve dam
white switch In winter: the coat is curly. Adapts  Weaning weights and yearling weights
well to hot climates & resists ck-borne diseases of bulls and heifers
Easy calving, early maturity, heat tolerant,  Weight and size of the breeding stock at
efficient forager two years

Texas Longhorn INITIAL SELECTION based on the weaning

weight at about 8 months age

weaning weight = IMPROVING THE CHARACTER

BASED ON CONTRIBUTIONS OF GENETIC
POTENTIALS FROM BOTH DAM AND CALF.

FINAL SELECTION based on the yearling weigh

SPECIFIC MEASURES OF GROWTH RATES TO

MONITOR THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE IN THE
HERD:

Weaning weight at 7 or 8 months

Yearling weight

Horns: curved upward and spread to four feet or NUTRITION REQUIREMENT OF BEEF CATTLE
more Long legs and shoulders large and high
Requirements will differ depending on the
Short neck and stocky Slow maturing, high
animal’s class, age, condi on, and stage of
fer lity Resistant to many disease and parasites
produc on.
and well-adapted to harsh environements Easily
calving ability, hardiness and longevity. Gradual diet changes (over two to three weeks)
are necessary to allow the rumen microbial
SELECTION AND BREEDING OF BEEF CATTLES
popula on to adjust to changes in the diet.
NUTRITION REQUIREMENT OF BEEF CATTLE breed, strong, rugged ca le Vigorous and strong
Excellent grazing ability “Ideal drinking milk”
WHY? 5307 kg of milk - 3rd in produc on 4%
milkfat - 5th among breeds Low soma c cell
counts

Brown Swiss

Origin: Switzerland One of the oldest breed

Color: brown (light or dark), black nose and
tongue, dark-blue eye pigmenta on (helps to
resist extreme solar radia on) Horns: incline
and slightly upward, medium & taper towards
DAIRY CATTLE BREEDS black ps Large-framed, quiet, docile High heat
Ayrshire tolerance 5488kg milk - 2nd in prod 4.1%
milkfat- 3rd in milkfat Milk is coveted by cheese
makers Close protein/fat ra o

Origin: Ayr, Scotland Color: Cherry red, brown

and white Horned - a foot or more in lenght,
curved out and slightly back dehorned as calves
Straight lines and well-balanced udders Medium
Guernsey
Origin: Isle of Guernsey, France Bred from:
Fromond du leon and Norman Brindles Color:
fawn w/ white markings Skin: yellow Horns:
curved outward and to the front, medium and
small and yellow on the based Early maturing
breed, adaptable and gentle 4808kg milk - 4th in
prod 5% milkfat- 2nd in milkfat High Milk Flow
“Golden milk”
Holstein-Friesian
Origin: Netherlands Largest dairy breed Color:
black and white; recessive gene: red and white,
black: switch, belly Horns: incline forward and
curved inward, tapered towards the ps Large
udders Excellent grazing, early maturity Bulls:
mean and dangerous 6577kg milk - 1st in prod
3.5% milkfat- 5th in milkfat Note: frozem
embryos and semen are being exported
Red Sindhi
Origin: Sindh, Pakistan Color: deep, rich red
color to yellowish brown to dark brown Males
are darker Female: black extremi es when
mature (head, feet tail) Heat resistance and
hardiness, ck resistance, disease resistence
Bulls: mean and dangerous 1700 to 3400kg milk
12-15kg/day
Sahiwal
Origin: Dry punjab, Indian-Pakistani border
Junglies- professional herdsman that kept
Sahiwals Best dairy breeds in India and Pakistan
Color: reddish brown, amounts of white: neck &
underline Males: darken heads and legs & tail
Tick resistant, heat tolerant Docile and lethargic
2270kg - ave. during lacta on Heaviest milker of
all Zebu breeds
SELECTION AND BREEDING OF DAIRY CATTLES
Selec on traits:
 Separate calf within few hours a er
birth - why? feed colostrum for 2-3 days
Use nipple pail or bo le
MILK FORMATION

Cow Milk yield Why is this important?

