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 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.

Measurement of Technical and Scale Efficiency of Dairy Farms in Pune District of Maharashtra: Data Envelopment Analysis Approach

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Data Envelopment Analysis ◽  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Efficiency Score ◽  
Scale Efficiency ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Resource Saving ◽  
Technical Efficiency Score

The present study intended to determine the technical and scale efficiency of sample dairy farms for evaluating their performance. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) technique was used to estimate the technical and scale efficiency of 80 each of member and nonmember dairy farms in the Pune district of Maharashtra state during 2019. Technical efficiency score further partitioned into pure technical efficiency and overall technical efficiency. The technical efficiency score was more for member dairy farms as compared to the non-members under the assumption of constant return to scale (CRS) and variable return to scale (VRS). It highlighted that the non-members of dairy cooperatives had more potential to reduce the input use without affecting the output level compared to the member group. It was also observed that the technical efficiency under the CRS assumption was more than VRS for both member and non-member groups. It revealed that the farms were scaled inefficient (SE<1) and not operating at optimal scale. The study further revealed a positive relationship between technical efficiency and herd size. It also revealed that the resource-saving potential due to the scale effect. So, it supported the policy of providing technical advice on the use of feed and fodder resources, better management practices, and increasing the herd size to increase the technical and scale efficiency.

scholarly journals Dairy Calf Welfare and Factors Associated with Diarrhea and Respiratory Disease among Chilean Dairy Farms

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1115
Author(s):  
Javiera Calderón-Amor ◽  
Carmen Gallo
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Dairy Calves ◽  
Dairy Calf ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Waste Milk ◽  
Milk Feeding

This study aimed to describe management practices that may compromise the welfare of unweaned dairy calves on 29 dairy farms in Chile, and identify factors associated with diarrhea and respiratory disease (n = 700 calves). Evaluations were divided into protocol-, facility-, and animal-based measurements. Calf diarrhea and respiratory disease data were analyzed using logistic regression models. Management practices identified as risk factors for poor calf welfare were: relying on the mother to provide colostrum (48.0% of the farms); using restrictive milk feeding (65.5%), and unpasteurized waste milk (51.7%); giving water after 30 days of age (17.2%); disbudding without analgesia (89.6%) or anesthesia (79.3%); lacking euthanasia protocols (61.5%). Factors significantly (p < 0.05) associated with increased odds of diarrhea were: cleaning the calves’ bed once a week and 2–3 times a week compared with every day, using milk replacer and untreated waste milk compared with treated waste milk (pasteurized or acidified), animals scored dirty in the calf cleanliness score compared with clean animals, and greater herd size. Factors significantly associated with increased odds of respiratory disease were: less pen space allowance (<1.8 m2), farms that did not check colostrum quality, and animals that scored dirty and moderately dirty compared with clean calves. These results suggest the need to improve specific management practices associated with reduced welfare and health in dairy calves in Chile.

scholarly journals Pre-Weaned Calf Rearing on Northern Irish Dairy Farms: Part 1. A Description of Calf Management and Housing Design

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1954
Author(s):  
Aaron J Brown ◽  
Gillian Scoley ◽  
Niamh O’Connell ◽  
Jamie Robertson ◽  
Amanda Browne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Key Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Healthcare Management ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Housing Design ◽  
Hygiene Management ◽  
Calf Performance ◽  
And Performance

The first few months of life are of great importance to the longevity and lifetime performance of dairy cows. The nutrition, environment and healthcare management of heifer calves must be sufficient to minimise exposure to stress and disease and enable them to perform to their genetic potential. Lack of reporting of farm management practices in Northern Ireland (NI) makes it difficult to understand where issues impacting health, welfare and performance may occur in the rearing process. The objective of this study was to investigate housing design and management practices of calves on 66 dairy farms across NI over a 3-month period and also identify areas that may cause high risk of poor health and performance in dairy calves. An initial survey was used to detail housing and management practices, with two subsequent visits to each farm used to collect animal and housing-based measurements linked to hygiene management, animal health and performance. Large variations in key elements such as weaning criteria and method, calf grouping method used, nutritional feed plane, and routine hygiene management were identified. The specification of housing, in particular ventilation and stocking density, was highlighted as a potential limiting factor for calf health and performance. Lack of measurement of nutritional inputs, hygiene management practices and calf performance was observed. This poses a risk to farmers’ ability to ensure the effectiveness of key management strategies and recognise poor calf performance and health.

scholarly journals Adoption of Good Management Practices by the Gaushalas (Cow-shed) in Karnataka State, India

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Kalyan Mandi ◽  
S. Subash
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
In Situ Conservation ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
General Management ◽  
Good Management ◽  
Large N ◽  
Karnataka State

Gaushalas play a vital role in safeguarding the cattle wealth of our country. It is primarily occupied with providing shelter to cows and is catering mostly the needs of non-lactating, weak, unproductive and stray cattle. However, a few fore front Gaushalas also maintain nucleus herd for in-situ conservation of indigenous purebred cows and produce quality males so as to enhance productivity of indigenous breeds. With this view, present study was undertaken with the objective of understanding the level of adoption of good management practices by the Gaushalas. The study was conducted in Karnataka State involving 40 out of 80 registered Gaushalas, categorized as small (n=12), medium (n=18) and large (n=10) Gaushalas based on the herd size. Good management practices play an important role in improving the production performances of cattle, enhancing efficiency of animals in Gaushalas. In the present study ‘adoption’ was operationalised as the degree to which the good management practices viz., breeding, feeding, healthcare, general management and hygienic milk production, were adopted in the Gaushalas.

Best Management Practices for Reducing Nitrate Contamination of the Groundwater on Dairy Farms

1996 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Holloway ◽  
A. B. Bottcher ◽  
R. A. Nordstedt ◽  
K. L. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Nitrate Contamination ◽  
Best Management

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.

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