Effect of Region, Herd Size, and Milk Production on Reasons Cows Leave the Herd

Smith, J.W.; Ely, L.O.; Chapa, A.M.

doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(00)75198-8

Cited by 77 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Similar results were found for the total weaned calves per 100 cows ( Table 1). The nursing care for calves in lower MY herds was worst in comparison to that for the higher yielding herds Smith et al (2000). In our study, a lower death loss was found in the higher MY groups (≥ 7500).…”

Section: High-producing Dairy Herdsupporting

confidence: 52%

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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Section: High-producing Dairy Herdsupporting

confidence: 52%

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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“…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%

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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“…In Sweden, cow mortality rates have increased by 1.5 percentage points between 2002 and 2010, and were 6.6 deaths/100 cow years in 2010 (Alvåsen et al, 2012). Previous studies have identified that longer calving intervals (Raboisson et al, 2011;Alvåsen et al, 2012), Holstein breed Raboisson et al, 2011;Alvåsen et al, 2012), conventional (compared with organic) herds Alvåsen et al, 2012), no summer grazing Burow et al, 2011), larger herd size (Smith et al, 2000;Raboisson et al, 2011), high proportion of purchased cows Raboisson et al, 2011) and lower herd mean milk yield (Smith et al, 2000;Alvåsen et al, 2012), are all factors associated with increased mortality rates. Further, Alvåsen et al (2012) found regional differences in mortality rate and the numerically lowest mortality rate, related to housing and milking systems, that were found in freestalls with an automatic milking system and a mean annual milk yield > 9995 kg of energy-corrected milk.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farm characteristics related to on-farm cow mortality in dairy herds: a questionnaire study

Alvåsen

Roth

Mörk

et al. 2014

Animal

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Dairy cow mortality is an important animal welfare issue that also causes financial losses. The objective of this study was to identify farm characteristics and herd management practices associated with high on-farm cow mortality in Swedish dairy herds. A postal questionnaire was sent to farmers that had either high or low mortality rates for 3 consecutive years. The questionnaire consisted of five sections: 'About the farm', 'Milking and housing', 'Feeding', 'Routines' and 'Lame and sick cows'. A total of 145 questionnaires were returned (response rate = 33%). Ten of the 77 characteristics investigated met the inclusion criteria for multivariable analysis. The final logistic regression model included: herd size, breed, use of natural service bull, bedding improvement frequency and pasture system. Herds with Swedish Holstein as the predominant breed (odds ratio (OR) 22.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.2 to 101.8) or with mixed breeds (OR 5.5, 95% CI 1.7 to 17.5) had a greater risk of being high mortality herds than herds that were predominantly Swedish Red (OR 1). Herds larger than 100 cows (OR 19.6, 95% CI 3.5 to 110.4) and herds with 50 to 99 cows (OR 13.8, 95% CI 3.2 to 60.6) had greater risk of mortality than herds numbering 35 to 50 cows (OR 1). Being a high mortality herd was also associated with having cows on exercise lots during the summer season (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.3 to 9.9) compared with on pasture. A missing answer on the question of bedding improvement frequency was associated with high mortality herds. Overall, this study suggests that characteristics that are related to intensification of the dairy industry are also associated with high on-farm mortality of dairy cows.

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Effect of Region, Herd Size, and Milk Production on Reasons Cows Leave the Herd

Cited by 77 publications

References 14 publications

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

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

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

Farm characteristics related to on-farm cow mortality in dairy herds: a questionnaire study

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