INFLUENCE OF CLEANNESS IN DAIRY CATTLE FARMS ON MILK PRODUCTION AND PERCENTAGE OF DISEASES WITH LAMENESS SYMPTOMS
Ts. Harizanova-Metodieva, N. Metodiev
Abstract: The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of cleanness in dairy cattle farms in Bulgaria on milk production and percentage of diseases with lameness symptoms.
It was analyzed 12 dairy cattle farms in the districts of Veliko Tarnovo, Pleven, and Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. The information was collected through personal visits and interviews with the owners or managers of the farms. The average milk yield of cows, the percentage of lame cows and the cleanness in the farms were investigated. The cleanness was assessed in terms of the system of cleaning of the manure in the farm /fixed, mobile or by hand/; maintenance of the cows’ beds in tie stall barns and free stall barns; prophylaxis against insects and parasites, which the farm applied; effectiveness of the ventilation in barns and cleanliness in the farm as a whole.
Based on the data, the farms were divided into two groups – the first group: farms with partial omissions in the cleanness (8 farms) and second group: farms with excellent cleanness (4 farms). Using a T-Test, the average milk yield between the two groups was compared and the percentage of diseases with lameness symptoms was compared by applying a non-parametric test of Mann- Whitney. It was established a significant difference between the two groups of farms in terms of the percentage of lame cows (p < 0.05). Farm with excellent cleanness had on average 2.38% lame cows per year, while farms with partial omissions – 14.40%. Farms with excellent cleanness had realized higher average milk yield (6490 kg) compared to farms with partial omissions (4193 kg), the difference of 2297 kg was significant (p < 0.05).
It was analyzed 12 dairy cattle farms in the districts of Veliko Tarnovo, Pleven, and Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. The information was collected through personal visits and interviews with the owners or managers of the farms. The average milk yield of cows, the percentage of lame cows and the cleanness in the farms were investigated. The cleanness was assessed in terms of the system of cleaning of the manure in the farm /fixed, mobile or by hand/; maintenance of the cows’ beds in tie stall barns and free stall barns; prophylaxis against insects and parasites, which the farm applied; effectiveness of the ventilation in barns and cleanliness in the farm as a whole.
Based on the data, the farms were divided into two groups – the first group: farms with partial omissions in the cleanness (8 farms) and second group: farms with excellent cleanness (4 farms). Using a T-Test, the average milk yield between the two groups was compared and the percentage of diseases with lameness symptoms was compared by applying a non-parametric test of Mann- Whitney. It was established a significant difference between the two groups of farms in terms of the percentage of lame cows (p < 0.05). Farm with excellent cleanness had on average 2.38% lame cows per year, while farms with partial omissions – 14.40%. Farms with excellent cleanness had realized higher average milk yield (6490 kg) compared to farms with partial omissions (4193 kg), the difference of 2297 kg was significant (p < 0.05).
Keywords: average milk yield; cleanness; dairy cattle farms; lameness
Date published: 2017-05-17
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