Page 176 - Agriculture_Form_3

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

Factors affecting milk yield and quality
Amount and quality of milk produced is affected by several factors including
type of breed, feeding regime, stage of lactation, health and comfortability of
the cow, and milking techniques.. Some breeds, such as Friesians and Ayrshires,
produce more milk than most of the others. In respect to feeding regime, a cow
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fed on a balanced ration and with access to adequate clean drinking water gives
better results than one on poor or limited feed. Lactating cows increase milk
production with age from the first lactation to about the fourth lactation. The
stage of lactation also influences milk yield. After calving, milk yield continues
to increase gradually and reaches a peak, after which it declines until drying off.
Three months after calving, the cow is normally expected to be mated; following
this, milk yield tends to decrease, especially if feeding is not optimum due to an
increase in the animal’s body demands of pregnancy. The health and comfort of
the cow are equally important. Cows that are sick, stressed, or kept in dirty and
uncomfortable conditions tend to produce less milk. Poor milking techniques, such
as pulling teats or milking at irregular times, can reduce milk yield and damage
the udder. Poor hygiene during and after milking can cause milk contamination,
leading to milk spoilage or the spread of diseases. To improve milk production
and quality, good feeding, proper milking, clean housing, and regular health
checks must be observed. Keeping proper records also helps in making decisions
that support both milk yield and farm profit.

Activity 9.8

1. Visit your school dairy farm or a nearby dairy farm and practise hand milking
by following milking procedures you have learnt. Alternatively, use a rubber
udder to carry out this task.
2. Also, visit a nearby dairy farm which uses machine milking; observe the
procedures as well as major features and their functioning.

3. Record your observations and lessons learnt during the visit in your portfolio.

Exercise 9.7

1. At a school dairy unit, two cows are milked daily. The milk yield of one cow
has started to drop, even though her feeding and routine management have

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AGRICULTURE F3.indd 167