Transcript Diversity of farming systems © BRITISH NUTRITION FOUNDATION 2014 Learning objectives • To recognise there are differences between farming systems. • To understand the importance of.

Diversity of farming systems
© BRITISH NUTRITION FOUNDATION 2014
Learning objectives
• To recognise there are
differences between
farming systems.
• To understand the
importance of cow health
and welfare, regardless of
the different farming
systems used.
© BRITISH NUTRITION FOUNDATION 2014
Farm sizes
There are 14,549 dairy farms
across the UK. The majority of
farms are located in the
western parts of the British Isles
where the warm wet climate
gives ideal conditions for grass
growth.
Dairy farms are all different
shapes and sizes, with small
herds of 50 cows to farms with
more than 1,000+ cows.
Farms in Britain vary in style and
size.
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Large farms
Some dairy farms will have over
1,000 dairy cows on the farm at
the one time.
Similar farming techniques are
still used, but on a bigger scale.
It is important to remember,
regardless of the size of the
dairy farm, the health and
welfare of the cows remain the
farmer’s top priority.
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Housing
In the winter and during bad
weather, most British dairy
cows are housed.
Sheds are designed to be
extremely spacious and airy,
allowing the cows to rest, stand
and move around freely to
exercise and socialise.
Sheds are carefully designed
to ensure that the 'Five
Freedoms' are met, and to
maintain the health and
welfare of the cows.
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All-year-round housing
All-year-round housing is where
dairy cow’s stay indoors
throughout the year.
Each housing system must be
approved by the Assured Dairy
Farms (ADF) scheme to ensure
cows enjoy the five freedoms.
These are:
• from hunger and thirst;
• from discomfort;
• from pain, injury or disease;
• to express normal behaviour;
• from fear and distress.
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Diet
The majority of British dairy
cows eat grass during the
summer and silage (preserved
grass or maize) in the winter.
This is usually supplemented
with dry feeds such as cereals
and protein feeds with added
vitamins and minerals.
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Diet
The amount of food and water
consumed by dairy cows depends
on factors such as the breed, age.
size and stage of lactation.
This is why many farmers use
specialist advice to develop the
correct diet.
Each dairy cow eats between 25
and 50 kg of feed per day.
A dairy cow needs at least 60 litres
of water per day, and may need up
to 100 litres or more depending on
how much milk is being produced
through lactation.
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Udder control
Despite the variety of farm size
and farming techniques, all
dairy cow farmers meet with
veterinarians and animal
nutritionists to ensure a good
standard of health and welfare
for their cows.
Each farm has regular ‘herd
health checks’ and each cow
has a cattle passport.
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Male calves
The balance of nature dictates
that on average an equal
number of male and female
calves are born to dairy cows.
Most dairy famers have the
option to either rear the male
calves for beef, if suitable, or
sell these for veal.
Official estimates indicate that
more than three quarters of all
male calves born to the dairy
herd are reared for beef in the
UK.
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Milking
The frequency of milking varies
from farm to farm and
depends on the type of parlour
used, the stage of lactation
and milk yield.
A higher milking frequency
does not relate to a higher
yield of milk, nor is it
uncomfortable for the cows.
Dairy cows would feed their
calves naturally at four to six
hourly intervals.
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Herringbone style milking
In a herringbone parlour, the
cows line up beside each
other at an angle so the farmer
can access the udders from his
position in a sunken pit.
In some parlours, cows receive
feed while being milked.
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Rotary parlour
In a rotary parlour the cow
stands on a circular raised
platform, allowing the farmer
to attach the milking machine
from below.
The platform rotates slowly,
allowing cows to enter and exit
the platform individually once
they are milked.
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Robotic milking
This is an entirely automated
milking system, allowing the
cows to choose when to be
milked. The milking machine
automatically connects to the
cow’s teats and turns off when
the milking is complete.
A safety mechanism prevents
the cows being milked only a
certain number of times each
day.
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Organic dairy farms
Animal health and welfare are
essential to all farmers, whether
farming conventionally or organically.
Cows on an organic farm have a
natural forage based diet. Like cows in
other farms, they graze outside in the
summer and are fed in sheds in the
winter.
The grass and dry feed they consume
is grown solely using organic fertilisers.
This can be challenging for the farmer,
as bad weather and weeds can
damage the crop. They grow
beneficial plants, like clover, which
impart essential nitrates back into the
soil.
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Summary
Farming techniques and the size
of dairy farms will differ around
the UK.
Although different feed, housing
and milking parlours may be
used, the health and welfare of
the dairy cows remains the
highest priority for farmers.
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Quiz
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End
Question 1
True or false?
Cow health and welfare is a farmer’s
number one priority regardless of the
different farming systems used.
A. True
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B. False
Question 1
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Question 1
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Question 2
Which one of the following is NOT a
common characteristic of a cow shed?
A. Allows the cows to rest or
stand up.
B. Extremely spacious and
airy.
C. Airtight to keep the cows
warm in winter.
D. Allows the cows space to
exercise or socialise.
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Question 2
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Question 2
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Question 3
Which of the following factors does NOT
affect the amount of food and water the
cows consumes?
A. The price of food and
water.
B. The breed of the cow.
C. The age of the cow.
D. The stage of lactation.
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Question 3
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Question 3
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Question 4
Which style of milking parlour is where the
cows line up at an angle so that the
farmer can milk the cows from his position
in a sunken pit?
A. Robotic milking parlour
B. Rotary milking parlour
C. Herringbone style milking
parlour
D. Rectangular milking
parlour
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Question 4
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Question 4
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Question 5
What is the main feature of organic
farming which differs from conventional
farming techniques?
A. The grass and dry feed is
solely grown using organic
fertilisers.
B. The cow health and
welfare is the number one
priority for the farmer.
C. Farmers plant clover in
fields to reduce the use of
fertilisers.
D. The cows are housed
during the winter to protect
them.
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Question 5
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End
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Question 5
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End
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