[High-yielding cows in Switzerland]

This study was designed to characterise the management practices of Swiss farms with high-yielding dairy cows during 1994 and early 1995. 124 farms with at least one cow producing 48 kg milk per day at peak lactation (according to official milk weight data) participated in the study. Average annual milk production per farm was 7646 kg. Most (78 %) farms were situated in the valley zone, and fewer (22 %) in the mountain zone. Average agricultural surface per farm was 32.2 ha. Between 1 and 5 persons (average 1.9) worked on a farm. The percentage of cows kept in loose housing systems was 22 %. The average number of cows per farm was 23. Regular teat dipping was practiced by 66 % of the farmers. More than half (61 %) of the farmers regularly used the California Mastitis Test; 86 % of the farmers used antibiotics at dryoff. Cows were given ad libitum access to forage. Concentrates were fed on average three times per day. Main health problems were mastitis (prevalence 16.5 %) and metritis (15.3 %). Approximately one fourth (27 %) of the farmers had regular reproductive examinations conducted by a veterinarian. The average calving interval was 376 days, the average number of services per conception 1.73 and first heat was observed 5 weeks after parturition. Additionally, 29 high-yielding dairy cows were compared with 29 control cows to see whether there were differences in body size, body weight, body condition scores, feed intake, metabolism, endocrinology, fertility, and health. High-yielding cows had greater wither heights than control cows. High-yielding animals had higher feed intakes than control cows. There were no group differences in metabolic and endocrine parameters or in fertility and health status. These findings show that high-yielding cows, in Switzerland too, can be held without particular problems in modern, well-managed farms