Dairy Cattle Farming in Kars District, Turkey: I. Characteristics and Production

Authors : Hidayet Metin ERDOĞAN, Mehmet ÇİTİL, Vehbi GÜNEŞ

Pages : 735-743

View : 29 | Download : 6

Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The objectives of the present study were to determine farm characteristics and production traits on dairy farms in Kars. A 2-stage stratified random sampling strategy was used to select localities insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(7); and farms insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(45);. The study involved an interview with the farmers and regular visits to the farms. The survey identified important farm characteristics including demography, production and management practices. The results describe insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(a); farm demographics insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(number of family members, education of farmers, animal caretakers employed, types of herds, herd sizes, breeds, and age categories);, insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(b); farm management practices; management at feeding insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(type, source, storage of feedstuffs, feeding, water supply and use of feed supplements during the indoor and outdoor periods, and pasture management);, management at calving insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(use of maternity pens, colostrum feeding, and grouping of calves); and management at housing insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(period of housing, types of buildings, use of bedding, ventilation systems, and building cleanliness);, and insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(c); production traits insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(breeding methods, dry period, calving rate, milk yield and processes);. Some identified practices insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(period of housing, dairy breeds, dry period, milk yield and calving rate); differ from those in previous reports and others insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(use of crumbled dung as bedding, rare use of maternity pens, water from streams during the outdoor period, and common use of pastureland); require serious attention in terms of cattle health. The results may be of use in designing strategies to overcome drawbacks that are detrimental to feasible and profitable farming and also in forming bases for future epidemiological studies in Kars.
Keywords : Farm demography, farm characteristics, management practices, production trait, dairy cattle