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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
1

Estimates of genetic trend in Wisconsin Holstein official DHIA production records

Olson, Kenneth Earl, January 1976 (has links)
Thesis--Wisconsin. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-66).
2

Early Veterinary Activities at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 1870s - 1920s; The Rise and Fall of Virginia's State-Controlled Veterinary Complex

Chapman, Jill Lee 18 December 2006 (has links)
Veterinary activities at VPI between 1872 and 1959 established the Blacksburg institution as the center of Virginia's veterinary education long before the opening of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1980. This thesis traces the lineage of VPI's veterinary medicine program back to the inception of the institution, locates VPI's contribution to veterinary medicine within the State of Virginia and nationally, and puts all these developments within the general historical context of the role of land-grant agricultural colleges in the development of veterinary medicine. The organization of veterinary activities of the state of Virginia took the form of a veterinary complex, its four main components of education, research, dissemination of veterinary knowledge, and prevention and control of livestock disease located in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries on the VPI campus in Blacksburg. This complex--taken as a whole--functioned as the primary actor in the veterinary network in Virginia--along with other veterinary institutions and offices that existed off- campus. The neglected history of early veterinary research and education in Virginia is important, because it clearly establishes these early veterinary activities at VPI as laying the groundwork for the establishment of the VMRCVM in 1980 and it shows why the VMRCVM was established at VPI (now referred to as Virginia Tech). / Master of Science
3

An Economic Study of Alternative Methods of Obtaining Dairy Herd Replacements in Northern Utah, 1961

McArthur, J'Wayne 01 May 1962 (has links)
Dairying ranked second in producing farm income in the state of Utah in 1929 (II) . Twenty-two and two tenths percent of cash receipts from the sale of agricultural products came from dairying. Beef enterprises were the only larger source of farm income in the state, with 24.7 per cent of the total cash receipts. Because of the importance of dairying in the state, much work has been done to provide dairymen with information that will enable them to obtain a higher net return from dairying.
4

The Microflora of Milk Drawn Aseptically from the U.S.A.C. Dairy Herd

Jones, Lewis W. 01 May 1937 (has links)
Early studies on the bacterial content of milk were made mainly to satisfy the interst of people who wished to determine the various materials that contained bacteris. Soon the value of bacterial counts, as an indication of the general conditions of production, of handling, and of the keeping qualities of milk, became evident and bacterial counts were used to obtain information concerning these problems. Numbers of bacteria in milk have been used also in the studies of the desirable and undesirable changes in milk. In the last few years our citizenry has been made more importance of bacteria in milk. As the number of milk dealers have increased and our population in the cities has become more conjested, more stringent regulation of our milk supplies has been practiced. Of major importance in this regulatory program is the bacterial count of milk. Large dairy manufacturing plants, which have also recognized the importance of high bacterial counts in influencing the quality of their products, have encouraged production of low count milk even to the extent of giving bonuses to such producers and rejecting milk that did not come within their standards.
5

Estudo de polimorfismos do gene JY-1 e sua associação à produção de embriões in vivo e in vitro em doadoras da raça holandesa (Bos taurus taurus) / Study of JY-1 gene polymorphisms and their association with in vivo and in vitro embryo production in holstein donors (Bos taurus taurus)

