As part of the master's thesis, we made an in-depth study of the literature related to the management of dairy cow herds from the perspective of housing system and care, as well as animal health and welfare. We included 10 dairy herds with different housing systems and in different milking methods in the analysis. Based on the results of milk recording (AT4), we analyzed production results, data on reproduction, age at first calving and age at culling, reasons for culling and average lifetime milk yield of culled cows for the period 2010 to 2023. On all 10 farms, during this period, there was an increase in the number of dairy cows and an increase in total milk production. On some farms, milk yield per cow per year increased during this period, which is certainly the result of better management, better housing and feeding conditions for animals and greater attention to animal well-being and health of animals. In all 10 herds, we also evaluated external signs of changes on the animal's body, such as the occurrence of injuries, swelling, body condition, claw conditions and the occurrence of lameness. The biggest problem is the unfavourable condition of the claws. There are considerable variation between dairy herds. The most problems occur on farms where the animals do not have enough space. Based on in-depth interviews with farmers, we found that most farmers take appropriate care of the welfare of their animals. Animal welfare is very important for all participating breeders, as it has a major impact on the health of the herd, milk production and longevity of their cows, which also affects the farmer's income.
|
