DAIRY PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

(1) Extensive or Traditional system

Under the extensive system, the producers are generally scattered among rural communities at some considerable distance from the urban centres. The stock used consists of a collection of cows sometimes goats and sheep. The cows are not selected for high milk production or any of the other characters derivable in a good dairy animal. Milking is not carried out at regular intervals and very often there is no record for milk produced by each cow. There are no cultivated pastures on which to feed the animals. The animals rely on grazing on the open range grounds with the change of seasons. In most cases, this development results in a very low level of production. The milk produced is not usually processed and the system requires thousands of milking cows to satisfy the requirement of the market.

(2) Intensive (modern) system

This system involves the use of dairy animals specialized for milk production. This involves the investment of considerable capital. The size of the dairy herd could vary from 50-100 cows for small scale operations and up to 500-1000 cows for medium size operator. The large scale operation has more than 1000 cows. The animal used for this operation are high yielding European type of breeds e.g. Friesian. In some of urban dairies in Nigeria, crosses of European breeds with indigenous cattle, selected indigenous cow are used in urban dairies in Nigeria. Breeding records are kept and selection for high milk yield is intensively carried out. The milk is regularly tested for quality and AI is used to improve the milk producing ability of the animal. The animals are fed regularly on cultivated pastures usually green soiled or zero-grazed. They are also supplemented with concentrates usually rationed according to production. The animals are housed and milking is usually done in a dairy parlour under hygienic conditions. There is a considerable degree of mechanization in most of the operations. The animals are subjected to rregular veterinary inspection to prevent and cure diseases. Under this system of production, the farmer is concerned with making as much profit as possible. The example of intensive system in Nigeria can be seen in the Urban Dairy Scheme at Agege, Iwo dairy, Kano, Maiduguri, Vom and Maizube Farms in Minna.