Silveira, Cecília Rodrigues Alves [UNESP] 17 June 2016 (has links)
Submitted by CECÍLIA RODRIGUES ALVES SILVEIRA null (c_ras@hotmail.com) on 2017-03-16T23:38:33Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_Cecilia_Rodrigues_Alves_Silveira.pdf: 1335776 bytes, checksum: 2c41b17b49dd121d78806d292d582d58 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Juliano Benedito Ferreira (julianoferreira@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-03-21T18:39:02Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 silveira_cra_me_jabo.pdf: 1335776 bytes, checksum: 2c41b17b49dd121d78806d292d582d58 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-21T18:39:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 silveira_cra_me_jabo.pdf: 1335776 bytes, checksum: 2c41b17b49dd121d78806d292d582d58 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-06-17 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o desempenho na produção embrionária in vivo e in vitro de doadoras da raça Holandesa não lactantes, verificar a ocorrência de polimorfismos no gene JY-1 e sua associação com a produção in vivo e in vitro de embriões. Primeiramente, foi verificada a similaridade na produção de embrião da mesma doadora entre as biotécnicas (produção in vivo e in vitro), sendo utilizadas 44 vacas e comparados os desempenhos nas produções de embrião. Na produção in vivo de embriões não foram observados efeitos de ano (P=0,13), estação dentro de ano (P=0,46) e touro dentro de estação e ano (P=0,20). Na produção in vitro, também não foram observados efeitos de ano (P=0,64) e estação dentro de ano (P=0,72), entretanto, o efeito do touro dentro da estação e ano foi significativo (P<0,01). Não há correlação entre as produções in vivo e in vitro dentro de doadora (r=- 0,04; P=0,56). Nenhuma probabilidade de semelhança entre as biotécnicas de produção de embriões, ou seja, se a mesma doadora tem o mesmo desempenho nas duas técnicas (acima ou abaixo da média), foi encontrada (P=0,12). Para verificar a ocorrência de polimorfismos no gene JY-1 e sua associação com a produção embrionária, dados retrospectivos de produções in vivo e in vitro de embriões foram obtidos de 144 vacas não lactantes da raça Holandesa. Para a identificação dos polimorfismos do gene JY-1, as regiões do éxon 2 e íntron 2 foram amplificadas e sequenciadas pelo método de PCR-sequenciamento. Foram detectados quatro SNPs [dois no éxon 2 (rs381676360; rs384600927) e dois no íntron 2 (rs378994837; rs211595914)]. O SNP rs381676360 provocou uma substituição não sinônima de aminoácido (leucina/isoleucina) e o rs384600927, uma substituição sinônima do aminoácido valina. Em relação ao equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg, uma das quatro frequências genotípicas não se encontrava em equilíbrio (rs211595914; P<0,01). Considerando o teste de desequilíbrio de ligação (DL), maiores valores de r2 (>0,33) foram observados entre os SNPs rs381676360, rs384600927 e rs378994837 (r2=0,767-0,973) e um SNP (rs211595914) apresentou baixos valores de r2 (r2=0,016-0,025). A associação dos SNPs com as características [número de embriões transferíveis produzidos in vivo (NET); taxa de embriões transferíveis in vivo; (%ET); número de embriões produzidos in vitro (NEV); taxa de clivagem (%CLIV) e taxa de embriões in vitro (%EV)] foi verificada. Nenhum dos SNPs isoladamente foi associado às características estudadas. Porém, quando todos os SNPs foram considerados em conjunto quanto à associação às características, valores significativos foram encontrados para o NET (P<0,01), NEV (P<0,01) e %EV (P<0,01). Desta forma, é possível concluir que o desempenho de produção de doadores de embriões depende da biotécnica utilizada. Ainda, que o gene JY-1 possui polimorfismos do tipo SNP em vacas não lactantes da raça Holandesa e que estes estão associados à produção embrionária. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance in in vivo and in vitro embryo production in non-lactating Holstein donors, verify the occurrence of JY-1 gene polymorphisms and their association with the in vivo and in vitro embryo production. First, the similarity in embryo production from the same donor between biotechnologies (in vivo and in vitro production) was verified, being used 44 cows and the embryo production performance was compared. In in vivo embryo production no effects of year (P=0.13), season within year (P=0.46) and sire within the season and year (P=0.20) were found. Regarding in vitro embryo production, no effects of year (P=0.64) and season within year (P=0.72) were found, however, the effect of sire within season and year was significant (P<0.01). There was no correlation concerning embryo production between techniques within donors (r=- 0.04, P=0.56). No probability of similarity between the embryo production techniques, i.e., if the same donor has the same performance in two techniques (above or below of the average), was found (P=0.12). To check the occurrence of JY-1 gene polymorphisms and their association with embryo production, retrospective data from in vivo and in vitro embryo production were obtained from 144 non-lactating Holstein cows. For the identification off JY-1 gene polymorphisms, the region of exon 2 and intron 2 was amplified and sequenced by PCR-sequencing method. Four SNPs were found [two in exon 2 (rs381676360; rs384600927) and two in intron 2 (rs378994837; rs211595914)]. SNP rs381676360 caused a non-synonymous amino acid substitution (leucine/isoleucine) and rs384600927 a synonymous substitution of the valine amino acid. Regarding the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, one of the four genotypic frequencies was not in equilibrium (rs211595914; P<0.01). For linkage disequilibrium test (LD) higher r2 values (>0.33) were observed between the SNPs rs381676360, rs384600927 and rs378994837 (r2=0.767 to 0.973) and one SNP (rs211595914) showed lower r2 values (r2=0.016 to 0.025). The association of SNPs with the characteristics [number of in vivo transferable embryos (NET); in vivo transferable embryo rate; (%ET); number of in vitro embryos (NEV); cleavage rate (% CLIV) and in vitro embryo rate (%EV)] was observed. None of the SNPs alone was associated with traits. However, when all SNPs were considered together for the association, significant values were found for NET (P<0.01), NEV (P<0.01) and %EV (P<0.01). Thus, it is possible to conclude that the donor embryo production performance depends on the implemented technique. Still, the JY-1 gene has SNP polymorphisms and they are associated with embryo production in non-lactating Holstein cows. / CNPq: 447172/2014-0 / FAPESP: 2014/13162-1
6