Mothering ability and Growth rate

Bulls Overall body conforma on

Breeding

 Must calve every year When is the best

me to breed them?
 Heifer: 18-20 months or 220-250kg
Milking cows: 60 days a er calving
 Inseminate TWICE A DAY Natural ma ng
Ar ficial insemina on
 Make sure to match a bull with
appropriate cow Appropriate size ra o
of the bull to the cow
Parturi on Management
Physiology
Milk Let-down - responds by a condi oned
reflex to sensory s muli (i.e. washing of udder,
milking)
Oxytocin is release (pituitary gland) -->
blood to the udder --> contrac ons around the
alveoli and ducts --> milk goes down the larger
ducts ---> gland cistern

 Female calves with good pedigree are

kept to be used as future milking cows
What is a pedigree?
 Males are mostly culled It is not
economical to keep the male calves
 Allow the calf to suckle to ingest
colostrum prior to separa ng the calves
from the cow Within how many hours is
colostrum present in the milk?

Calf Management Inhibi on of milk let down Stressful s muli --->

 Placed in an iden fier i.e. ear tag or
neck strap
 Dip the navel cord with iodine Prone to
navel ill What is navel ill?
 Healthy calf - should be in feet within
15-20 feet a er it is born, nursing within
30 minutes
 Anemia - 150mg iron dextrin within few
hours of birth injec on Vit A, D, E
relese of adrenalin -- > Reduc on of oxytocin--
>occlusion of the mammary ducts
Milking prac ces
Milking interval - Equal intervals of 12 hours give
highest lacta on yields but the effect of unequal
intervals is small up to 16 and 8 hours and can
be minimised if the highest yielders are milked
first in the morning and last in the a ernoon.
Residual milk - 10%–20% of the secreted milk
which is not expressed from the secretary ssue
and is retained in the udder when milking is
completed
 has a much higher fat content than even
the end- of-milking strippings
 quan ty of residual milk is propor onal
to total yield unequal milking intervals
there is a larger net carryover of milk fat
from the longer night- me to the
shorter day me interval
 Milking frequency - affects total daily
produc on. Milking three mes instead
of twice daily will raise milk yields by an
average 10%–15%.
 Incomplete Milking 2 forms: Excessive
amounts of residual milk are retained in
the udder because of inadequate milk
ejec on s muli or the inhibitory effects
of adrenalin even by slow milk removal
 Incomplete Milking 2 forms: Some of
the available milk is le in the udder
when milking ceases, ie., the so-called
‘strippings’.
 Proper milking technique influences:
Milk yield Udder health Milking me
 Procedures: Milking at regular intervals
Complete milking Sanita on
 Hand-milking - using clean, dry hands
prac cal when herd size is small (<10
cows)
 need to met hygienic standards
 Prepara ons: Wash and sani ze the
milk pails Wash the animals thoroughly,
the teats, udders and hindquarters 5%
chlorine solu on Do not use sponges
Dry the udder with clean cloth Test for
mas s
Assignment #3 What is mas s? What test
should you do to check for mas s? What is the
process of that test?
Milking Method
Hand-milking Rear quarters should be milked
first as they contain most milk and the milking
bucket hooded to reduce contamina on from
dust and udder hairs.
Hand-milking process:
a. Examine the first stream of milk
b. Grasp the teat with the thumb and first
finger
c. Close the second finger and milk will
excrete out
d. Close the third finger and squeeze the
teat with whole hand
e. Release the teat so it will be refilled
with milk
f. Feel the teat again to see if all milk has
come out
g. Again, grasp the teat with your thumb
and first finger
 Machine milking process
o Prep the area following the
recommended procedure
o A ach the teat cups 1 minute
a er star ng prepara on.
o Hold the milk claw in the hand
nearest the cow head.
o Oxytocin loses in effect a er 4-
7 minutes and most cows can
be made to give milk within five
minute.
o Do not allow the teat cups to
stay on a er milk flow cease.
o Shut-off valve when flow of milk
cease. S
 o sani ze again the teats by 2. Stanchion barn - animals are confined
sealing the teat canals with together on a pla orm and secured at
iodine based sani zer neck by stanchions or neck chain
a. animals are fed as wells as
Dairy Herd & Health Management
milked in the same barn. C
Two Types of Housing b. ompletely covered with roofs
and the sidewalls are closed
1. loose Housing - animals are allowed to with windows or ven lator
move freely and have free access over located at suitable places to get
the whole area of the building or pen more ven la on and ligh ng.
a) shelter is provided along c. Applicable for temperate and
one side of open paddock heavy rainfall region.
under which animals can
re re when it is very hot or
cold or during rains.
b) Common feed manger and
water tank is provided and
concentrates are fed at the
milking me which is done
in a separate milking barn
or parlour in which cows
are secured at milking me
and are milked
Advantage:

 The animals and men caring for animals

are less exposed to harsh environment.
T
 he animals can be kept clean.
 Diseases are be er controlled.
 Individual care can be given. Separate
milking barn is not required.

