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Comparison of different methods of milk-fed calves housing
DUBOVÁ, Dagmar
Calf is the most important animal on the farm. Calf rearing should be given due attention as many problems and ailments in the herd as a whole have their origins in calves. The right choice of technology o f rearing can be crucial to the economy of the entire breed. Quality of calf housing is reflected in the overall level of rearing cattle in this category. It has a significant impact on the overall w ellbeing of animals, zoohygienic conditions and health situation.The aim of this thesis was to compare methods of rearing calves in individual outdoor sheds, where the calves were fed twice daily, with group housing in a spacious calving barn with multip le feeding through a feeding machine. We looked at weight gain, hea lth and welfare of the animals.The thesis was dealt with at a private farm of Václav Duba in Boubín near the town of Horažďovice. The experiment was conducted simultaneously in both systems of calf housing in the time period between May 1 2013 and October 14 2013. Both the observed groups of calves were fed the same amount of milk replacer, only with different frequency of intake. Both groups had the same number of 30 calves (15 heifers and 15 bulls) of Czech pied cattle. After completion of the milk feeding period the average weight of the calves in individual sheds was 107.2 kg and 110.8 kg in the calving barn. The calves which were fed by a feeding machine had an average daily weight gain of 0.787 kg; the calves in individual sheds had lower weight gain of 0.743 kg. The average consumption of milk replacer for calves in the individual sheds was 521.7 litres and for calves in the calving barn it was 516.8 litres. This indicator has been pro ven to have high statistical significance (P 0.001). The a verage daily temperature in the individual sheds was 19.7 °C; in t he calving barn it was 17.9 °C. A diarrheal disease was reported in four animals in the individual sheds, and in six animals in the calving barn. In calves reared in the individual shed mutual sucking of muzzle was found immediately after drinking. In calves fed using a feeding machine there was no sign of unsatisfied sucking reflex.
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Influence of various systems on housing and breeding of dairy cattle
DUBOVÁ, Dagmar
The trend in development of new technologies and machinery in the area of agriculture and animal husbandry shows an increasing number of robotized operations. Such trend mostly appears in dairy cattle breeding, which has its logical explanation due to the fact that high ratio of human labour in milk production is more than obvious. The basic prerequisite for a successful utilization of milking robotic systems is to provide dairy cattle with sufficient quantity of top quality food and water as well as to ensure their welfare. The aim of the bachelor?s work was to compare the influence of both stanchion housing using a milking pipeline method and loose housing with robotic milking system on basic categories of dairy cattle behaviour, milk efficiency and reproduction. The observation itself was executed in each housing system for the period of 24 hours, during which an interval method with a ten-minute interval mode was used. Basic life activity of dairy cattle such as: feed intake, standing, lying and movement were monitored. All data were collected and assessed under running conditions on a private dairy farm owned by Václav Dub in Boubín near Horažďovice. The task was carried out in a reconstructed housing, where both systems are in operation. During the day, the dairy cattle remained mostly in a lying position, from which 50,33 % were kept in stanchion housing and 49,54 % in loose housing. When being housed in a standing position, 23,78 % of the dairy cattle paid attention to feeding and 27,05 % of dairy cattle were robotically milked. Standing position represented 25,89 % in stanchion housing and 19,31 % in loose housing. The movement was only monitored with dairy cattle housed in free housing representing 4,1 %. After the milk efficiency was assessed, there were some statistically significant differences (P?0,001) found in milked milk as well as in a kilogram of protein. With respect to reproduction, the length of the insemination interval was recorded showing 129 days when being stanchion housed and 95 days when loose housed. The length of the service period of dairy cattle in stanchion housing was 144 days while dairy cattle milked robotically showed the length of 109 days. All in all, it was proved that a free movement has a positive influence on the milk efficiency, fertility as well as the welfare of dairy cattle.
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