Summary

Malnutrition is a global issue that affects billions. According to a demographic heath, survey conducted in Sri Lanka, 16.6% of babies and 21.1% of children under 5 yrs. In the country were underweight (low weight for age), 14.7% were wasted (low weight for height) and 17.7% were stunted. (Sri Lanka Department of Census and Statistics 2009) Among animal source foods, milk and milk products play a crucial role in reducing child malnutrition. The milk is a cheap nutritious diet with high nutrient density, adequate micronutrients and bioavailability, and low in anti-nutrient content. However, the domestic production of milk is only around 25–30% of the total national requirement and currently this gap is being filled by the import of powdered milk spending around 60 billion rupees annually (Livestock Statistics Bulletin 2010). As such, it is vital to improve the country’s domestic dairy industry to produce a sufficient level of milk. Indeed, Sri Lanka is to be self- sufficient in milk production by 2016 under the “Mahinda Chinthana” Vision (Mahinda Chintana 2010). On the other hand, in the recent past the quality of imported milk powder to Sri Lanka has also became a serious issue. Imported milk powder contaminated by the hazardous agro chemicals and bacteria such as Clostridium Botulism has been detected (The New York Times, 2013) and Ministry of Health has taken steps to suspend releasing milk powder imported (Colombo Page, 2013). Therefore, it is an essential task of the country to be self-sufficient in milk production to keep the nation healthy and strong.

Therefore in the proposed project the self-sufficient in milk production will achieved by multidisciplinary approach through improved reproductive and production efficiency, and nutritional management. The production will be further increase through enhanced animal welfare and bio-security.

Objectives

• Improvement of nutritional management
• Improvement of reproductive and production efficiency
• Improvement of animal welfare
• Improvement of bio-security

Major Equipment Facilitated by Grant

• Freeze Dryer
• In vitro gas Fermentation Set Up
• Laboratory Refrigerator
• Ultrasound Scanner with Colour Dopler Transducer
• Myosystem 1400A Surface EMG
• Semi-Automated Chemistry Analyzer
• A complete Public Address system
• FLIR Thermal Camera for Lesion Diagnosis
• Laptop Computers
• Ultralow Laboratory Freezer
• Gel Documentation System
• Bacteriological Culture Incubator 10-15 kVA
• Single phase diesel generator set

Designation

Principal Investigator (PI)

Deputy Principal Investigator (DPI)

Co- investigator

Co- investigator

Co- investigator

Co- investigator

Co- investigator

Co- investigator

Co- investigator

Co- investigator

Co- investigator

Co- investigator

Co- investigator

Co- investigator

Co- investigator

Co- investigator

Institute

Department of Animal Science University of Peradeniya

Department of Animal Science University of Peradeniya

Department of Animal Science University of Peradeniya

Veterinary Research Institute Gannoruwa Peradeniya

Field Center of Animal Science and Agriculture, Japan

Department of Animal Science University of Peradeniya

Department of Biotechnology University of Peradeniya

Department of Farm Animal Production Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Peradeniya

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology The University of Hong Kong, China

University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Japan

Department of Animal Science University of Peradeniya

Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science University of Peradeniya

Department of Animal Science Faculty of Agriculture University of Ruhuna

The Faculty of Medicine The University of Melbourne

Department of Veterinary Pathobiology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Animal Science University of Peradeniya

Kagoshima University, Japan

Summary – Improving dairy industry to achieve self-sufficiency in milk

NRC Target Oriented Project 14-10

The objective of the research project was to investigate major factors that would contribute to increasing milk production in Sri Lanka and to provide recommendations to achieve self-sufficiency in milk.  The project focused on the improvement of (i) nutrition (ii) reproduction (iii) biosecurity and (iv) welfare of dairy cattle.  Priority needs for each theme were identified through discussions with dairy cattle farmers, veterinary practitioners and other relevant stakeholders.

Research findings:

·        Nutrition: The analysis of constituents of blood (metabolic profiles) confirmed that a large percentage of transition and early lactating dairy cows suffer from energy imbalance (negative energy balance).   Corn grain and fat (bypass fat 200-250 g/cow/day) included high energy rations were recommended until 12-14 weeks period after calving (post-partum) to overcome the energy imbalance and increase milk production and consequent profit.  Potential of hybrid fodder maize, sorghum and millet varieties for dairy cattle feeding was identified.  Data on yield and nutritive value of locally available ruminant feed ingredients were recommended and published. 

·        Reproduction: Recommended ovulation synchronization protocol (Co-Synch protocol) for cow insemination saves about 4500 SLR per insemination.  Detection of non-pregnant cows as early as 20 days after insemination using ultrasound scanner (color doppler) is recommended for large scale farms.  This will allow the non-pregnant cows to synchronize and insemination again as early as 20 days after the first insemination, thereby shortening the period for the next calving (calving interval) by about 45 days, resulting more lifetime and herd milk production.  Genetic markers were identified to select more potential dairy calves; managing them will increase herd productivity and overall profit of dairy cattle farming. 

·        Welfare: The research studied conditions of local cattle sheds and recommended ideal cubical dimensions and flooring (soft bedding) for greater milk production.  Useful relationships were established among cattle shed conditions (spacing, flooring) and common welfare related problems in dairy cattle (lameness, wound, occurrence of mastitis).

·        Biosecurity: The research revealed an unexpectedly high occurrence of the major udder disease namely subclinical mastitis.  The proposed vaccination and hygienic protocol ensured protection of cows from the disease, while limiting the adverse influence of using excessive antibiotics on beneficial microbial and human populations.  The research also detected the highly rapidly spreading (contagious) Mycoplasma bovis as a cause of mastitis among the recently imported dairy cows for the first time in Sri Lanka.  More stringent quarantine protocols are recommended while importing dairy cattle.

Research outcomes:

The findings were disseminated via training programs, scientific publications and presentations and training of scientists (1 PhD and 5 MPhils). It opened many avenues for dairy cattle research and husbandry, including analysis of blood composition (metabolic profiling), energy supplementation, improved fodder production, use of genetic markers, ovulation synchronization protocols, improving cow comfort, vaccination for udder disease and improving biosecurity. An in-vitro feed evaluation facility has been established at the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI) and provides service to the animal feed industry. The Dept. of Animal production and Health (DAPH) has granted approval for two private sector companies to import and supply bypass fat for dairy cattle farmers while the Central Province Dept. of Animal Production and Health has included bypass fat as the main energy supplement in its “transition and early lactating cow management programme”. Several private sector companies commenced promotion of hybrid fodder (maize, sorghum) varieties for dairy cattle feeding.   The Dept. of Animal Production and health permitted importation of mastitis disease vaccines for dairy cattle, and few dairy cattle farms commenced such vaccination of dairy cattle against mastitis.  Large scale dairy cattle farms (Ridiyagama farm, Manikpalama farm) of the National Livestock Development Board (NLDB) have already adapted the recommended Co-synch protocol for the synchronization of the dairy cow herd. A formal collaboration was established with University of Melbourne for further study of Mycoplasma bovis infection in dairy cattle in Sri Lanka.