Dairy Farm Management and Animal Husbandry Practices
Domain 1 tests how well you can link cattle and buffalo husbandry, feeding, breeding, housing and health records into a profitable farm plan. Expect breed identification, ration calculation, heat detection and calving-cycle questions.
Core rules
- Odisha has native cattle such as Khariar, Binjharpuri, Ghumsuri and Motu, and buffalo types such as Chilika and Kalahandi; crossbreds are mainly Jersey and Holstein Friesian.
- A balanced ration includes green fodder, dry fodder, concentrate and mineral mixture; clean water should be available ad libitum.
- Record heat dates, service/AI dates, calving dates, milk yield and treatments; a cow should calve every 12-13 months.
- The dry period is about 60 days; do not confuse it with dry matter in feed. Loose housing with dry bedding and good ventilation reduces mastitis and lameness.
Worked example
A 400 kg crossbred cow yields 10 L/day. Using the thumb rule of 1 kg concentrate per 100 kg body weight for maintenance plus 1 kg per 2.5 L milk: maintenance = 400/100 = 4 kg; production = 10/2.5 = 4 kg; total concentrate = 8 kg/day. Add about 20-25 kg green fodder, 5-6 kg dry fodder and mineral mixture. The reasoning is that concentrate covers maintenance and milk, while roughage maintains rumen health.
Traps
- Feeding concentrate without roughage can cause rumen acidosis.
- Missing the dry period or calving interval in a record question loses marks.
- Buffalo heat signs are quieter than cattle heat; do not apply cattle signs blindly.
- Mineral mixture is not optional in a high-yielding ration.