scholarly journals Farm Profitability as a Driver of Spatial Spillovers: The Case of Somatic Cell Counts on Wisconsin Dairies

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Theodoros Skevas ◽  
Ioannis Skevas ◽  
Victor E. Cabrera
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Geographic Proximity ◽  
Spatial Spillovers ◽  
Somatic Cell Counts ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Farm Profitability

Abstract We hypothesize that spatial spillovers among neighboring farms are not only driven by spatial proximity, but also by farm profitability considerations. This hypothesis is tested by examining the role of spatial spillovers in shaping somatic cell counts (SCC) on Wisconsin dairy farms. Results show that neighborhood links defined both in terms of geographic proximity and farm profitability give rise to spatial spillovers that affect SCC. Significant differences in the estimated spatial spillovers are observed when defining the neighborhood space in terms of both farm profitability and geographic proximity as opposed to geographic proximity alone, with the data favoring the former specification.

Survey of somatic cell counts and milk composition in bulk milk of ewes in dairy practice

10.5219/1325 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 151-155
Author(s):  
Martina Vršková ◽  
Vladimír Tančin ◽  
Michal Uhrinčať ◽  
Lucia Mačuhová ◽  
Kristína Tvarožková
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Fat Content ◽  
Somatic Cell Counts ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Bulk Milk ◽  
Synthetic Population ◽  
On Farm

We evaluated milk quality during the sheep dairy period in the year 2018. The study was performed at fifteen dairy farms with differed breeds and crossbreds under Slovakian usual practical conditions (milking and pasture). At the first and seventh farm purebred Tsigai (TS) ewes were kept, at the eight to twelve farm there were purebred Lacaune ewes (LC) and the thirteen farm were kept crossbred Improved Valachian x Lacaune ewes (IV/LC, with a higher proportion of Improved Valachian), the fourteen farm crossbred Lacaune x East Friesian ewes and the last farm were ewes of the synthetic population of Slovak dairy ewe (SD). The milk yield recording and milk sampling were performed once a month during evening milking as a part of milk recording services. The basic milk composition was determined by MilkoScan FT120 (Foss, Hillerød, Denmark) and somatic cell count was determined using a Fossomatic 90 (Foss Electric, Hillerød, Denmark) after heat treatment at 40 °C for 15 min. We found the highest incidence of SCC on farm 14 with crossbred LC/EF 3.940 x 103 cells.mL-1. Followed by farms 12 and 9 with purebred LC (SCC value of 3.318 and 2.489 x 103 cells.mL-1). Farm 7 with purebred TS reached the lowest value (831 x 103 cells.mL-1). The highest fat content was reached by the purebred TS, with gradual growth from March to July. Crossbreds and the synthetic population of Slovak dairy ewe (SD) had the lowest average fat content, which could be affected by feeding. Similar tendencies were found in protein content.

scholarly journals Machine Learning as an aid to management decisions on high somatic cell counts in dairy farms

2005 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Goyache ◽  
J. Díez ◽  
S. López ◽  
G. Pajares ◽  
B. Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Northern Spain ◽  
Somatic Cell Counts ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Cell Counts

Abstract. High somatic cell counts (SCC) is associated with mastitis infection, in dairy herds, worldwide. This work describes Machine Learning (ML) techniques designed to improve the information offered to farmers on animals producing high SCCs according to particular herd profiles. The analysed population included 71 dairy farms in Asturias (Northern Spain) and a total of 2,407 lactating cows. Four sources of information were available: a) a questionnaire survey describing facilities, milking routines and management practices of the farms studied; b) dairy recording information; c) classification of the cows suspected of being healthy or subclinical mastitic according to farmers’ expertise; and d) positive or negative scores with respect to the California Mastitis Test (CMT). The decimal logarithm of the SCC (linear score), lactation number, herd size, lactating cows per milker, milk urea concentration, number of clusters per milker and actual SCC are shown to be the most informative attributes for mimicking both farmers’ expertise or CMT performance in order to identify animals producing persistently high SCCs in dairy herds. However, to improve the identification of cows suspected of being non-healthy, the system uses other information related to management and milking routines. Decision rules to predict CMT performance can provide useful, additional information to farmers to improve the management of dairy herds included in milk recording programs.

