Effect of Region and Herd Size on Dairy Herd Performance Parameters

Oleggini, G.H.; Ely, L.O.; Smith, J.W.

doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(01)74564-x

Cited by 56 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The improved reproductive performance with increasing herd size was in contrast to results of international studies, which showed that increasing herd size is associated with poorer conception rates (Washburn et al, 2001) and more days open (Oleggini et al, 2001). One major difference between this study and others is the seasonal nature of breeding in Ireland.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…As herd size expands, the task of the manager changes; human resource, financial, operational, herd management and strategic management skills are most important for successful expansion (Hadley et al, 2002). Although benefits of scale have been reported for milk production (Oleggini et al, 2001) and milk quality as a result of lower somatic cell count (Norman et al, 1999;Oleggini et al, 2001), a number of studies have shown increased herd size to be associated with poorer reproductive performance (Oleggini et al, 2001;Washburn et al, 2001), higher calf mortality (Gulliksen et al, 2008), poorer hoof health (Wells et al, 1999;Smith et al, 2000) and a higher rate of involuntary culling (Oleggini et al, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Associations between herd size, rate of expansion and production, breeding policy and reproduction in spring-calving dairy herds

Jago

Berry

2011

Animal

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Dairy herd size is expected to increase in many European countries, given the recent policy changes within the European Union. Managing more cows may have implications for herd performance in the post-quota era. The objective of this study was to characterise spring-calving herds according to size and rate of expansion, and to determine trends in breeding policy, reproduction and production performance, which will inform industry of the likely implications of herd expansion. Performance data from milk recording herds comprising 775 795 lactations from 2555 herds for the years 2004 to 2008 inclusive were available from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation. Herds were classified into Small (average of 37 cows), Medium (average of 54 cows) and Large (average of 87 cows) and separately into herds that were not expanding (Nil expansion), herds expanding on average by three cows per year (Slow expansion) and herds expanding on average by eight cows per year (Rapid expansion). There was no association between rate of expansion and 305-day fat and protein yield. However, 305-day milk yield decreased and milk protein and fat percentage increased with increasing rate of expansion. There were no associations between herd size and milk production except for protein and fat percentage, which increased with increasing herd size. Average parity number of the cows decreased as rate of expansion increased and tended to decrease as herd size increased. In rapidly expanding herds, cow numbers were increased by purchasing more cattle. The proportion of dairy sires relative to beef sires used in the breeding programme of expanding herds increased and there was more dairy crossbreeding, albeit at a low rate. Similarly, large herds were using more dairy sires and fewer beef sires. Expanding herds and large herds had superior reproductive performance relative to non-expanding and small herds. Animals in expanding herds calved for the first time at a younger age, had a shorter calving interval and were submitted for breeding by artificial insemination at a higher rate. The results give confidence to dairy producers likely to undergo significant expansion post-quota such that, despite managing more cows, production and reproductive performance need not decline. The management skills required to achieve these performance levels need investigation.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations between herd size, rate of expansion and production, breeding policy and reproduction in spring-calving dairy herds

Jago

Berry

2011

Animal

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“…Culling rates often increase when a herd expands as a result of buying cows from various sources (Alvasen et al 2012;Derks et al 2014). Also, generally the average parity number in cows reportedly decreases as the rate of expansion accelerates and as herd size increases (Olegginy et al 2001;Alvasen et al 2012). However, our results did not confirm these findings.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Olegginy et al (2001), the increased herd size and specialization within the farm operation can bring efficiency improvements, which are in fact now becoming vital for the survival. Bailey et al (1997) concluded that only dairy herd sizes in the range of 500 to 1 000 cows would be economically viable for the start-up operations.…”

Section: Doi: 1017221/126/2015-agriceconmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dairy farm profit according to the herd size, milk yield, and number of cows per worker

