scholarly journals Sizing Milking Groups in Small Cow Dairies of Mediterranean Countries

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 795
Author(s):  
Angela Calvo ◽  
Gianfranco Airoldi
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Entry And Exit ◽  
Dairy Farmer ◽  
Mediterranean Countries ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Work Routine ◽  
Simple Equations ◽  
Piedmont Region

A dairy farmer chooses the number of milking groups in function of the herd size, stall type and milking system also in small cow dairies (number of animals lower than 100–120). In these dairies, there are different milking systems (bucket, trolley, pipeline, little autotandem, herringbone or parallel parlors) and each of them has a different work routine. The knowledge of the routine is the starting point for assessing the milking installation, because it determines the number of milked cows per hour. Different milking systems have common tasks (as pre-dipping, inspecting foremilk, udder preparation, attaching teat cups, post-dipping), but in the meantime there are different operations that characterize each specific routine (e.g., animal entry and exit if there is a parlor, bucket, trolley or milking group positioning if tie-stall). For this reason, we surveyed twenty small dairy farms located in the Piedmont Region (Italy) with different milking systems to correctly acquire the specific milking routines. Different models were therefore studied using the observed routines in in the examined farms. These models were then used to calculate the number of milked cows per hour and the number of milking groups. The main findings were simple equations, specific for each milking system, easily accessible by the farmer to correctly size his milking system.

scholarly journals Assessment of Influential Factors for Scours Associated with Cryptosporidium sp., Rotavirus and Coronavirus in Calves from Argentinean Dairy Farms

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2652
Author(s):  
Emiliano Bertoni ◽  
Adrián A. Barragán ◽  
Marina Bok ◽  
Celina Vega ◽  
Marcela Martínez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Dairy Calves ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Logistic Regression Models

Scours is the most common disease in dairy calves, and it is a multifactorial syndrome complex. Cryptosporidium sp. (C. sp.), rotavirus group A (RVA), and bovine coronavirus (BCoV) are the three main pathogens associated with scours. The objective of this study was to identify potential factors associated with scours, C. sp., RVA, and BCoV infections in preweaned dairy calves from Lerma Valley in Salta Province, Argentina. A total of 488 preweaned calves from 19 dairy farms located in the Lerma Valley were enrolled in this observational study. One fecal sample was collected from each calf between one week and two months of age for assessment of C. sp., RVA, and BCoV infection status. Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts and RVA and BCoV antigens in fecal samples were assessed using microscopic observation and indirect enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (iELISA), respectively. A voluntary questionnaire was developed and used to collect data regarding management practices from the participants’ farms. The data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression models. Scours incidence was 35.4%, and a greater proportion of calves younger than 20 days were affected. Of the fecal samples, 18% and 9.5% tested were positives for C. sp. and RVA, respectively, while BCoV was detected only in two calves. Furthermore, 84.2% and 63.1% of the farms tested positive for Cryptosporidium sp. and RVA, respectively. In addition, the following variables were associated with higher odds of having scours: (1) herd size (>300 milking cows; OR = 1.7), (2) calf age (<20 days of age; OR = 2.2), (3) RVA and C. sp. test (positive test; RVA OR = 2.6; C. sp. OR = 3), calf feeding practices (feeding milk replacer; OR = 1.81), and newborn calf management practices (calf moved from maternity pen <6 h after calving; OR = 1.7). Concerning RVA infection, calves less than 20 days of age (OR = 2.6) had a higher chance of testing positive for RVA, while calves that remained in the calving pen for less than 6 h after calving had a lower chance (OR = 0.3). On the other hand, for C. sp. infection, large farm size (>300 milking cows; OR = 1.2) and young calf age (<20 days of age; OR = 4.4) indicated a higher chance of testing positive for C. sp., while calves belonging to farms that fed frozen colostrum (OR = 0.2) had a lower chance of becoming infected with C. sp. The result of this study indicated that scours is a prevalent disease in farms of the Lerma Valley, Salta, Argentina, and that RVA and C. sp. infections, along with specific farm management practices, might be important contributing factors that could increase the chance of NCS in dairy farms.

scholarly journals Fertility parameters in German dairy herds: Associations with milk yield and herd size

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 459-464
Author(s):  
Jörn Rethmeier ◽  
Michael Wenzlau ◽  
Martin Wagner ◽  
Steffi Wiedemann ◽  
Lisa Bachmann
Keyword(s):  
Pregnancy Rate ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Pregnancy Rates ◽  
Conception Rate ◽  
Service Rate ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
Key Factor

