Tag Archives: cows

265–275 S. Skuja, V. Antāne and I. Lūsis
Effects of retained fetal membranes treatments and dry period length on the subsequent lactation in cows – milk yield and somatic cell count
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Effects of retained fetal membranes treatments and dry period length on the subsequent lactation in cows – milk yield and somatic cell count

S. Skuja*, V. Antāne and I. Lūsis

Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kr. Helmaņa 8, LV3004 Jelgava, Latvia *Correspondence: santa.skuja0@gmail.com

Abstract:

Different treatment strategies in cows with retained fetal membranes (RFM) may affect subsequent lactation in various ways. Also, excessively short or long dry periods (DP) can decrease milk yield (MY), increase the risk of poor udder health, and increase the risk of RFM. This study aimed to evaluate how different treatment strategies of RFM affect subsequent lactation in cows, i.e., MY and udder health determined on the somatic cell count (SCC) bases in milk, expressed as somatic cell score (SCS). A secondary but equally important objective was to analyse the dry period length (DPL) effect on the subsequent lactation in cows. The cows from two herds were divided into three groups: group 1–healthy control; group 2–cows with RFM, removed manually and treated with intrauterine (IU) antibiotics (AB); group 3–cows with RFM, not removed, but treated IU with AB. The DP of cows was divided post factum into shortened (up to 46 days), traditional (47 to 70 days), or prolonged (over 70 days). Statistical analyses were performed using linear multiple regression and multivariate analyses. Differences were statistically significant when P <0.05. The effect of different RFM treatment strategies on MY and SCS was evaluated. There were no statistically significant effects of RFM treatments on the MY in the subsequent lactation. However, there was a tendency (P = 0.07) for SCS in standard lactation to be higher in cows in group 2. The highest economic losses, calculated from the decrease in MY, were detected in the same group. Significantly lower MY was observed in cows with a shortened DPL during the first 30 days PP (P <0.05). The DPL did not affect the SCS.

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574–581 L. Leso, P. Pellegrini and M. Barbari
Effect of two housing systems on performance and longevity of dairy cows in Northern Italy
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Effect of two housing systems on performance and longevity of dairy cows in Northern Italy

L. Leso, P. Pellegrini and M. Barbari*

University of Florence, Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, Via San Bonaventura, 13. IT50145 Firenze, Italy
*Correspondence: matteo.barbari@unifi.it

Abstract:

The objective of the current study was to evaluate and compare performance of dairy cows housed in compost-bedded pack barns (CBP) and free stall barns, with a focus on longevity-related parameters. Study included 30 commercial dairy farms located in the Po Valley, Italy. Twenty farms had free stall barns, among which 10 used rubber mattresses (FSM) and 10 used deep straw bedding (FSS). The remaining 10 farms had CBP. Monthly dairy herd records were obtained from the Italian DHI association for each farm included in the study over a period of one year. All farms were visited to measure characteristics and dimensions of housing facilities. Linear mixed models were used to evaluate the association between housing system and the outcome variables. In CBP total available area was larger than both in FSM and FSS. However, space per cow over the bedded pack area in CBP (6.8 ± 2.4 m2 cow-1) was relatively low for this housing system. Milk production was similar among housing systems but somatic cell count and mastitis infection prevalence resulted to be higher in CBP than in FSM and FSS. Calving interval was lower in FSS compared with both FSM and CBP while no differences were found in number of services per pregnancy. Cows housed in CBP were older and had higher parities than those in FSM and FSS while no significant differences in herd turnover rate were detected among housing systems. Results confirm that CBP housing system may improve longevity of dairy cows, which is reported to be one of the most important motivations for building this kind of housing. Nevertheless, CBP housing can pose some challenges in achieving adequate udder health and high milk quality, especially with low space per cow.

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112–122 M. Gaworski, N. Kamińska and P. Kic
Evaluation and optimization of milking in some Polish dairy farms differed in milking parlours
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Evaluation and optimization of milking in some Polish dairy farms differed in milking parlours

M. Gaworski¹*, N. Kamińska¹ and P. Kic²

¹Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Department of Production Management and Engineering, Nowoursynowska str. 164, PL02-787 Warsaw, Poland
²Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Technological Equipment of Buildings, Kamycka 129, CZ165 21 Prague 6, Czech Republic
*Correspondence: marek_gaworski@sggw.pl

Abstract:

Farms are continuously growing and modernized in Poland during the last years. The increased dairy herds require also modernization of milking equipment. The aim of this paper was to present the main criteria, which could be used for the solution of principal questions important for the choosing, optimization and evaluation of milking parlours in conditions of Polish agriculture. The research was conducted on three modern dairy farms in Poland to assess effectiveness of different milking parlours use. The first farm with 60 cows was equipped by side by side milking parlour, the second farm with 85 cows was equipped by herringbone milking parlour and the third farm had 80 cows and autotandem milking parlour. The choosing and evaluation of milking parlours parameters were based on the available information and results of previous research in dairy farms in the Poland, using the mathematical model created in the Czech Republic. Time for milking and final specific direct costs were main parameters which enable evaluation and choosing of suitable milking parlour for the dairy farm. The results of measurement and calculation in current farms were compared with possible future enlarged farms to capacity of 200 cows.

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1694-1701 O. Sada, A. Leola and P. Kic
Choosing and evaluation of milking parlours for dairy farms in Estonia
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Choosing and evaluation of milking parlours for dairy farms in Estonia

O. Sada¹*, A. Leola¹ and P. Kic²

¹Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Tecnology, Department of Husbandry Engineering and Ergonomics, Fr.R.Kreutzwaldi 56, EE51014 Tartu, Estonia
²Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Technological Equipment of Buildings, Kamycka 129, CZ16521 Prague 6, Czech Republic
*Correspondence: oliver.sada@emu.ee

Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to present the main criteria, which could be used for the choosing, optimization and evaluation of a milking parlour in two large capacity Estonian dairy farms. The choosing and evaluation of milking parlours parameters is based on the available information and results of previous research in dairy farms in the Estonia, using the mathematical model created in the Czech Republic. Time for milking and final specific direct costs are main parameters which enable evaluation and choosing of suitable milking parlour for the dairy farm. Calculation of the first farm with a capacity of 300 cows showed that in the case of rotary milking parlour with 32 milking stalls total specific direct costs per milking per cow and year would be by 25% higher than in the case of Side by Side milking parlour 2 x 12, but the time for milking would be reduced by about 25%. The second farm with capacity of 1,850 cows is equipped with a rotary milking parlour with 70 milking stalls. There are three milkers. Six milkers would bring shortening of one milking from 6.3 h to 3.3 h while preserving approximately the same total specific direct costs per milking per cow and per year. This milking parlour could be used also for the planned increase in capacity at farm to 3,300 cows. Time of one milking would be 5.6 hours, but total specific direct costs per milking per cow and per year would be reduced by 18%.

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