Milk Production

Dairy farming is one of the fastest growing and developing subsectors in the agricultural industry. There has been unprecedented growth in milk production attributed by proper genetic selection, breeding, housing, and feeding programs in this subsector. Dairy farming for milk production has been the primary business for many people in different places around the world. Milk has also been and still is a key animal product in most diets consumed worldwide. With various advancements achieved in preservation of techniques for dairy products, preference of consumers for milk and milk products are higher than ever. Basic information on the technology and science used in production and processing this crucial food commodity is significant to the work of academia, governments, and industry. Several good and professionally prepared reference books are available, but the preference for any specific book greatly depends on the needs for the reader. Most of the dairy farming reference books are single-volume books, and others only cover general topics whereas other books cover specific dairy farming topics. This book has been prepared to offer essential information about basic principles involved in milk production, nutritional requirement for dairy cattle, basic management practices involved in dairy farming and health conditions that affect dairy cows in milk production to all those student taking dairy farming management courses, veterinary professionals, teachers, dairy management staffs, and even various governmental staffs involved in agricultural sectors. The general science and various production practices presently in use in dairy industry have been characterised and well described so that the reader can acquire insights into the industry. The book has been divided into four sections. Section one deal with general information and principles on dairy farming and it consist of only one chapter. Section two deals with background information on nutrition requirements in milk production and consists of four chapters. Section three deals with general management practices involved in dairy farming for maximum milk production and consist of four chapters. Lastly, section four dealing with dairy farming health problems consists of one chapter. More emphases have been put in nutrition and management practices of dairy cow because these are the two key areas where most breeders and producer focus on in order to enhance milk production. Specific areas tailored towards minimizing production costs and maximizing overall production have also received much of the attention, specifically on the second, third and fourth section of the book.