Fertility in dairy cows has decreased over the last fifty years while milk production per cow has increased. Furthermore, dairy herds become larger resulting in fewer employees per cow, which might also influence reproductive performance. To elucidate the situation in Germany, selected parameters (conception rate, service rate, pregnancy rate, days to first insemination and days open) were studied using data on 148 herds. For statistical analysis the herds were categorized concerning milk yield: (1) &lt; 30 kg, (2) 30‒35 kg, and (3) &gt; 35 kg/cow/day as well as concerning herd size: (1) &lt; 200, (2) 200‒400, (3) 400‒1000 and (4) &gt; 1000 milking cows. There was no difference in conception rate among herds. That means on dairy farms of larger size or with high milk yield the chance of an inseminated cow to become pregnant is the same as in small herds or in herds with low milk yield. Small herds (&lt; 200 cows) had lower pregnancy rates than larger herds (200–400 cows). The pregnancy rate in herds with different milk yield was not statistically different. Though there was a trend that dairy farms with higher milk yield (&gt; 30 kg) had higher pregnancy rates. The statistical differences and trends of pregnancy rates are due to higher service rate in larger herds as well as in herds with high milk yield. Therefore, service rate is the key factor for high reproductive performance on dairy farms. Poor fertility is not associated with high milk yield on herd basis or large herd size but may represent inappropriate farm management.

scholarly journals The Production Structure of Pennsylvania Dairy Farms

1984 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Grisley ◽  
Kangethe W. Gitu
Keyword(s):  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Variable Cost ◽  
Production Structure ◽  
Sample Mean ◽  
Price Elasticities ◽  
Hired Labor ◽  
Constant Returns To Scale ◽  
Variable Cost Function

The production structure of a selected cross-section sample of family owner-operated dairy farms is investigated using a translog variable cost function. Elasticities of scale, input substitution, and input own- and cross-price elasticities are estimated. At the sample mean herd size of 67 cows producing at 15,173 pounds of milk per cow, the elasticity of scale parameter was 1.00, implying constant returns to scale. The elasticities of substitution between feeds and hired labor and the own- and cross-price elasticities were inelastic.

scholarly journals Questionnaire identifying management practices surrounding calving on spring-calving dairy farms and their associations with herd size and herd expansion

animal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 868-877 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Cummins ◽  
D.P. Berry ◽  
R. Sayers ◽  
I. Lorenz ◽  
E. Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Herd Size

scholarly journals Profitability and Correlation Between Koica Milk Shop and Dairy Farm in Selupu Rejang, Bengkulu, Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 46-57
Author(s):  
Soeng Chat Vichea ◽  
Endang Sulistyowati ◽  
Pao Srean
Keyword(s):  
General Condition ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Dairy Farmers ◽  
Dairy Farmer ◽  
Very High ◽  
New Strategies

The objective of this research was to analyze profitability and correlation between KOICA milk shop and dairy farms in Selupu Rejang, Rejang Lebong, Bengkulu, Indonesia.  Data driven were  general condition, performance of Milk Shop, performance of dairy farms, and the correlation between KOICA milk shop and dairy farmer are evaluated.  The methodology started by census that chosen only KOICA milk shop owner and dairy farmers who pooled the milk to KOICA milk shop.  Data collected then tabulated and analyzed using Excel and Regression.  The result showed that both KOICA milk shop and dairy all were gained properly benefit from dairy business. For the average, it was about IDR 6,557,057.75 per month equivalent to USD 493 as a profit in KOICA milk shop. The profit was depending on the milk production from dairy farmer only, if they couldn’t milk from dairy cow, KOICA milk shop won’t be able to earn money. The dairy farmers were also got IDR 3,620,311.09 (USD 272) per month as the average profit from milk, compost and calve.  There was very high correlation between the milk produced by dairy farmers then processed by Koica Milk Shop and its profit was r : 0.99. The discovering of this research was very valuable information, and also important to whom it may concern in dairy business as well as dairy farmers and Government for applying or understanding to develop new strategies for reducing production costs and to increase the profit by using model of whom successful in dairy business.

scholarly journals Dairying - Waitaki's opportunity

1996 ◽  
pp. 119-122
Author(s):  
J. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Dairy Farming ◽  
Stock Performance ◽  
Farm Performance ◽  
Financial Gains

The Waitaki Plains has 30127 ha of irrigation. The sheep, beef and cropping properties have been converted to dairy farms over recent years. Between 1989-90 and 1994-95 dairy cow numbers increased from 14 000 to 39 000, mainly as a result of large operations being established. The herd size in the same time scale has increased from 292 to 443 cows per farm. Performance has also increased dramatically, with per cow production going from 260 kg milksolids (MS)/cow in 1986-87 to 362 kg MS/cow in 1995-96. The excellent stock performance is reflected in the financial gains that farmers have made. The potential for increased performance now comes from improved grass quality and growth. Keywords: dairy conversion, dairy farming, Waitaki Plains

scholarly journals The variable prevalence of bovine tuberculosis among dairy herds in Central Ethiopia provides opportunities for targeted intervention

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0254091
Author(s):  
Gizat Almaw ◽  
Andrew J. K. Conlan ◽  
Gobena Ameni ◽  
Balako Gumi ◽  
Alemseged Alemu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Bovine Tuberculosis ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
P Value ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
Individual Animal ◽  
Central Ethiopia ◽  
High Prevalence

