Reasons for Keeping Cattle in Malawi

Cattle serve several important purposes in Malawi, including:

• Dairy Production: Raising cattle primarily for milk.

• Beef Production: Breeding cattle for meat.

• Draught Power: Utilizing cattle for work, such as plowing fields.

Dairy Cattle

Dairy cattle are specifically kept for milk production.

Characteristics of Dairy Cattle:

• Typically have a wedge or triangular body shape.

• Long, lean necks and large body capacities for effective feeding.

• Prominent udders with well-spaced, uniform teats.

Breeds of Dairy Animals in Malawi

1. Malawi Zebu

   • Indigenous breed, often crossed with exotic and local breeds.

   • Characteristics:

     • Small body size

     • Slow growth rate

     • Long calving intervals (up to 540 days)

     • Average milk yield: 900-1000 kg/lactation

     • Colors: black, brown, or white

2. Jersey

   • Origin: Jersey Island, England Channel.

   • Characteristics:

     • Color ranges from light brown to black.

     • Black muzzle with a light-colored ring.

     • Smallest exotic breed.

     • Large udder with good conformation.

     • Milk yield: ~2700 kg/lactation (305 days) with 5.3% butter-fat.

     • Hardy; low maintenance costs; can thrive on good/poor pasture.

     • Calves mature in 24-26 months; bulls may exhibit aggression.

3. Guernsey

   • Origin: Guernsey Island, England Channel.

   • Characteristics:

     • Fairly large; mature weight ~410 kg.

     • Color varies from yellowish-brown to red with white markings.

     • Milk yield: ~3600 kg/lactation with 5% butter-fat.

     • Docile temperament; not as hardy as Jersey.

     • Calves weigh about 30 kg at birth.

4. Friesian/Holstein

   • Origin: Holland.

   • Characteristics:

     • Distinctive black and white coloration.

     • Largest exotic dairy breed; mature cow weight ~550 kg.

     • High milk production: ~5000 kg/lactation with 3.5% butter-fat.

     • Docile and excellent grazers; large calves (30-40 kg at birth).

5. Ayshire

   • Origin: Scotland.

   • Characteristics:

     • Color varies from red with white markings to white with red markings.

     • Medium-sized breed; mature weight ~450 kg.

     • Good grazers; hardy on poor pasture.

     • Milk yield: ~4000 kg/lactation with 4% butter-fat.

     • Calves weigh 30-35 kg at birth; heifers calve for the first time at ~30 months.

6. Brown Swiss

   • Origin: Switzerland.

   • Characteristics:

     • Large breed with robust bones.

     • Mainly brown with variations from light to dark.

     • Lifetime milk production: ~20,000 to 25,000 kg.

7. Fleckvieh

   • Origin: Southern Germany.

   • Characteristics:

     • Highly disease-resistant; thick skin protects against pests.

     • Milk yield: ~7000 kg/lactation with 4.13% butter-fat.

     • Thrives on both grazing and zero-grazing systems.

     • Fast-growing bull calves can reach ~500 kg within 6 months.

General Characteristics of Dairy Cattle

• Triangular body shape with long necks and wide capacity.

• Large udders with visible mammary veins.

• Straight top line and well-set hindquarters for udder support.

• Slim bodies with minimal flesh compared to beef cattle.

• Generally docile and mild-mannered.

Management Practices for Dairy Production

1. a) Housing

1. Milking Shed or Parlour (Dairy Shed)

   • A designated area for milking.

   • Types:

     • Permanent milking shed

     • Movable milking shed

2. Key Considerations for Construction:

   • Provide a resting area and exercise space for the animals.

   • Ensure adequate feeding and watering stations.

   • Separate milking areas from feeding and exercise zones.

   • Include storage for feed, milking equipment, and medications.

   • Calf pens should be nearby, and proper waste disposal must be planned.

   • Use a concrete floor for easy cleaning and durability.

3. Maintenance:

   • Promptly repair any worn or broken parts.

   • Regularly clean with water, detergents, and disinfectants.

   • Maintain proper drainage and ventilation.

4. Calf Pens

   • Structures designed specifically for housing calves.