CALVING MANAGEMENT
Advantages:
Allow the dam to cleanse the calf Mucus from
 Cost of construc on is cheaper. Future the nose and mouth must be removed
expansion is possible.
Tie the navel cord of the calf about 3cm away
 The animals will move freely so that it
from the body, cut the navel 2cm below the ed
will get sufficient exercise.
por on, soak the navel in iodine.
 The animal can be kept clean.
 Common feeding and watering Colostrum intake right a er parturi on and
arrangement is possible. con nue for 2-3 days.
 Clean milk produc on is possible
because the animals are milked in a
separate milking barn.
5 CATEGORIES OF GROUPINGS IN CALVES  Shades: 2-3m high
o Small ca le: 2 sq m/head
Group 1 - calves from 4-14 days old
o Large ca le: 3 sq m/ca le
Group 2- calves 15-30 days old, fed ar ficially  Feed bunks
o Eleva on
Group 3- separate males and females, males
 Small ca le: 46cm from
mixed to veal calves group
the ground
Weaned female replacement - 4-12months,  Large ca le: 61 cm
female calves reared as herd replacement above the ground
 Depth
Male stockers - male calves and yearling that o Grain & concentrates: 20cm
passed the veal stage, reared from maximum Silage or cut green forage: 20-
growth at lowest cost 30cm
Housing BREEDING HEIFERS
 easy to clean and disinfect General Management
 house the calf individually uring milk-
feeding period  Breed the heifers when they reach 18-
 house in one group (10 cows max) 1 20 months w/ minimum weight of 220-
week a er discon nuing milk-feeding 250kg
 Tie stall: 0.61m(wide) x 1.3m long, 0.3m  Allow springing heifers to run with milk
elevated from the ground min size: 2.2 cows for a month.
sqm
PREGNANT HERD
 Individual pen: Feed box:
20cmx25cmx15 cm deep movable and General Management
easy to clean
o Early stages pregnancy - mixed
 Group pen: Feed box: 25cmx15cm (61
together in a heifer herd
linear cm/calf), 2 feed box per pen
 Graze in pastures free
 Water source: 51 cm eleva on from the from hazards
floor o No long distance walk, runs or
GROWING HERD MANAGEMENT o head bu s with other animal

General Management MILKING HERD

Separate heifer and bulls at 6 months of age to General Management

avoid premature breeding
Group according to size and age
Train each animal to lead by halter.
Space/animal
 Paved lot: 4-6.5 sq m/head
 Paved & dirt lots: 7-9 sq m/head
 Dirt lots: 9-14 sq m/head
 Proper feeding and nutri on
 Keeping cows clean T
 emperate breeds: cool the animal by
sprinkling or splashing water during hot
hours of the day
 Observe silence during milking
 Housing & Equipment
o Hard surface lots must have 2-
5% slope
 o Loose housing system - open  cows are standing side to side, that only
sheds leaves one access point for the milker to
 Free-stall housing reach the udder: the rear end
 Small breeds -
Tandem parlor
2m x 1m
 Large breeds -
2.2m x 1m

Feeding bunks - 61-75 linear cm/head

Open tank - 15 head/bowl

Milking parlor - a room or structure designed to

mass milk a large group of cows at once.

Commercial

Less effort to milk cow More cow are milked at

one me Types: Abreast parlor Tandem parlor
Chute type parlor Parallel parlor Herringbone
parlor Rotary parlor
 Side-opening parlor
Abreast parlor
 Cows stand nose-to-tail inside
 The abreast parlour allows cows to individual stalls. This gives the
enter and leave individually. milker a side-on vantage point of
 AREA the udder
With milking machine - 1.0 to 1.1m Chute parlor / walk-through parlor
wide
Hand-milking- 0.7 to 0.8m wide

Parallel parlor

 a cheaper, batch farming version of

the tandem milking parlor.
 Cows enter and leave in batches.
They have been used mainly for
small herd

 arranged in parallel to each other

Herringbone parlor  Milking stalls are arranged in a large
circle on a pla orm that rotates slowly.
 A rotary parlor can handle 10 cows a
minute

DRY COW MANAGEMENT

How would you dry off a dry cow?

