Habits of farmers in dairy cow feeding in Slovenia and their influence on milk production, milk composition and health status | Navade rejcev pri krmljenju krav v Sloveniji in njihov vpliv na mlecnost, sestavo mleka in zdravstveno stanje
2006
Verbic, J., Agricultural Inst. of Slovenia, Ljubljana (Slovenia) | Babnik, D. | Jeretina, J. | Perpar, T.
Modes of management on 5.198 farms which are included in the milk recording system were surveyed in 2005. At the end of the year, 75.268 dairy cows which represent 68 % of entire population of dairy cows in Slovenia were kept on these farms. The results of the survey were entered into the database GOVEDO. Accomplished database enables the study of relationships between the modes of rearing and production traits of dairy cows. Dairy cows are grazed on 28 % of farms which are included in the milk recording system. On 40 % of farms fresh grass is fed to cows indoors and on 6 % of the farms the cows are both, grazed and fed with fresh grass. On 26 % of farms only conserved forage is fed also during the summertime. On 33 % of farms grassland forage is predominantly ensiled, on 31 % it is exclusively or predominantly dried and on 36 % of farms both conservation methods are equally important. Ensiling in big bales prevail on 37 % of farms. It is followed by ensiling in horizontal silos (30 % of farms) and combination of both (16 % of farms). On about one third of farms barn drying of hay is practiced. On the field of forage conservation farmers have the majority of problems with aerobic deterioration of maize silage (20 %) and with the growth of moulds in grass silage (10 %). Maize silage is produced on 82 % of farms which keep 90 % of dairy cows. Differences in milk production between cows which are kept indoors and cows that are grazed are small. Grass silage stimulates milk production, but decreases milk fat concentration. Maize silage improves milk production as well as concentration of protein and fat in milk. The response of milk production on concentrate feeding is relatively poor and dependent on breed. Illnesses of legs and hoofs are related to feeding of large amounts of concentrates.
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