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MULTAN, Jan 04 (APP):The Punjab Dairy Farmers Advisory has issued important guidelines to protect livestock and maintain milk production during severe winter conditions.
According to the advisory, milk yield often declines in cold weather as animals consume less feed and water, while more energy was used to maintain body heat. Farmers were urged to focus on balanced, high-energy nutrition, including the use of maize, concentrates, jaggery, or molasses to help animals cope with low temperatures.
The advisory recommends providing lukewarm, clean drinking water at least three times a day, as cold water can lower body temperature and reduce milk yield. Proper housing is also stressed, with dry and clean flooring essential to prevent diseases such as mastitis. Farmers were advised to block cold winds using sheets or tarpaulins while ensuring adequate ventilation to allow fresh air circulation.
Special care has been advised for calves and newborn animals, including six-inch thick dry bedding made from straw or crop residue to prevent pneumonia. Recently calved animals should also be kept on dry bedding for several days to avoid post-partum infections.
Maintaining fixed milking times, proper hygiene before and after milking, avoiding sudden changes in feed, and similarly isolating sick animals were also emphasized.
The advisory concluded that well-fed animals kept in comfortable shelters remain healthier and more productive, providing long-term benefits to dairy farmers during extreme winter conditions.