Production status of dairy cattle farms in the Province of Isabela, Philippines
Paper Details
Production status of dairy cattle farms in the Province of Isabela, Philippines
Abstract
The Philippine dairy sector heavily rely on importing milk and dairy animals; thus, the government continuously strengthen the sector by establishing new dairy farms and by importing dairy animals. The Province of Isabela, Philippines, agriculture-based community has invested in dairy production. In order to evaluate the current production status of the dairy farms, the current production performance of the five (5) selected dairy cattle farms was conducted. To preserve confidentiality, codes are assigned to each farm. Structured surveys were conducted with dairy cattle farmers to collect quantitative data on milk yield, cattle health, nutrition, and management practices. The results of the study revealed that 100% of the farms belonged to commercial-scale of production. The total inventory was dairy cattle is recorded at 933 heads of livestock, on breeding, 80% of the farms utilized artificial insemination following continuous breeding. On feeds and feeding, 60% of the farms relied on natural vegetations as sources of grasses. Aside from this, 80% of the farms utilized improved species of grasses, 30% fed the animals with shrubs and 20% of the farm utilized recommended legumes. It is noted that only 20% of the studied areas fed the animals with concentrates; while other farms also provided UMMB (30%) and molasses (30%), and vitamin-mineral administration (40%). Forage processing or silage production is also practiced. It is noted that 60% produced corn silage; while 80% utilized Napier grass. On production system, 60% follow confinement production management. All farms reported pneumonia as major caused of mortality. Lastly, all farms kept records on farm production but the data was not analyzed. Because of these inadequate production practices, a significant difference was observed on milk yield of the animals raised in different farms, with the highest yield recorded from Farm 01 at 7.50 L; while the least was noted from Farm 04 at 4.79 L. Based on the results presented, the management is the farm is inadequate which needs immediate interventions to improve the overall status of the dairy animals.
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