Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science
What this domain tests
Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science tests cattle and buffalo breeds, digestion, feeds and feeding, breeding, reproduction, milk composition, clean milk production and common management practices. Maharashtra examples include Deoni and Khillar cattle and Murrah and Jaffarabadi buffaloes.
Core rules and concepts
- Ruminants digest fibre through rumen microbes; rumen function depends on gradual diet changes and adequate roughage.
- A balanced ration supplies energy, protein, minerals and vitamins in the proportions needed for maintenance and production.
- Colostrum is the first milk after calving and supplies antibodies; the calf should receive it early.
- A cow has a dry period before calving and a lactation period after calving; both are managed separately.
- Milk composition is mainly water, fat, protein, lactose and minerals. Clean milk production depends on healthy animals, clean utensils, potable water and rapid cooling.
- Breeding soundness, heat detection and record keeping determine calving interval and herd profitability.
Worked example
A cow yields 12 kg of milk with 4.5% fat. Fat yield = 12 × 0.045 = 0.54 kg. Fat-corrected milk at 4% fat is calculated as FCM = 0.4M + 15F, where M is milk yield and F is fat yield. FCM = 0.4 × 12 + 15 × 0.54 = 4.8 + 8.1 = 12.9 kg. The reasoning is: convert percentage fat to kilograms first, then apply the formula.
Traps that cost marks
Do not compare milk yield without correcting for fat. Do not feed a high-concentrate ration suddenly. Do not treat colostrum as ordinary market milk. Do not confuse dry period with lactation length. Do not ignore the cost of feed when judging dairy profitability.