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an important disease for dairy productivity, as well as having the potential for zoonotic transmission. Previous prevalence studies of bTB in the dairy sector in central Ethiopia have suggested high prevalence, however, they have been limited to relatively small scale surveys, raising concerns about their representativeness. Here we carried out a cross sectional one-stage cluster sampling survey taking the dairy herd as a cluster to estimate the prevalence of bTB in dairy farms in six areas of central Ethiopia. The survey, which to date is by far the largest in the area in terms of the number of dairy farms, study areas and risk factors explored, took place from March 2016 to May 2017. This study combined tuberculin skin testing and the collection of additional herd and animal level data by questionnaire to identify potential risk factors contributing to bTB transmission. We applied the single intradermal cervical comparative tuberculin (SICCT) test using >4mm cut-off for considering an individual animal as positive for bTB; at least one reactor animal was required for a herd to be considered bTB positive. Two hundred ninety-nine dairy herds in the six study areas were randomly selected, from which 5,675 cattle were tested. The overall prevalence of bTB after standardisation for herd-size in the population was 54.4% (95% CI 48.7–60%) at the herd level, and it was 24.5% (95% CI 23.3–25.8) at the individual animal level. A Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) with herd and area as random effect was used to explore risk factors association with bTB status. We found that herd size, age, bTB history at farm, and breed were significant risk factors for animals to be SICCT positive. Animals from large herds had 8.3 times the odds of being tuberculin reactor (OR: 8.3, p-value:0.008) as compared to animals from small herds. The effect of age was strongest for animals 8–10 years of age (the oldest category) having 8.9 times the odds of being tuberculin reactors (OR: 8.9, p-value:<0.001) compared to the youngest category. The other identified significant risk factors were bTB history at farm (OR: 5.2, p-value:0.003) and cattle breed (OR: 2.5, p-value: 0.032). Our study demonstrates a high prevalence of bTB in central Ethiopia but with a large variation in within-herd prevalence between herds, findings that lays an important foundation for the future development of control strategies.

scholarly journals Brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis in dairy farms in the state of Acre, Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-92
Author(s):  
Jefferson Viana Alves Diniz ◽  
Renato Mesquita Peixoto ◽  
Laine Oliveira Silva ◽  
Marina Marie Bento Nogueira ◽  
Rosano Ramos de Freitas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Bovine Tuberculosis ◽  
Complement Fixation ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Occurrence Rate ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
Bovine Brucellosis ◽  
Common Features ◽  
Lactating Cows

This study aimed to evaluate the to evaluate the occurrence rate of bovine brucellosis and tuberculosis in dairy herds of Acre State, Brazil. The survey was performed on 487 lactating cows distributed across 27 farms in seven cities from June 2018 to February 2019. Farms were selected according to the following criteria: volume of milk production (150 L/day), distance to an urban perimeter (43 km), and time of dairy activity (12 years). For the diagnosis of brucellosis, buffered acidified plate antigen (BAPA) and complement fixation (CF) tests were used. Among the investigated animals, the occurrence rates for brucellosis and tuberculosis were 1.88% (9/487) and 1.23% (6/487), respectively; among the investigated farms, 11.11% (3/27) and 22.2% (6/27) had livestock diagnosed as positive for brucellosis and tuberculosis, respectively. The farms with tuberculosis-positive cattle possessed some common features with respect to herd size. These farms had considerable herd sizes, which were reared extensively in pastures shared with other susceptible or pathogen-carrying animals. In conclusion, the occurrence rate of bovine brucellosis and tuberculosis in dairy herds from Acre state is, in general, lower than that observed in other states of Brazil. Nevertheless, there is an urgent need for developing strategies to control and eradicate both diseases to prevent eventual outbreaks and pathogen dissemination.

scholarly journals Evaluation of economic indicators for Czech dairy farms

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 499-508
Author(s):  
Jan Syrůček ◽  
Luděk Bartoň ◽  
Dalibor Řehák ◽  
Jindřich Kvapilík ◽  
Jiří Burdych
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
Agrarian Sector ◽  
Feed Costs ◽  
Milk Level

Milk production is one of the most important areas of the Czech agrarian sector, as evidenced by its 50% share (at 2017 prices) in revenues from livestock production. As for any business, a certain level of profitability is a prerequisite for long-term and sustainable development of dairy farms. This study’s aim was to evaluate the economic efficiency of milk production from both Czech Fleckvieh (C) and Holstein (H) cows based on data collected each year from 48 to 70 Czech dairy farms in the period from 2012 to 2017. Total costs per feeding day and litre of milk, level of profitability, and income over feed costs were calculated. The influences of herd size and milk yield on profitability and break-even points were examined while sensitivity analysis and model calculations were utilised to predict profitability. The farms with higher average milk yields (&gt;7 500 and &gt;9 500 L per lactation for C and H, respectively) had higher costs per feeding day, lower costs per litre of milk, and improved profitability (p &lt; 0.05). Average break-even points were estimated for milk price (0.31 and 0.32 EUR) and milk yield (7 257 and 9 209 L) in C and H herds, respectively.<br />

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