The Dairy Industry: A Brief Description of Production Practices, Trends, and Farm Characteristics Around the World

Abstract

The global dairy industry is composed of a multitude of countries with unique production practices and consumer markets. The global average number of cows per farm is about 1-2 cows; however, as a farm business model transitions from sustenance to market production, the average herd size, and subsequent labor force increases. Dairy production is unique as an agricultural commodity because milk is produced daily, for 365 days per year. With the introduction of new technology such as the milking parlor, the global industry trend is one of increasing farm sizes. The farm sizes are the largest in the United States; however, the European Union produces the most milk compared with other global producers. Dairy production is essential for economic development and sustainable communities in rural areas. However, the required capital investment and availability of local markets and labor are continued challenges. Due to farm expansion, international producers are faced with new challenges related to assuring food safety and a safe working environment for their workforce. These challenges exist in addition to the cultural and language barriers related to an increasing dependence on immigrant labor in many regions of the world. Continued success of the global dairy industry is vital. Therefore, research should continue to address the identification of occupational risk factors associated with injuries and illnesses, as well as develop cost-effective interventions and practices that lead to the minimization or elimination of these injuries and illnesses on a global scale, among our valuable population of dairy producers and workers.

Accuracy and repeatability of an inertial measurement unit system for field-based occupational studies

“…While job specialization is common to many occupations, including dairy work (Douphrate et al 2012, Douphrate et al 2013, task-based estimates of job exposures are not comprehensive and may be less correct than estimates based on the mean exposure of an occupational group . Additional research employing direct measurements methods over long sampling durations are needed to sufficiently characterize biomechanical exposures to develop and evaluate maximally effective engineering and administrative controls (such as job rotation).…”

“…While the predominant theoretical strength of IMU technology is the ability to measure human motion in three-dimensional space using magnetometer measurements to compensate for the 'drift' of the gyroscope during motion about the gravity vector (Roetenberg et al 2005), most field-based settings involve some ferromagnetic and/or electromagnetic sources that diminish the quality of magnetometer measurements. Modern dairy operations, in particular, are becoming larger and more mechanized (Douphrate et al 2013). The introduction of new technologies such as automatic feeding systems and cow separation systems increases the presence of ferromagnetic materials in close proximity to the workers.…”

A new framework to analyze changes in work organization for permanent employees on livestock farms

“…This is a particular challenge for dairy farms, affected by low career attractiveness among employees and high rates of turnover (Nettle 2018). Milk is the only agricultural product in the world produced daily, which requires a permanent workforce to perform regular laborintensive tasks (Douphrate et al 2013).…”

Collaborative innovation in the Pakistan’s dairy industry: effectiveness of managerial leadership and organizational readiness

“…The dairy supply chain, like many other agribusinesses, is complex but it is also more dynamic as milk is produced, shipped and processed every day and its perishable nature decreases delayed marketing opportunities (Douphrate et al 2013). During modern times, the axis of food industry competitiveness is innovation-driven (Grunert et al 1997;Menrad 2004).…”

“…Such impacts are modern milk procurement systems, improvements in the genetic-makeup of livestock breeds, improved fodder varieties, changes in animal health management practices and establishing chillers near to milk pockets for milk storage in response to meeting demand for dairy products (Douphrate et al 2013). In other words, complementary changes in milk production, procurement, processing and marketing transform the nature of relationships between the dairy supply chain actors (Douphrate et al 2013). …”