CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING INDUSTRY: WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?

Feed Ingredients for Cows and Dairy Cows

• Feed ingredients are the decisive factor for the health and productivity of the herd. Feed for cows usually includes:

Green forage:

• Fresh grass, hay, straw, and legumes. This is the main source of fiber, helping cows digest well and maintain intestinal health.

Silage:

• Grass, corn, or agricultural by-products are fermented, helping to preserve them for a long time and increase their nutritional value.

Starch:

• Corn, wheat, rice bran, and other energy-rich grains. They provide a high source of energy, support weight gain and milk production.

Supplementary feed:

• Vitamins, minerals, and supplementary proteins help balance nutrition, especially important for dairy cows.
• The selection and mixing of ingredients must ensure nutritional balance, suitable for each stage of cow development (calves, adult cows, lactating cows).

Controlling the Environment and Odor in Cattle and Dairy Farming

The farming environment directly affects the health and productivity of the herd. Some factors to consider include:

Cage:

• Cage should be airy, clean, and well ventilated to minimize the buildup of toxic gases such as ammonia (NH₃) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S).

Drinking water:

• Cows should be provided with clean and adequate water, especially dairy cows, as water is an important factor in milk production.

Temperature and humidity:

• Cows are animals that are sensitive to high temperatures, so cooling measures such as fans and misting are needed in the summer.

Collecting Waste from Cattle and Dairy Farming

• Before proceeding with waste treatment, collecting manure and leftover food is an important step to ensure efficiency and hygiene. Common collection methods include:

Manure drainage system:

• Pub houses are designed with drainage channels sloping to one side, allowing manure and urine to automatically flow into a holding tank or collection area.
• This method helps reduce manual collection efforts and ensures barn hygiene.
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Automatic manure rake:

• Using a rake or winch system to collect waste and leftover food from the barn floor, especially suitable for large-scale farms.
• Manure rakes save time and labor, while maintaining a clean barn environment.

Manual collection:

• For small-scale farms, manure and leftover food can be collected manually with a shovel or specialized tool use.
• This method is simple but needs to be done regularly to avoid waste accumulation.

Waste Treatment for Cows and Dairy Cows

Organic Composting

After collection, cow manure and leftover food are treated by the organic composting method:

• Composting materials:

• • Cow manure is mixed with agricultural by-products such as straw, sawdust, or leaves to increase the carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio, creating favorable conditions for microorganisms to work.

  • Microbiological preparations can be added to promote the decomposition process.

• Composting process:

• • The waste is piled up and covered with tarpaulin or straw to retain heat and moisture.

  • The temperature in the compost pile can reach 50-70°C, which helps kill pathogens and weed seeds.

  • The composting time usually lasts from 4-6 weeks, depending on weather conditions and raw materials.

• Organic fertilizer products:

• • After composting, cow manure becomes nutrient-rich organic fertilizer, which can be used to fertilize crops, improve soil, and increase agricultural productivity.

Using Biogas

Cow manure can also be fed into a biogas system to produce gas and organic fertilizer:

Principle Activities:

• • Cow manure is put into a closed tank, where anaerobic microorganisms decompose organic matter and produce methane gas (CH₄).

  • Methane gas is collected and used as fuel for daily life or production.

Waste from biogas:

• • After the fermentation process, waste from biogas can be used as organic fertilizer, rich in nutrients and safe for plants.