 Dry off the milking cow 60 days a er

the expected date of calving by milking
once a day then every other un l
ceasing
 Dry off a cow is to stop milking abruptly
by dras cally reducing or removing the
amount of concentrates

BREEDING SIRE

 most common design used on dairy General Management

farms with smaller herds
 Teach a bull to lead when 6-8 months
 Ca le are arranged at 45- degree angles
 House the bull separately but allow
away from the machine, which allows
exercise in an open yard
for a unique access angle for milkers
and for farmhands to arrange different Categories:
equipment near the cows as well
 Breeding bulls for
MILKING HERD semen collec on
 Breeding bulls for
Rotary parlor
servicing the breeding
heifers
 Yearling bulls as
replacement

Housing

Bull pen Shaded res ng area of 12 to 15m²

exercise area of 20 to 30m²

OTHER PRODUCTION FACILITES

Foot bath - disinfec on

Holding chute- restraining animals while being

treated, immunized or grooming

Fencing - stock control and proper grazing

rota on
ASSIGNMENT #4 Why is it important for the cow Intranasal IBR
to lick the calf a er parturi on? What is the
Modified live 9 -way (killed if pregnant)
best milking parlour design for Philippine
Clostridium 7-way
se ng?
On arrival

Modified live 9-way

HERD HEALTH PROGRAM
Clostridium 7-way
VACCINATION SCHEDULE

 At birth
o Colostrum
o Op onal: E. coli,
Rota/Coronavirus
o Intranasal IBR (Infec ous Bovine
Rhinotrachie s)

Heifers

3 mos, 4 mos and Pre-breeding (9-10

mos)

Modified Live 9-way

Clostridium 7 way

Cows

 2 weeks before dry & heifers, 8wks

before
o calving Clostridium 7-way
o J-5 (mas s due to E.coli)

Dry & heifer 6 weeks before calving

J-5 Killed

9-way

Scourguard 3KC (Bovine Diarrhea /Rota)

Pre-fresh (3 weeks before calving)

J-5

Scourguard 3KC

30-40 days a er Freshening

Modified live 9-way

Recently purchased animals

3 weeks before arrival

BUFFALO MANAGEMENT Polytocous - having more than one offspring at a
birth
Mari Denise Amphy A. Layola, DVM Assistant
Professor I Viviparous - bringing forth live young that have
developed inside the body of the parent.
PURPOSE OF WATER BUFFALO
Ungulate - any of a group of typically plant-
a. SOURCE OF DRAFT ea ng 4-footed hoofed mammals
b. SOURCE OF MEAT
c. SOURCE OF MILK
d. SOURCE OF MATERIAL

TAXONOMY

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum:

Chordata Class: Mammalia

Order: Ar odactyla
MALE : CARA BULL
Family: Bovidae
FEMALE: CARA HEIFER,
Subfamily: Bovinae
CARA COW OFFSPRING: CARA CALF PUBER
Genus: Bubalus ONSET: MALE: 18-42 MOS FEMALE: 36-48 MOS
ESTRUS PERIOD NATIVE: 5-36 HRS AVERAGE: 24
Species: Bubalus bubalis
HRS MURRAHS: 24-71 HOURS AVE.
Subspecies: B. bubalis carabanensis
GESTATION: 325 DAYS NATIVE: 314-317 DAYS
TWO TYPE: A. RIVERINE BUFFALO - INDIAN MURRAH: 320-325 DAYS
CONTINENT B. SWAMP BUFFALO – CHINA
Cara heifer - any young, female, domes c
BASIC BIOLOGY bovine that has not produced offspring Cara
cow - sexually mature female carabao that has
MAMMALIAN
given birth at least once and with age of 3 years
POLYTOCOUS old and above