Parâmetros clínicos e laboratoriais de vacas leiteiras no período de transição manejadas em free stall / Clinical and laboratory parameters of dairy cows in the transition period managed in free stall

Trajano, Haroldo Pimentel 24 May 2013 (has links)
Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:47:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1130934 bytes, checksum: 4f9cc3b6a64e9f7c3838baa5ce0d9079 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-05-24 / The aim of this study was to evaluate hematological and blood biochemical changes, in association with urinalysis and physical examination of dairy cows in puerperium as well as to verify the efficiency of protocols capable of monitoring the onset of metabolic and infectious diseases. The study was conducted using 22 Holstein cows, 11 primiparous and 11 multiparous, aged from two until seven years, belonging to the dairy herd of the Teaching, Research and Extension in Dairy Cattle Unit - UEPE/GL, of the Department of Animal Science of the Federal University of Viçosa. A total of 154 blood and urine samples were analyzed. The research consisted of clinical monitoring along with laboratory analysis (blood count, blood biochemistry and urinalysis). The following methodology was established in order to measure clinical variables along with blood and urine samples: fifteen days before calving (T-15), immediately after calving (T0), two days (T2), five days (T5), ten days (T10), fifteen days (T15) and thirty days after calving (T30). During physical examination a gradual loss of body condition score and postpartum infections were verified; leukocytosis with neutrophilia and lymphocytosis immediately after calving were also observed through blood count; blood biochemistry showed elevated levels of urea, hyperphosphatemia and hypochloremia during the transition period; urinalysis showed low values of urine pH shortly before calving. These results confirmed the efficiency of clinical and laboratory monitoring in the diagnosis of metabolic diseases in dairy cows during the puerperium period and the monitoring protocol used was accurate. / O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar as alterações hematológicas e a bioquímica sanguínea, em associação à urinálise e ao exame físico, de vacas leiteiras no período de transição e verificar a eficiência de protocolos de monitoramento para a ocorrência de doenças metabólicas e infecciosas. O estudo foi desenvolvido com 22 vacas da raça holandês PB, sendo 11 primíparas e 11 multíparas, com idade entre dois e sete anos, pertencentes ao rebanho leiteiro da Unidade de Ensino, Pesquisa e Extensão em Gado de Leite UEPE/GL, do Departamento de Zootecnia da Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Um total de 154 amostras de sangue e urina foi analisado. A pesquisa consistiu do monitoramento clínico e análises laboratoriais (hemograma, bioquímica sanguínea e urinálise). Foi estabelecida a seguinte metodologia para mensuração das variáveis clínicas e coletas de sangue e urina: quinze dias antes do parto (T-15); imediatamente após o parto (T0); dois dias (T2), cinco dias (T5), dez dias (T10), quinze dias (T15) e trinta dias após o parto (T30). Ao exame físico verificou-se perda gradativa do escore de condição corporal e infecções pós-parto; por meio da análise hematológica constatou-se leucocitose por neutrofilia e linfocitose ao parto; a analise bioquímica sanguínea evidenciou valores elevados de ureia sérica, hiperfosfatemia hipocloremia e decréscimo no colesterol total no período de transição; a urinálise apresentou baixos valores de pH da urina no pré-parto. Diante dos resultados obtidos a pesquisa confirmou a eficiência das avaliações clínicas e laboratoriais no diagnóstico de doenças metabólicas em vacas leiteiras no puerpério e o protocolo de monitoramento adotado foi correto.
7

