Dairy ManagementU.S. Dairy Demographics – 2007 Ag CensusPowerPoint PresentationSlide 4Slide 5Top Producing StatesLeading Countries in Milk ProductionYearly Per Capita Consumption of MilkImportanceN.C. Dairy Demographics - 2012N.C. “Market Share” of U.S. Dairy IndustryProduction in N.C.Slide 13Slide 14Slide 15Slide 16Slide 17Slide 18Slide 19Slide 20Why?Demographics of Dairy ProductionSlide 23Slide 24Slide 25Dairy Management CalenderDairy Management ScheduleDairy Management CalendarSlide 29Slide 30LactationSlide 32Slide 33Slide 34Lactation CurvesSlide 36Slide 37Slide 38Slide 39Slide 40Slide 41Slide 42Slide 43Slide 44Slide 45Slide 46Slide 47Slide 48Slide 49Slide 50Slide 51Slide 52Slide 53WeaningSlide 55Dairy Management•History and Behaviors (similar to Beef Cattle)•Production in U.S. and N.C.•Importance •Dairy management calendarU.S. Dairy Demographics – 2007Ag Census•Total dairy operations – 69,763 •Total dairy cow inventory – 17.2 million head•Gross income in U.S. from sale of milk products - $31.8 billionTop Producing States•California, Wisconsin, New York, Idaho and Pennsylvania are the top 5 states in terms of fluid milk productionLeading Countries in Milk Production•U.S. 187 billion lbs•Russian Fed. 97 billion lbs•India 66 billion lbs•France 62 billion lbs•China 4 billion lbsYearly Per Capita Consumption of Milk•Ireland 421 lbs•Sweden 362 lbs•Poland 341 lbs•Netherlands 267 lbs•U.S. 211 lbsImportance•In general, the trend in the U.S. and world is for increased consumption of milk and other dairy products during the past 5 yearsN.C. Dairy Demographics - 2012•Total dairy operations – 463•Total milk cow inventory – 47,589 head•Gross income in N.C. from sale of milk products - $205 millionN.C. “Market Share” of U.S. Dairy Industry•Total operations – 0.7% •Total inventory – 0.5%•Gross income – 0.6%Production in N.C.•N.C. produced 944 million lbs of whole milk in 2011.•U.S. produced 181.7 billion lbs of whole milk in 2011•N.C.’s “Market Share” – 0.5%NCDA Agricultural Statistics, 2003Production in N.C.•Piedmont and mountain regions of state contain the greatest number of dairies and cows in N.C.Inventory of Dairy Cows in N.C. by CountyNCDA Agricultural Statistics, 2002Production in N.C.•Iredell 11,500 cows•Alleghany 3,700 cows•Randolph 3,100 cows•Rowan 2,800 cows•Alexander 2,800 cows•Yadkin 2,500 cowsProduction in N.C.•Over the past ten years, the number of dairies has decreased•However, milk production has stayed the same or increased slightlyProduction in N.C.•During the government buy-out program of the 1990’s, approximately 1/5 of N.C. dairy producers decided to stop production.Production in N.C.•Many others that are currently still in production are feeling the pressure of “urban sprawl” and as the value of their land increases find it harder to justify continued production.Top Producing States•California, Wisconsin, New York, Idaho and Pennsylvania are the top 5 states in terms of fluid milk productionWhy?Demographics of Dairy Production•Consumers want fresh products and milk has a short shelf life•Therefore, most of major dairy production is located near major population centersDemographics of Dairy Production•Wisconsin - Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis•New York - NortheastPenn.•California - West CoastIdahoEstrusBirthGestationPubertyEstrouscyclesEstrouscyclesEstrusBirthWeaningLactationRebreedingEstrousCyclesGestationGestation305 daysDairy Management Calender•Puberty•Gestation•RebreedingAll are nearly identical to beef cattle management scheduleDairy Management Schedule•Breeding (mostly A.I.)•Lactation•WeaningThese three are considerably differentDairy Management CalendarEstrous CyclesHeifers are usually allowed to exhibit several estrous cycles before they are bredThe goal is to have heifers calve when they are two years oldDairy Management ScheduleEstrusArtificial Insemination is more common than natural serviceIt is estimated that over 85% of dairy cows are bred artificially (in U.S.)Dairy Management ScheduleWhy is A.I. more common than natural service?•Milk production is an economically important trait with high heritability (easy to make genetic improvement)•Dairy cows are intensively managed (so labor associated with A.I. isn’t an issue)•Dairy bulls are very meanLactation•Milk is the commodity or product of the dairy industry•Therefore, most farms have extended lactation lengths compared to beef cattleDairy Management Schedule•The generally accepted lactation length for dairy cattle is 305 days•When lactation is terminated, it is referred to as “drying off” cows•“Dry” cows are mature, non-lactating cows755025 0Milk/day (lbs)0 50 100 150 200 250 300Days in MilkAverage Lactation Curve for Dairy Cows755025 0Milk/day (lbs)0 50 100 150 200 250 300Days in MilkAverage Lactation Curve for Dairy CowsLactation Curves•Differences in total milk production per cow are usually due more to an extension of peak production (65%) rather than an increase in the amount during peak production (35%).Mar May Jul Sep NovJanDairy cows typically managed in groups so that thereare always some cows in their peak lactation.Group 2 Group 3Group 1Lactation•Requires a very high level of management•Most dairies will milk at least twice and sometimes three times per day•Individualized computer records or records for each cowLactation•Since cows are milked twice a day, they are observed and given supplemental grain, if needed, during milking•Supplemental grain is usually offered in a “free-stall”.Lactation•Concentrate (or grain) is usually a mixture of silage and corn, cottonseed hulls or other high energy feeds.•Cows also need roughage.•Roughage or fiber needs are met by allowing them to graze pasture and or by feeding hayLactation•If cows do not have adequate fiber (roughage intake), then several metabolic problems can occur.•Also, the percentage of milk fat is decreased which makes milk of lower quality for resale.Lactation•Lactation has a heavy requirement on equipment.•Milking equipment as well as milk processing and storage have to be inspected and maintainedLactation•Most cows are milked mechanically with systems that involve oscillations between positive and negative pressure•Milking system must be checked and adjusted on a regular basisTaylor and Field, 2000Taylor and