GENERAL INTRODUCTION FOR FARMS THAT I HAVE DONE MY EXPERIENCES

1.INTRODUCTION

Bethel children Village Dairy Farm is intensive private owned commercial dairy farm found at
out starts of sebeta town. It was established in August, 1998 E.C with 45 Holstein Friesian cross
breed cattle. Up on its establishment the animals where bought from different individuals in and
around Addis Abeba. It seems that while the animals were bought their records were not
considered. Thus, the production bloodline (genetics), ancestors (sir and dam) and past health
conditions are not known. These been the cause of many problem in the farm including mastitis.

The not in all zero grazing type production system is practiced. Animals some times uses pasture
in the compound freely. Hay has been bought and stored in hay shed during harvesting time from
different areas. Also in the compound of the farm they cultivate wheat and teff and use the hay.
Wheat bran, Beer by product, noug cake and mineral salt are usual concentrates of this farm. The
main objective of the farm is to assist orphan children. Additionally, the farm has special
objective to distribute milk for farm organization workers and Bethel hospital workers.

2. Major farm management practices

2.1.Housing

Closed type of housing system is practiced, in which cows are confined together and secured at
neck by neck chains or collars. Feeding and milking are carried out in the barn itself. The
arrangement of the animal is double range face in system. There are two bran, one lactating cows
and the other for calves, heifers and pregnant (dry off) cows. The floor of the house is cement,
which can be easily cleaned but its rough that affects skin of animals and cause lameness to.

2.2. Feeding and watering

Common feeds in this farm are hay, wheat bran, and brewery industry by product, nuge cake and
salts. Green feeds (roughages) are given for animals occasionally, which could be serving as
good source of vitamin. For both feeding and watering they use the same trough.

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Feeding and watering frequency were described as follows.

Morning (12:30-1:30) Afternoon(6:00) Evening(12:00)

Hay and pasture in compound Hay Hay and concentrate
Water Water

2.3. Milking and Milk Yield

In this farm milking is done twice a day early in the morning (11:30-12:30 local time) and after
noon (9:30-10:30 local time.

Milking was carried out mannualy in the barn. First udder was cleaned with water , then teats
dipped in 4% potassium chlorite- dried by drying clothes and milkers wash their hand and lastly
milk mannualy in the container. the average daily milk yield of one cow was about 8-15liter at
the early morning.

2.4. Weighting

There is no weighting instrument in this dairy farm .if its present it allows the farmers to measure
feed conversion by monitoring weight gain over time to maximize yield, monitor animal health
and to confirm animal weight prior to mating.

2.5. Shearing and incubation- was not applicable to this farm.

2.6. Heat detection

Heat signs are critically followed and when observed the animal is inseminated within 6 to 9hrs.
The farm has one heat detecting bull and also the herd man attentively follows up suspicious cow
and heifer and he uses heat detecting signs such as mounting on other cows during exercise time,
stand to be mounted, milk production decreases, clear fluid from vulva, vulva become red and
feed in take decrease.

2.7. Insemination

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Artificial insemination is used for breeding in this farm. 100% blood line Holstein Friesian
semen is inseminated

2.8. Maintenance of facilities and equipments

Some of the facities and equipments in this dairy farm was like milking pail, towel, milk
collecter and gercan.in order to this equipment to be function efficiently it must be cleaned every
time.

2.9. Record Keeping

Record keeping helps the dairy man to get detailed information on individual cows as well as on
the entire herds for day to day decision making, evaluation of past management practice and long
range planning. The following informations are included in different records of the herd.
Vaccination calendar, deworwing calendar, individual ID, calving date, survice date, dry off date,
culling date and reason and milk yield amount.

SOME IMPORTANT ACTIVITIS THAT DONE IN BETHEL CHILDREN VILLAGE

3. Herd Health Management

3.1. Vaccination

Vaccination is given to prevent the occurrence of diseases. Some of the common vaccines given
in this farm are: - blanckleg, anthrax, FMD, pasteurollosis and CBPP. Those vaccines are given
since the establishment of the farm and revaccination done annually.

3.2. Deworming

Ant helmenthic (albendazole) is given for all animals in the farm which are above 3months of
age. Albendazole and ivermactin used in this farm to control parasites.

3.3. Hoof treaming

Animal hoof are followed and treamed by hoof treamer, when the hoof is enlarged.

3.4.Washing and Disin fection

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House are washed daily. Milking personnel wash their hands before commencing milking and
before handling next cows.

3.5. Calf Rearing

Bucket feeding type is practiced in this farm. For the first 5days of life 2.5L morning and
afternoon provided. Calves are allowed to feed hay and concentrate after 20 days of age.

3.6. Heifers Management

In this farm heifers are bought if necessary as replacement of culled cows and to expand the
farm. Heifers are first serviced at age of 18 months and give birth at age of 27 months in this
farm. They are vaccinaated against blackleg, anthrax, FMD, lumpy skin diseases and bovine
pastuerollosis.

3.7.Care for pregnant cow

In late pregnancy cow should be isolated and the pen is bedding with grass.the farm does not
have separate calving pen.calving pen is occasionally intervened when diffcult occurred.

3.8.Metabolic Problem

Among metabolic disease bloating is occasionally encountered. Acidosis and laminitis rarely
happen. Milk fever, ketosis and mud cow syndrome have not occurred.

3.9.Mastitis

it is the major problem in this farm. The main factor of high prevalence of mastitis case is while
this farm was established there was error on selection or collection of cows. In order to check the
case of mastitis in this farm we have collected milk sample from three cows which have history
of mastitis and those in which one of the teat quarter closed. The test result shows that both the
three cows are infected by staph. aureus and E. coli.

General constrant of the farm

Feeding problem- the source and availability of the feed is major feeding problem duet
seasonal variation

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 Disease problem there are some disease that are constrant for the development of farm by
reducing production and cost of disease treatment and vaccination.

Other activities that are done in bethels children village dairy farm other than production of milk
was farming different crops such as teff and wheat.

4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Bethel children dairy dairy farm center is located at peri-urban four kilometers to Sebeta town
and it characterized by suitable climate, temperature, rain fall and ecology of the land situation.
The housing system of the farm is closed type with one barn in which animals are confined in
intensive farming system. The dairy farm established in August 1998 with 45 holestian Friesian,
which are bought from different individual. with the objective to help orphanic children that
learn in this compound. All the activities performed in the farm were controlled under close
observation regard to maintenance of health of animals, watering, feeding and place the all
necessary records and their products.

Some very necessary chemicals and materials are not fulfilled, so that the following comments
are forwarded:-

The farm should bought animals that have full record kept
The farm should incorporate modern dairy processing machine
There should be clean, well light, ventilated, and bedded dairy barn.
The farm should formulate feed ration.
There should be milking machine, to facilitate milking and obtain adequate amount of
milk.
The farm should have a good quality milk measurement technique and mastitis tests
such as Californian mastitis test and other diagnostic test
Floor must smooth
Slope of floor must be constructed in order to drain very well