Milk losses and quality payment associated with somatic cell counts under different management systems in an arid climate

2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Sadeghi-Sefidmazgi ◽  
P. R. Amer
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Arid Climate ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Somatic Cell Counts ◽  
Cell Counts

Sadeghi-Sefidmazgi, A. and Amer, P. R. 2015. Milk losses and quality payment associated with somatic cell counts under different management systems in an arid climate. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 95: 351–360. The objectives of this research were (1) to estimate the economic benefits or new marketing opportunities due to a reduction in milk somatic cell count (SCC) for dairy producers through improved management practices and (2) to quantify the production loss associated with SCC under different management systems. A total of 38 530 average lactation SCC records for 10 216 Holstein cows gathered on 25 dairy farms from January 2009 to October 2012 in Isfahan (Iran) were analyzed under 13 types of herd management practices including 40 levels of health, milking and housing conditions. The results show that there are many well-established management practices associated with higher-quality payment for SCC that have not yet been applied in Isfahan dairy farms. The lowest and highest economic premium opportunity (US$) from SCC were estimated to be for production systems applying washable towels for teat cleaning (5.69) and production systems with no teat disinfection (31.07) per cow per lactation. Results indicate that any increase of one unit in average lactation somatic cell score is expected to cause a significant reduction in average lactation 305-d milk yield from 36.0 to 173.4 kg, depending on the level of management practices employed. In general, farmers with higher milk yield and well-managed practices for mastitis control would lose more milk when an increase occurs in SCC.

Farm Inspection Scores and Milk Quality Criteria as Indices of Salmonella in Bulk Milk

1988 ◽  
Vol 51 (12) ◽  
pp. 958-962 ◽  
Author(s):  
SCOTT A. McEWEN ◽  
LAWRENCE H. McCLURE ◽  
S. WAYNE MARTIN
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
High Standard ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Somatic Cell Counts ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Bulk Milk ◽  
Standard Plate ◽  
Plate Counts ◽  
And Control

The scores from routine dairy farm inspections, bulk milk standard plate bacteria counts, and somatic cell counts from dairy farms with Salmonella-positive milk filters (cases) were compared with those from dairy farms with Salmonella-negative milk filters (controls). Case and control farms showed no significant differences in their inspection scores based on general surroundings of the farm, milking area and cleanliness of milking cows, but differed in the higher mean score for milk houses of case farms. Additionally, there were no differences in the standard plate counts or somatic cell counts between case and control farms. Based on the results of this study, there is no evidence that poor dairy inspection scores, high standard plate counts or high somatic cell counts are useful indicators of the presence of Salmonella in bulk milk supplies from dairy farms.

Systems analysis of high somatic cell counts on dairy farms

2011 ◽  
pp. 129-130
Author(s):  
Y. H. Schukken ◽  
C. Gutierrez ◽  
F. L. Welcome ◽  
Y. T. Grohn
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Systems Analysis ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Somatic Cell Counts ◽  
Cell Counts

SOME OBSERVATIONS OF MILKING EQUIPMENT STATUS AND MILKING PROCEDURE ON DAIRY FARMS EXPERIENCING HIGH SOMATIC CELL COUNT LEVELS1

1972 ◽  
Vol 35 (11) ◽  
pp. 661-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. C. Lawton ◽  
V. S. Packard
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Acceptance Criteria ◽  
High Compliance ◽  
Somatic Cell Counts ◽  
Cell Counts

During an evaluation of the Abnormal Milk Control Program (1), 162 milking-time farm calls were made specifically to evaluate milking equipment installation and operation and milking practices on farms experiencing high somatic cell counts. A summary of these findings is presented herein. Using generally recognized guidelines as acceptance criteria for both equipment factors and milking practices, the percentage of satisfactory compliance was: for operating vacuum, 34.0%; stall size (stanchion barns), 37.3%; use of strip cup, 11.1%; use of individual towels for udder wash, 12.3%; temperature of udder wash at completion of milking, 14.8%; and use of teat dip, 19.1%. Relatively high compliance was noted for: vacuum controller location, 64.8%; pulsator speed, 72.2%; presence of sanitizer in udder wash, 87.0%; and equipment sanitization before milking, 60.5%. About 47% of the dairymen held milking-time-per-cow to 5 1/2 min or less.

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