Efeito da estação do ano sobre a taxa de concepção e perda gestacional em vacas leiteiras mestiças

Ayres, Gustavo Ferreira 22 June 2012 (has links)
Bovines, as homeothermic animals, are able to keep their body temperature stable, but in tropical and subtropical regions, can suffer pronounced effects of heat stress because the high temperature and relative humidity. The objective was to evaluate the rate of conception and pregnancy loss during the seasons (winter and summer) in crossbred dairy cows. The experiment was conducted on the farm Glória of the Federal University of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Was used a herd with average of 90 lactating cows, submitted to the IATF protocol, being inseminated or placed with a bull, totaling 370 inseminations from may/2007 to march/2010, which were divided for data analysis in three intervals, I, II and III, corresponding may/2007 to march/2008, april/2008 to march/2009, april/2009 to march/2010, respectively. The environment was characterized by average temperature, air humidity and ITU. After analyzing all the winters and summers, and the intervals I and II, there was a higher conception rate in winter than in summer. Already a pregnancy loss between 28 to 45 days after insemination, was not influenced by season of the year. We conclude that the region of Triângulo Mineiro, the warm season of the year negatively affects conception rate in crossbred dairy cows, but does not interfere in pregnancy loss between 28 to 45 days. / Os bovinos, como animais homeotérmicos, são capazes de manter sua temperatura corporal estável, porém em regiões tropicais e subtropicais, podem sofrer efeitos pronunciados do estresse térmico devido temperatura e umidade do ar elevadas. Objetivou-se avaliar a taxa de concepção e perda gestacional durante as estações do ano (inverno e verão) em vacas leiteiras mestiças. A pesquisa foi realizada na Fazenda Glória da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Minas Gerias, Brasil. Foi utilizado um rebanho com média de 90 vacas em lactação submetidas ao protocolo de IATF, sendo inseminadas ou colocadas com touro, totalizando 370 inseminações de maio/2007 a março/2010, que foram divididos para análise dos dados em três intervalos, I, II e III, correspondente maio/2007 à março/2008, abril/2008 à março/2009, abril/2009 à março/2010, respectivamente. O ambiente foi caracterizado pela média da temperatura, umidade do ar e ITU. Ao analisar todos os invernos e verões, e os intervalos I e II, verificou-se maior taxa de concepção no inverno que no verão. Já a perda gestacional entre 28 a 45 dias pós inseminações, não foi influenciada pela época do ano. Concluiu-se que na região do Triângulo Mineiro, a época quente do ano afeta negativamente a taxa de concepção em vacas leiteiras mestiças, mas não interfere na perda gestacional entre 28 a 45 dias. / Mestre em Ciências Veterinárias
8

Perfil eletroforético das proteínas do leite e estabilidade no teste do álcool. / Electrophoretic profile of milk proteins and stability in alcohol test

