DAIRY PRODUCTION EXPERIMENTS FOR FARMERS IN THE DEVELOPING SECTOR.

An interesting project is run by the Department of Agriculture of KZN in the northern regions, specifically the Makhathini flats. It is not easy to do dairying in these areas, since the main dairy breeds have some serious challenges due to climatic and other reasons when they are introduced into these regions. One of the challenges faced in the Makhathini area specifically, is nutrition with distance to feed merchants. The high temperatures deterred animals from grazing during the day and night time grazing occurred. In circumstances where animals had to be kraaled, feeding was necessary during the night. Providing shade and cool clean drinking water is another challenge that faces the dairy farmer in these parts. It is therefore quite debatable whether to do dairying (with traditional dairy breeds) in hot, humid environments. However, the demand for milk and dairy products remains. Therefore, the researchers referred to below, launched an initiative at Makhathini Research station in the far north-east of KwaZulu-Natal, to breed a crossbred dairy cow. The argument was to combine the adaptability of local Nguni cattle with the dairy characteristics of the Jersey. A further benefit (to hot environments) presumably, would be that maintenance requirements would be kept low since the frame of the crossbred would remain small.

Initially all three breeds (Nguni, Jersey and the Crossbred) were milked in a standard operating milking parlour. The milk yields of the Nguni and Crossbred were disappointingly low. Therefore, the operation was altered to include a restricted suckling regime and the Nguni and Crossbred cows were milked outside. The crossbred has proven itself under these conditions with improved milk yields and longer lactation periods (reaching 300 days). Twice- a-day hand milking was also rejected in favour of once-a-day milking as some calves were losing condition.

A simulation of the communal scenario (regarding feeding and nutrition of the dairy animal) was subsequently done to serve as a demonstration for local farmers. The breeds were compared in trials within the breeding program. The results of a trial on the effects of supplementation on the milk production of the crossbred showed a significant increase in milk production, although not economically feasible. The restricted suckling regime resulted in poor calf performance when the cows were milked twice a day. An investigation was done to determine the milk intakes of the calves, with calves weighed before and after suckling. This served as an indication of the mother’s ability to retain milk and from the results milk retention indicated figures from 22% to 120% of saleable milk.

It is interesting that at Döhne Research Station in the Eastern Cape under totally different environmental and management conditions, once-a-day milking with suckling using Holsteins, also proved useful as a model for developing dairy farmers.

Reference:

P.A. Oosthuizen, T.J. Dugmore, F.J. du Toit & E.A. van Zyl, 2015. Dairying in Sub-Tropical regions – Makhathini Research station. Proc. of the 48^th SASAS Congress, 21-24 September, Empangeni.