Before establishing a dairy farm, it is imperative that the farmer have an idea of the basic requirements in putting up the farm
Dairy farm requirements
Location
Water supply
Structures and facilities
Equipment
Breeds of animals
Land available for pasture production
Milk supply chain
Producers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers linked together who are responsible for producing and turning raw materials into finished goods and services delivered to the consumers
Milk supply chain
1. Milk production
2. Milk collection
3. Milk processing
4. Marketing and distribution
Milk supply chain for smallhold producers
Smallhold farms have milk collection centers which sell their milk to federations who are responsible for processing milk and marketing the products
Milk supply chain for commercial farms with dairy plants
Commercial/ Government dairy farms produce milk, have self-owned processing plants, and sell to consumers, ice cream makers, bakers, groceries, supermarkets, coffee shops, hotels and restaurants
Milk supply chain for commercial farms without dairy plants
Commercial dairy farms produce milk, bring milk to processing plants for toll processing, and sell through their own marketing arm to consumers, ice cream makers, bakers, groceries, supermarkets, coffee shops, hotels and restaurants
Calf
A young male or female bovine until 6 months of age
Heifer
A female bovine under 3 years of age that has not yet given birth
Cow
A mature female bovine that has given birth
Dry Cow
A cow not secreting milk after completing a lactation cycle following calving
Bull
A sexually mature, uncastrated male bovine
Smallhold Dairy Farm
Also called backyard dairy farm; may begin with 1 to 3 dairy animals with the goal of increasing the herd to 5 to 20 heads; usually belongs to a primary cooperative
Commercial Dairy Farms
Dairy farm which raises more than 20 milking animals
Primary Cooperative
Organization of dairy farm producers which operates the collection center
Secondary Cooperative
Also called the federation wherein primary cooperatives are its members
nt presentation. TREES, Los Baños, Laguna. 10 Nov 2010.
Ptc+. 2010. Quality of milk and milk products.
The Exporting Process Supply Chains: From Producer to Consumer. The Right Move: Geography of Logistics. Retrieved from www. rightmoves. tdtvictoria. org. au on July 18, 2014.
AGRI 22 Introduction to Livestock and Poultry Production