The Effect of Improved Reproductive Herd Health on Milk Production From Peri-urban Dairy Farms

Abstract

The effect of incorporating reproductive herd health programme in the management of 12 urban farms was studied. Over a four year period, calving intervals reduced (from 19.3 to 13.7 months) services per conception (from 3.8 to 1.8) and age at first calving (from 37.7 to 27.8 months). The number of milking cows in the herds reduced by 35% from 106 60 69 but the average milk production per cow doubled from 7.5 to 15.4 litres per cow per day over the same period. It is concluded that improved reproductive herd health management is essential for increased milk production in small scale dairy farms.