Associations between some social, structural and technical factors and the milk production in dairy cows. A statistical analysis based on the Swedish milk recording system
1996
Ledin, I. (SLU, Uppsala (Sweden). Inst. foer Husdjurens Utfordring och Vaard) | Lema, A.
Differences in milk yield between dairy cow herds in Sweden are substantial despite apparent similarities in technical conditions and genetic makeup. In practice this means that the same resources can be utilized more or less efficiently for milk production. The present paper is part of a research project with the objective to identify and describe the social factors, a.o. attitudes and behaviour of the individual farmers, that can further explain the variation in milk production between Swedish herds. The first part of the study is presented in this paper and consists of calculations and analyses of the relations between certain objective variables and milk yields, milk quality and reproduction. The result of the statistical analysis showed that age of the farmer, farm size and presence of a grain drier were negatively related to milk yields, while herd size and presence of a barn hay drier and a silo were positively related to milk yields. There was no difference in milk yields between herds dominated by the Swedish Red and White breed or the Swedish Friesian breed while mixed herds had lower milk yields. The statistical analysis and evaluation of the results will be used when selecting farmers for in depth interviews and participant observation for the next phase of the project. The criteria for age of the farmer, herd size, breed, farm size, presence of a barn hay drier, grain drier and silo will be chosen in order to eliminate any differences in milk yields due to these factors.
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