Page 148 - Agriculture_Form_3

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

Chapter

Nine Dairy cattle production

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Introduction

In this chapter, you will learn the principles and practices that underlies successful
dairy farming. These include planning, housing, and breeding management for
a dairy cattle enterprise. You will also cover raising young dairy cattle from
birth to weaning and managing the growing and lactating dairy cattle. Other
important areas are milking and milk management, processing and marketing.
The competencies developed will enable you to engage in the dairy value chain

Think

Milk for a healthy life and income

The concept of dairy cattle production

Dairy cattle production is the keeping of cattle mainly for milk. It involves proper
feeding, breeding, housing, and health care. Good care helps cattle produce more
milk and stay healthy. The collection of milk is done regularly for selling (fresh)
or processing. In Tanzania, dairy cattle production plays an important role in
nutrition, income generation, and rural development.

Systems of raising dairy cattle in Tanzania

Three main systems, namely extensive, semi-intensive, and intensive, are used to
raise dairy cattle in Tanzania. The extensive system allows cattle to graze freely
in open fields. It works well in rural areas with large grazing land. In this system,
costs are quite low, but it is not suitable for high milk production. The semi-
intensive system combines grazing and partial housing. Cattle graze for most

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AGRICULTURE F3.indd 139