Dairy and meat cow farming systems
Cattle are ruminants animals, raised mainly for milk and/or meat production, but also used for locomotion and strength of work in some countries. Manure to fertilize crops and skin for leather are also of interest.
Feeding regimes of ruminant consist of forage (green, dry, ensiled or wrapped) produced on farm and in some cases, complementary concentrate feed is added, according to the level of production and the objectives of the breeder.
Cattle production is generally divided in 2 main systems:
Dairy system
Purpose of this production is milk, but culled animals, bulls or non-selected heifers are used for meat production.
In modern farms, cows are housed in barns consisting of a resting area (mainly individual stalls), of manure alley, a feeding table and of a milking parlor.
Cows produce milk from calving until the end of the lactation period. Cows are then dried up approximately two months before the following calving. Dairy cows usually produce 2 to 4 lactation before culling.
Reproduction is concomitant to lactation (1.5 to 3 months after calving), and artificial insemination is the major mode of reproduction. Dairy cow, such a Holstein cows, produces 7500 kg milk by lactation and ingests 22 to 25 dry matter (DM) / day (concentrate feed 3¬4 kg DM and 16¬18 kg DM forage feed). Milk is sold to a cooperative or to a milk industry. Sterilized milk or dairy products (butter, cream or cheese) are main production.
Suckler system
Beef cattle production originated from dairy culled animals and specialized production.
In this latest case, suckling cows breeding requires the presence of a reproductive females herd. The feed regime of reproductive cows is essentially based on pasture grass. Barn often consists of straw bedding area. Cows usually produce 4 to 6 calves before culling. Natural reproduction (mature bull) is generally used. Breeder produce either thin animals intended for the fattening (calves...) or animals intended for the butcher's shop (young cattle, heifers, bulls or reform cows). In Europe, Charolais, Limousine or Hereford breeds are mainly used by farmers.
Wide variations of production due to geographical, historical, environmental... result in a wide diversity of milk and meat products. As a result, numerous labels value the territorial identity, the know¬how and the specificities of products obtained by the diversity of these breeding techniques (DPO or labels).
To learn more on milk production in Europe, click here
