Improve the Efficiency of Dairy Farms through a Typology Based on Dietary Management, in Central Macedonia Region, Greece

Subject Areas : Camel

I. Mitsopoulos ¹ , V. Dotas ² , M. Tsiouni ³ , A. Pavloudi ⁴ , D. Kyrtsoudis ⁵ , D. Gourdouvelis ⁶

1 - Department of Agriculture, School of Geoscience, International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, Greece
2 - Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
3 - Department of Agriculture, School of Geoscience, International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, Greece
4 - Department of Agriculture, School of Geoscience, International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, Greece
5 - Department of Agriculture, School of Geoscience, International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, Greece
6 - Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

Received: 2022-01-22 Accepted : 2022-05-27 Published : 2022-12-01

Keywords: dairy farms, multinomial logit, Categorical Principal Component Analysis, Two-Step Cluster Analy-sis,

Abstract :

The purpose of this study was to examine and classify dairy farms in Central Macedonia, Greece, in terms of the applied feeding strategy as well as their main characteristics.The data used in the case study was obtained from 123 dairy cow farms in the area. The data analysis included the categorization of the variables with Categorical Principal Component Analysis (CatPCA) and the clustering of farms by taking into account their dimensions with Two-Step Cluster Analysis (TSCA).Multinomial Logit (MNL) was used to examine the main characteristics of the emerged types of farms.The "average" Central Macedonian cow farms and the majority of farms have a 46.5% chance of being in the "efficient" cluster, 37.1% in the "inefficient" cluster, and 15.4% chance of being in the "semi-efficient" cluster.The results of the analysis indicated that the majority of farmers provide rational diets. However, in some cases where management practices (such as groupings, etc.) are not applied according to the nutritional requirements of cows, mainly metabolic diseases but also reproductive problems occur, which have a direct impact on the productivity of the farms.

References:

Amaral-Phillips D. (2010). What does it cost you to feed your cows? Kentucky University Cooperative Extension. WebMD. https://afs.ca.uky.edu/files/what_does_it_cost_you_to_ feed_your_cows.pdf Accessed Oct. 2021.

Bali G., Karadjole T., Mačešić N. and Karadjole M. (2007). A brief review of aetiology and nutritional prevention of metabolic disorders in dairy cattle. Vet. Arhiv. 77(6), 567-577.

Bicknell E. and Noon T. (1993). Neonatal calf diarrhea. Animal Care and Health Maintenance. WebMD. http://ag.arizona.edu/arec/pubs/rmg/4%20animalcare&healthmaintenance/ 25%20neonatalcalfdiarrhea93.pdf.Accessed Oct. 2021.

Bondan C., Folchini J.A., Guimarães L., Noro M., Zanella R., Alves L.P., Fontaneli R.S. and Gonzalez F. (2021). Milk yield and composition in dairy cows with post-partum disorders. Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec. 73(3), 639-646.

Çamdevýren H., Demýr N., Kanik A. and Keskýn S. (2005). Use of principal component scores in multiple linear regression models for prediction of Chlorophyll-a in reservoirs. Ecol. Modell. 181, 581-589.

Eastridge M. (2006). Major advances in applied dairy cattle nutrition. J. Dairy Sci. 89(4), 1311-1323.

ELGO (Greek Agriculture Organisation). (2019). WebMD. http://www.elgo.gr Accessed Jan. 2022.

ELSTAT (Greek Statistical Authority). (2019). WebMD. http://www. statistics.gr (In Greek)Accessed Jan. 2022.

Espositoa G., Irons P., Webb E. and Chapwanya A. (2014). Interactions between negative energy balance, metabolic diseases, uterine health, and immune response in transition dairy cows. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 144, 60-71.

ΕUROSTAT. (2019). WebMD. http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/ agriculture/data/database Accessed Jan. 2022.

Farmakis N. (2002). Introduction to Sampling. Publications Α & P. Hristodoulidhi, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Goff J. (1999). Dry cow nutrition and metabolic disease in parturient cows. Adv. Dairy Technol. 11, 63-70.

Grant R. and Albright J. (2001). Effect of animal grouping on feeding behavior and intake of dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 84, 156-163.

Greene H. (2003). Econometric Analysis. Prentice Hall International Editions. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

Hadjipanayiotou M. and Economides S. (1997). Assessment of various treatment conditions affecting the ammoniation of long straw by urea. Livest. Res. Rural. Dev. Available at: https://www.fao.org/ ag/aga/agap/frg/lrrd/lrrd9/5/milt952.htm.

Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food. (2019). Development of cattle farming in dairy and meat production. WebMD. http://www.minagric.gr/greek/ENHM_FYLADIAZWIKHS/ENHM_FYL_zoiki.htm Accessed Aug. 2021.

Hutjens M. (2011). Feed additives in dairy nutrition and management. WebMD. http://livestocktrail.illinois.edu/dairynet/paperDisplay.cfm?ContentID=642 Accessed Nov. 2021.

Ingvartsen K. (2006). Feeding-and management-related diseases in the transition cow physiological adaptations around calving and strategies to reduce feeding-related diseases. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 126, 175-213.

Karalazos A. (1997). Applied Ruminant Nutrition. University Traditions. AUTh Publications Service, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Kidane A., Øverland M., Mydland K.T. and Prestløkken E. (2018). Interaction between feed use efficiency and level of dietary crude protein on enteric methane emission and apparent nitrogen use efficiency with Norwegian Red dairy cows. J. Anim. Sci. 96(9), 3967-3982.

Kleftodimos G., Kyrgiakos L.S., Kleisiari C., Tagarakis A.C. and Bochtis D. (2022). Examining farmers’ adoption decisions towards precision-agricultural practices in Greek dairy cattle farms. Sustainability. 14(1), 411-419.

Mitsopoulos I. (2012). Study of livestock profiles management of Central Macedonia in relation to the milk production, milk quality, and environment. PhD Thesis. Democritus Univ., Thrace, Greece.

Ostergaard S. and Grohn Y. (2000). Concentrate feeding, dry-matter intake, and metabolic disorders. Livest. Prod. Sci. 65, 107-118.

Overgård-Lehmann J., Mogensen L. and Kristensen T. (2019). Extended lactations in dairy production: Economic, productivity and climatic impact at herd, farm and sector level. Livest. Sci. 220, 100-110.

Owens F. (2014). New technologies in forage varieties and production. WebMD. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/New-technologies-in-forage-varieties-and-Owens-Eastridge/ de23fcb397d4977e133b26ebb24d9da7a44b0957 Accessed Sep. 2021.

Pastrana C., Navas González F., Pizarro Inostroza M., Arando Arbulu A., Delgado Bermejo J. and Ruiz Aguilera M. (2022). Study of variability of cognitive performance in captive fallow deer (Damadama) through g and c factors. J. Vet. Behav. 47, 70-85.

Schingoethe D., Kalscheur K.F., Hippen A.R. and Garcia A.D. (2009). Invited review: The use of distiller’s products in dairy cattle diets. J. Dairy Sci. 92, 5802-5813.

Siafakas S., Tsiplakou E., Kotsarinis M., Tsiboukas K. and Zervas G. (2019). Identification of efficient dairy farms in Greece based on homegrown feedstuffs, using the Data Envelopment Analysis method. Livest. Sci. 222, 14-20.

Sniffle C., Beverly R., Mooney C., Roe M. and Skidmore A. (1993). Nutrient requirements versus supply in the dairy cow: strategies to account for variability. J. Dairy Sci. 76, 3160-3169.

Zerbas G., Κalaisakis P. and Feggeros K. (2004). Farm Animal Nutrition. Stamouli Publications, Athens, Greece.