VIVIPAROUS ESTRUS PERIOD

AVERAGE LITTER SIZE : 1  MAJORITY EXHIBIT ESTRUS AT NIGHT

 BUFFALO REARED UNDER CLOSE
CUD CHEWING EVEN TOED- UNGULATE
CONFINEMENT OVULATE 15 HOURS
MAIN PREHENSILE ORGAN IS LIPS AND TONGUE AFTER THE END OF ESTRUS, OR ABOUT
DENTAL PADS ARE PRESENT 35 HOURS AFTER THE ONSET OF ESTRUS
 MURRAH BUFFALOES OVULATE AT
PRESENCE OF HORNS FOR BOTH GENDERS ABOUT 11 HOURS AFTER CESSATION OF
ESTRU
ESTRUS CYCLE

 CARABAOS RAISED UNDER CLOSE BREEDS OF BUFFALO

CONFINEMENTS: 21 + 2 DAYS
RIVERINE BUFFALO
 MURRAH BUFFALOES = 21 DAYS FIRST
FERTILE MATING  FROM THE INDIAN CONTINENT
o NATIVE: 2 YEARS, 4 MOS TO 2  PRESENT SINCE 2500BC
YRS 6MOS  CONSIDERED UNDER DAIRY CATEGORY
o MURRAH: 4YRS 4 MOS BECAUSE IT POSSESSES HIGH GENETIC
 CALVIN INTERVALS CAPACITY FOR MILK PRODUCTION.
o NATIVE: POST PARTUM HEAT 35
DAYS AFTER CALVING NILI-RAV
o MURRAH: 49 DAYS AFTER
CALVING

BUFFALO PRODUCTION

 COMMONLY RAISED LIVESTOCK SPECIE

IN THE PHILIPPINES
 IMPORTANCE AS A VITAL COMPONENT
 MAIN SOURCE OF DRAFT POWER AND
MEAT FOR SMALL FARMERS
 PH STATUS: 2.9 MILLION HEADS, 75%
ARE USED FOR FARM OPERATIONS

BUFFALO PRODUCTION

 POTENTIAL SOURCE OF MILK

o CARACOW WITH NURSING CALF
CAN PRODUCE 300-800KG OF
MILK DURING LACTATION
PERIOD

PHILIPPINE CARABAO CENTER

 ATTACH AGENCY TO DA
 BREED AND CROSS CARABAOS ON
HIGH-YIELD MURRAH BUFFALO FOR
MULTI-PURPOSE
 FIRST TEST TUBE BUFFALO - APRIL 5,
2004
 Date back to the Indus River Valley
Civiliza ons Milk-type of buffalo breed
 Color: black
 Weight: Male: 800kg (average) Female:
525kg Body: wedge shape, massive
 frame, small curly horns, wall eyes MURRAH
White marking on the forehead, face,
muzzle and legs and switch Large,
strong udder
 Docile

KUNDHI

Milk-type of buffalo breed Color: jet-black It has

Milk-type of buffalo breed Color: solid black
Weight: Male: 600kg (average) Female: 375kg
Massive animals, broad forehead and medium
size ears Horns: small and spirally twisted
Udder: large and strong 1700-2000kg of milk
per lacta on 6.5% bu er fat
been used to improve the milk produc on of
dairy buffalo in other countries Compara vely
small head, long face, long neck White markings
on the face and leg extremi es, long tail
reaching up to fetlock joint Ave milk produc on:
5-7kg/day 2200L in lacta on period
SURTI
Milk-type of buffalo breed Color: coat: rusty
brown to silver-gray to black skin: black or
brown in color Horns are flat, sickle-shaped and
directed downward and backward Seasonal
breeders Consume less feed and produces milk
with high fat (8-10%) and SNF (9- 9.15%)
content Ave. lacta on: 1600-1800L 5-6kg/day
JAFFARABADI
Color: black One of the heaviest buffalo Massive
and barrelled conforma on, dome-shaped
forehead Horns are long, heavy and broad Body
weight: Male: 600-1500kg Female: 550kg
2239kg/lacta on Fat: 7.7%
SWAMP BUFFALO
ORIGINATED FROM CHINA SMALLER AND
LIGHTER THAN RIVER BUFFALOES AND
NORMALLY WEIGH BETWEEN 325 AND 450 KG.
SWAMP BUFFALOES ARE REARED MAINLY FOR
DRAFT PURPOSES FARM WORK
CARABAO
Na ve to the Philippines Body: low, wide and
heavy build body Color: light gray to slate gray
with two striped or chevron on the ventral side
of the neck, one near brisket and other near jaw
Horns: sickle-shaped or curve backward toward
the neck Weight: Male: 420-500kg Female: 400-
425kg
THAI BUFFALO
Other names: “Siamese Buffalo, Thai swamp
buffalo, Krabua” Color: Black and hair is
rela vely long Body: Strong and broad-bodied
animals with prominent muscling in neck chest
and back Massive and strong horn to form a
moonlike crescent with ends upwards Daily milk
average: 09-1.0kg
MALAYSIAN
Swamp-type found in Malaysia Dra animal i.e.
ploughing, harrowing and working in rice fields.
At the end of its working life, it is slaughtered.
Color: dark gray and occasionally white Horns:
crescent
 Conforma on - shape/structure of something
especially an animal, it needs to be close to
symmetry.