Krpálková¹,

Cabrera²,

Kvapilík³

et al. 2016

Agric. Econ. - Czech

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Th e study evaluates the associations of the farm herd size (HERD), the milk yield (MY, kg/cow per year), and cows per worker (CW) with the production, reproduction, and economic traits in 60 commercial dairy herds (34 633 cows) in the Czech Republic. Each parameter was split into 3 groups. Th e largest herds (≥ 750 cows) had the highest profi tability of costs without subsidies (−3.8 ± 4.3%), the lowest cost for roughages (1.2 CZK/L milk), and the lowest cost for breeding operations (0.17 CZK/L milk), but the highest costs for the cereal grains and concentrates (2.4 CZK/L milk). Herds with the lowest MY (≤ 7 499) had the lowest profi tability of costs without subsidies (−15.8 ± 3.93%), the highest total costs (9.27 CZK/L milk), the highest labour costs (1.6 CZK/L milk), and the highest cow depreciation costs (0.97 CZK/L milk). Herds with the lowest CW (≤ 39) had the highest mean labour costs (1.51 CZK/L milk) and the highest costs for breeding operations (0.22 CZK/L milk). Herds with the highest CW (≥ 60) and the lowest CW (≤ 39) also diff ered in the total feed costs (4.1 vs. 3.73 CZK/L milk) and the costs of cereals and concentrates (2.34 vs. 1.96 CZK/L milk). Th e increasing herd size tended to be accompanied by higher milk yields and the overall effi ciency.

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“…Associations between non-genetic factors and financial performance Non-genetic factors previously reported to be associated with financial performance on pastoral dairy farms include stocking rate (Macdonald et al, 2008), calving date , feed cost (McCall and Clark, 1999;Shalloo et al, 2004), length of grazing season (Dillon et al, 2005a) and land type (Shalloo et al, 2004). Many studies have investigated the relationship between farm size and technical efficiency, although much of this research originates from mainly confinement dairy systems (Smith et al, 2000;Oleggini et al, 2001). Oleggini et al (2001) reported higher milk yields and higher feed costs in larger herds while Smith et al (2000) reported lower culling rates for infertility and mastitis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between dairy cow genetic merit and profit on commercial spring calving dairy farms

Ramsbottom

Cromie

Horan

et al. 2012

Animal

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Because not all animal factors influencing profitability can be included in total merit breeding indices for profitability, the association between animal total merit index and true profitability, taking cognisance of all factors associated with costs and revenues, is generally not known. One method to estimate such associations is at the herd level, associating herd average genetic merit with herd profitability. The objective of this study was to primarily relate herd average genetic merit for a range of traits, including the Irish total merit index, with indicators of performance, including profitability, using correlation and multiple regression analyses. Physical, genetic and financial performance data from 1131 Irish seasonal calving pasture-based dairy farms were available following edits; data on some herds were available for more than 1 year of the 3-year study period (2007 to 2009). Herd average economic breeding index (EBI) was associated with reduced herd average phenotypic milk yield but with greater milk composition, resulting in higher milk prices. Moderate positive correlations (0.26 to 0.61) existed between genetic merit for an individual trait and average herd performance for that trait (e.g. genetic merit for milk yield and average per cow milk yield). Following adjustment for year, stocking rate, herd size and quantity of purchased feed in the multiple regression analysis, average herd EBI was positively and linearly associated with net margin per cow and per litre as well as gross revenue output per cow and per litre. The change in net margin per cow per unit change in the total merit index was h1.94 (s.e. 5 0.42), which was not different from the expectation of h2. This study, based on a large data set of commercial herds with accurate information on profitability and genetic merit, confirms that, after accounting for confounding factors, the change in herd profitability per unit change in herd genetic merit for the total merit index is within expectations.

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Effect of Region and Herd Size on Dairy Herd Performance Parameters

Cited by 56 publications

References 11 publications

Associations between herd size, rate of expansion and production, breeding policy and reproduction in spring-calving dairy herds

Associations between herd size, rate of expansion and production, breeding policy and reproduction in spring-calving dairy herds

Dairy farm profit according to the herd size, milk yield, and number of cows per worker

Relationship between dairy cow genetic merit and profit on commercial spring calving dairy farms

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