Distribution, Management, Milk Production and Health of Dairy Cows in Jabalpur, India

Dairy cows have a natural daily eating pattern. Feeding and management systems must be carefully developed to take advantage of high milk production potential without coming into conflict with natural patterns of eating and selection. Factors that must be taken into account include the inborn pattern of eating and rumination and the effects that the lighting, water supply, time and quantity of meal and preference of ration ingredients. These aspects of feeding management may affect not only cow health, but also milk yield and milk composition. This paper reports different breeds of dairy cows, factors that affect the feeding behaviour and milk production and some common diseases which may affect not only cow health but also milk yield. Data were collected from different house pens, private and government dairy farms of Jabalpur Division (MP). Dairies were visited during the winter, month of November to February, year 2016-17. The objective was conduct a survey of dairy management practices that have an effect on dairy cows well being.