Retrospective Study about the Transformation of Dairy Cattle Population in Turkey (1991-2019) and Possible Metabolic and Reproductive Problems

Abstract

The present study analyzed the transformation of dairy cattle population and changes in yearly milk production and per lactation milk yield (1991 -2019) in Turkey. In addition, metabolic and reproductive diseases frequently seen in high milk yielding dairy cows (HYDC) and problems causing low milk yield were investigated. The number of dairy cows, culled and sent to slaughter was investigated for the last three years in Turkey. On the other side, the cost of the most common metabolic diseases by region has been analyzed by a phone survey (40 vets were asked in different regions). The dairy cow population was 6118997 in 1991 (HYDC pure breed: 10.6% and traditional indigenous dairy breed: 55.3%). The dairy cow population reached 6580753 in 2019 (7.5 % increase compared to 1991) which consisted of pure breed HYDC of 49.4% and traditional dairy breed of 8.9%. This is a transformation in dairy cattle population in 28 years. Yearly total milk production increased by 141.2% from 8.616.412 tons (1991) to 20782374 tons (2019). Yearly milk production per lactation/cow increased from 1.4 tons (1991), to 1.65 tons (2000) and to 3.16 tons (2019) which means 17.5% and 124.3% increase, respectively. The growth of the number of HYDC pure breed and their total yearly milk production was 399.3% (650739 -3249002) and 555.6% (1913438 tons to 12544507 tons) in 28 years, respectively. Numerous metabolic and reproductive diseases can often be observed in HYDCs due to genetic reasons as well as nutritional and maintenance mistakes during the transition and dry period which can cause economic loss related to milk yield and metabolic diseases. The treatment cost of the metabolic or reproductive diseases for the farmers was between 150-1200 TL per case. Many of the animals were sent to compulsory slaughter and culled because of these diseases. Indeed, a total of 738681 dairy cows have been sent to slaughter throughout the last three years.

Blood and Milk Beta-Hydroxybutyric Acid Concentrations and Association of Subclinical Ketosis With Postpartum Health Disorders, Culling Rate, Body Condition Score, Parity and Milk Production in Holstein, Simmental, Montbeliard and Holstein-Crossbreed

“…The dairy cattle population transformed from indigenous low milk yielding breed to high milk yielding dairy cows (HYDC) from 1991 to 2019 which simultaneously resulted in increased milk production per cow from 1.4 ton to 3.1 ton and annually from 8.6 Mio ton to 20.7 Mio ton respectively in Turkey (Aksoy et al 2021). But, this brought problems of metabolic and reproductive diseases such as ketosis, displaced abomasum resulting in early culling (Aksoy et al 2021). SCK is associated with hyperketonemia (HK) or hyperlactatemia (HL) in the absence of clinical ketosis signs and is a common disease for HYDC.…”