By Herbert Musoke
Dr. William Kabanda from URUS advised farmers to understand their market’s quality requirements to choose the right breed for their needs.
This was during the 2024 diary master class at Sight Farm in Namulonge last Saturday, September 7.
He noted that recent market trends have shifted, with milk now being evaluated based on specific ingredients required for various products.
“For instance, buyers making yogurt will pay a premium for milk with high butter content,” he explained.
Kabanda also stressed the importance of meeting health and welfare requirements to ensure cows produce more milk.
Cows should have a balanced diet, ample water, and clean housing to thrive.
He recommended using artificial insemination and selecting from a range of high-yielding bulls, such as Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Jersey, Holstein Friesian and Girolando from Brazil, which can produce up to 127 litres of milk a day.
“You must start preparing your cows from when they are calves,” he said.
“They should receive enough colostrum, which is milk produced in the fi rst six days after birth. Colostrum contains high levels of immunoglobulins, antimicrobial peptides and growth factors essential for the calf’s growth, development, and immune defence.”
For first-time calving cows, he suggested keeping colostrum from older cows in the freezer.
When needed, warm the frozen colostrum to feed the calf. This is because first-time mothers often lack sufficient nutrients in their milk, which can lead to calf mortality.
He advised choosing colostrum from cows with proven mothering abilities.
Kabanda recommended starting each feeding with calves, as they are more vulnerable.
Proper development of the rumen, which occurs through eating solid feed and hay, is crucial for successful weaning.
“Calf feed provides starch for rumen development, while high-quality hay increases the surface area for nutrient digestion,” he said.
A calf should be weaned when it reaches three times its birth weight and can chew cud, indicating that its four stomach chambers are well-developed.