Body conforma on measurements

What cons tutes conforma on in Buffalo?

SELECTION OF STOCKS

CRITERIA FOR THE RIGHT CHOICE OF STOCK TO

RAIS

 Birth weight Body conforma on measurements

 Pre-weaning growth rate
 Post-weaning growth rate
 Feed intake and conversion
 Body conforma on measurements
 Carcass trait
 Milk yield and dra capacity

Birth weight

Birth weight lower than op mum are associated

with the following:

1. Reduced energy reserves

2. Lowered thermoregulatory capability
3. Increased death rate
4. Low growth rates

Feed intake and conversion  Measure from top of spine (between

Average Daily Gain - average amount of weight
a market animal will gain each day during the
feeding period.
ADG = (Final weight - Ini al weight) / Total
Fa ening/Feeding Days
the hips - to the ground)
 Taller = desirable
 It would indicate that it carries its udder
higher = decrease risk of mas s
 Larger structure = eat more = produce
higher milk

Body conforma on measurements

An animal’s value is the sum of its performance

and what it looks like.
Body conforma on measurements
GENERAL MANAGEMENT

FEEDS AND FEED MANAGEMENT

 Raised in semi-confinement, tethering

for 8-10hrs on na ve pasture
 Low-cost feeds
 Light to medium work (4-6hrs/day)
 UMMB supplementa on
 Clean feed, water and source of salt
 Feed high protein diet to weaned
caracalves 8-12 mos old to accelerate
growth rate
 Caracalves should be fed with caracalf
with starter at 2 weeks of age
o Must contain at least 18 to 20%
crude protein and 75% total
diges ble nutrient
o fed with freshly cut grass
o clean water
 Milking carabaos are fed based on the
body weight and milk produc on and
bu erfat produced
 Milking carabao - fed roughage ad
libitum + 1kg concentrate supplement
containing 16-18% protein for every 2-
3kg milk produced
 1 to 1.5% of concentra on ra on of
mineral mixture (50% steamed bone
meal + 50% salt)

CONSIDERATIONS

 Dra capacity increase with the

animal's weight i.e. 300kg carabull can
pull a harrow of 30kg for 8hrs, but if the
 animal will pull 130kg will work for 3-
4hrs
 Pregnant caracow will work in limited
basis
 3-4 mos old caracalf should start being
use for dra
 Separate the male caracalves from
females shortly a er wearning to
prevent premature breeding
 Other management prac ces essen al
o Branding - iden fica on
o Castra on D
o Eworming
o Vaccina on
o Done at the same me at
about 5 months old or a er
weaning

CARABULL/CARACOW RATIO

 A Murrah buffalo bull can be assigned to

15-20 females during the breeding CARABAO AS SOURCE OF MILK
season  SLOW MILK PRODUCERS
o 20 caraheifers a year should be o MILKING CAPACITY IMPROVES
sired by a young bull about 1-
WITH PROPER MANAGEMENT,
1/2 to to 3 1/2 years old
SYSTEMATIC BREEDING AND
o 30 caraheifer when the bull is PROPER MILKING TECHNIQUE
from 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 years old
 2 -2.5L OF MILK BY HAND-MILKING
o 40 caraheifer at 4 1/2 years old
o

TRAINING CARABAO FOR WORK

 Touch the animal constantly

 Slowly expose the animal to crowded
places by riding its back
 Training for 1-3hrs during cool period of
the day
 Lead the animal to pasture, place a well-
fi ed yoke w/ smooth surface on the
neck
 Train the carabao to pull the harrow on
loose ground
o Pull the plow on plowed field
during cold periods