   • Types:

     • Permanent pens

     • Movable pens

1. b) Selection of Breeding Stock

• Choose breeds suited to the local climate conditions to ensure resilience and productivity.

Cattle Breeding

• Regular Breeding: Aim for at least one calf per year.

• Signs of Heat: Farmers should identify heat signs in cows for timely breeding.

• Resting Period: Dairy cows need a 60-90 day resting period after calving; breed at the third month post-calving.

• Breeding Heifers: Should be bred at around 18 months of age.

• Weight Requirements:

  • Heavy breeds: 280-320 kg at service.

  • Light breeds: 250-270 kg at service.

• Feeding During Gestation: Provide concentrated supplements to boost milk yield in lactating cows and ensure proper nutrition for growing heifers.

Breeding Methods

1. Natural Breeding

2. Artificial Insemination

Milking the Cow

• Definition: Milking is the extraction of milk from a ruminant’s udder after calving.

• Milking Start: Begin milking soon after calving.

• Drying Off: Implement drying off after seven months of pregnancy to manage milk production.

Milking Methods

1. Hand Milking

2. Using a Milking Machine

Milk Letdown Process

• Triggered by sounds associated with milking or calf cries.

• Hormone: Oxytocin causes contraction of myo-epithelial cells, aiding milk flow from the udder.

Factors Affecting Milk Yield

• Excitement (adrenaline release)

• Lactation period

• Age and character of the cow

• Seasonal variations

• Treatment and feeding during milking

• Milking method and breed

• Kraal condition and health issues (e.g., mastitis, milk fever)

• Heat onset and fetal development stage

• Milking frequency

Beef Cattle Breeds in Malawi

1. Malawi Zebu:

   • Small body, slow growth, low production.

   • Colors: black, brown, white.

2. Hereford:

   • Red with white face; muscular and compact.

   • Mature bull: 1000 kg, cow: 850 kg.

3. Aberdeen:

   • Uniformly black, blocky, and muscular.

   • Mature cow: 750 kg, bull: 900 kg.

4. Brahman:

   • Grey/red with a large hump; heat-resistant.

   • Bulls: 800-1100 kg, cows: 500-700 kg.

5. Sussex:

   • Uniform red; medium-sized, heat-resistant.

   • Good milk production and high fertility.

6. Afrikander:

   • Deep red with long horns and a small hump.

7. Simmental:

   • Light red with white patches; large and heavy breed.

8. Charolais:

   • White/creamy; largest exotic breed (up to 1200 kg).

9. Galloway:

   • Black with long curly hair; hardy and small.

10. Santa Gertrudis:

    • Large, cherry-red, with loose hides.

11. Shorthorn:

    • Color varies; large, compact, and some are polled.

Boran Cattle Overview

• Origin: Somalia and Ethiopia

• Characteristics:

  • Hardy and adaptable to harsh conditions

  • Common colors: white, grey, red

  • Features: large hump, dewlap, deep and compact bodies, long legs, wide drooping rumps

  • Mature bull: up to 650 kg; cow: up to 450 kg

  • Resistant to tropical diseases, but slow-growing and maturing (heifers calve at 30 months)

General Characteristics of Beef Cattle

• Deep bodies with short legs

• Blocky shape with heavy hindquarters

• Strong muzzles for rough pasture

• Straight top and lower body lines with protruding breasts

• Fast growth and early maturity

• Strong and robust, suitable for harsh environments

Management Practices for Beef Cattle

1. Selection for Breeding:

   • Choose cows with good beef conformation

   • Heifers: 250-260 kg

   • Bulls: healthy, vigorous, and ≥ 18 months old

   • Cows take nine months to calve

2. Rearing Young Animals:

   • Calves should nurse from mothers

   • Dehorn calves within two months

   • Castrate male calves selected for breeding

   • Wean calves at 6-8 months

   • Regular deworming

   • Fattening starts at 18 months

3. Stocking Rate:

   • Based on available grass/pasture during dry periods

4. Culling:

   • Remove unproductive animals (e.g., barren cows, weak calves, old cows)

5. Feeding:

   • Supplementary feeds during dry seasons to maintain weight

   • Quality of grass affects growth rate