An Integrated approach to improvement of diary cattle production

Abstract

A proposal is presented for integration of dairy cattle breeding management and herd health services for dairy farmers into a single computer-based data base because both husbandry and health have many common elements making integration of services desirable for efficient use of computers. Dairy herd management and hard health srvices depend on a rapid turn-round of information to the farmer and his professional advisers necessitating use of regional mini-computers which are linked to a central computer for genetic analysis. Standard computer programs are recommended to facilitate interchange of information and assembly for genetic analysis.  The scheme would be under the overall direction of a central committee assisted by a secretariat comprising appropriate technical specialists and support staff.  At the state level, regional management would operate through small state liaison committees. An adequate dialogue with industry will be ensured through state advisory committees.