March 13, 2008

US experts underscore sufficient rest schedule for cows to improve output

The Minnessota Milk Producers Association recently gave information to farms, emphasizing the need for dairy producers to allow their cows' daily schedule to include 12 hours for resting.

The schedule also includes five hours for eating, 30 minutes for drinking, three hours for socializing, and less than two hours for milking.

Joe Harner from Kansas State University underscored that resting is a very important aspect of the cows' time budget as for every hour resting longer than 12 hours, the producer can obtain two more pounds of milk.

For every hour less, producers lose 2 pounds of milk in the end. Ideally, facilities should not hinder cows from obtaining adequate time for feeding and resting, Harner reiterated.

Furthermore, there is also a need to check if producers are overcrowding.

Monte Hemenover of Avenues for Change offered tips on how farmers can remain competitive in the highly dynamic industry.

US farmers will need to take into consideration the consumer choices and influence, consolidation and expansion within the food chain, custodial control, and consolidation and expansion among dairy operations.