Barbosa, Rosângela Silveira 30 June 2011 (has links)
Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:38:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Rosangela_Barbosa.pdf: 1566771 bytes, checksum: 708102103c93f84a79e40209c65341e8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-06-30 / Unstable non acid milk (LINA) characterizes for lack of stability of caseins, resulting in coagulation in the alcohol test, without high acidity, above 18°D and with changes in the milk s physic and chemical properties. Among chemical attributes, differences of total crude protein and protein fractions percentages are noticeable between stable and unstable milk. This study aimed to evaluate the relation between milk s electrophoretic profile and stability in the alcohol test with cows being fed with different diets. The trials were conducted at the dairy region of Pelotas, at the south of Rio Grande do sul State, Brazil.The first trial was held at the Embrapa Clima Temperado, from April to August, with two diets: control and feeding restriction, 100 and 60% of previous feeding amounts, with six Jersey cows, at the beginning of their lactation. The second trial was held at the Embrapa Clima Temperado, from May to June, with three diets: control (no additive inclusion), addition of sodium bicarbonate and addition of sodium citrate, with 17 Jersey cows at all lactation stages (76 to 293 days in milking). The third trial was held at the Colégio Agrícola Visconde da Graça UFPEL, from march to April, with three diets: control (deficient), 100% of energy nutritional requirements and 100% of protein-energy nutritional requirements, using 12 Holstein and Jersey cows, at the beginning and mid lactation. In all evaluations the following analyses were performed: alcohol test (with ethanol concentration from 68 to 80°GL v/v), titrable acidity, pH, boiling test, chemical composition, Somatic Cells Count (SCC). Besides, milk production, body weight, body condition score were 12 also evaluated. Milk s protein fractions were evaluate with electrophoreses in 12% poliacrilamide gel. In the first trial, diets did not change protein fraction of the milk not its composition and stability, just milk production. However, stable milk and unstable milk presented differences for κ-CN percentages. In the second, the addition of sodium bicarbonate and addition of sodium citrate, influenced protein fraction β e κ-CN. The unstable milk presented higher amounts of αs-CN. In the third, the adjusted diets could alter milk production, protein, total solids and levels of calcium in milk and blood. / O Leite Instável Não Ácido (LINA) caracteriza-se pela perda da estabilidade das caseínas, resultando em precipitação positiva ao teste do álcool, sem apresentar acidez elevada acima de 18ºD e com alterações nas suas propriedades físico-químicas. Dentre as propriedades químicas destaca-se a diferença na porcentagem de proteína total e das frações protéicas entre leite estável e aquele instável no teste do álcool. O objetivo foi avaliar a relação entre o perfil eletroforético das frações protéicas do leite e sua estabilidade no teste do álcool com vacas recebendo diferentes dietas. Os experimentos foram conduzidos na bacia leiteira de Pelotas, zona sul do Rio Grande do Sul Brasil. O primeiro foi realizado na Embrapa Clima Temperado, nas estações de outono e inverno (de abril a agosto), com dois tratamentos: controle (dieta equilibrada) e restrição alimentar (60% de fornecimento de alimento), em seis vacas em lactação da raça Jersey, no estágio inicial de lactação. O segundo experimento foi realizado na Embrapa Clima Temperado, na estação do outono (maio a junho), com três tratamentos: controle (atendendo 100% das exigências nutricionais), adição de bicarbonato de sódio e adição de citrato de sódio, usando 17 vacas da raça Jersey, com média de 30 semanas de lactação). O terceiro experimento foi realizado no Colégio Agrícola Visconde da Graça UFPel, 10 nas estações: final de verão e início do outono (março a abril), com 3 tratamentos: controle (sem atender as necessidades nutricionais dos animais), 100% de atendimento das exigências energéticas e 100% de atendimento das exigências energético-protéicas, usando 12 vacas da raças Jersey e Holandês, no primeiro e segundo estádio de lactação. Em todas as etapas foram realizadas as análises: teste do álcool (68 a 80ºGL v/v, acidez titulável, pH, fervura, composição química (gordura, proteína, lactose, sólidos totais), contagem de células somáticas. Foram avaliados os parâmetros de produção de leite, peso corporal, escore da condição corporal. Além dessas, foi realizado eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida 15% para determinação das frações protéicas do leite. No primeiro experimento, conclui-se que as dietas não alteraram as frações protéicas, composição e estabilidade do leite e parâmetros produtivos das vacas em estudo, com exceção da produção de leite. Já com relação a comparação de leite estável e leite instável no teste do álcool houve diferenças na fração protéica β-caseína. O grupo de vacas com menor estabilidade do leite apresentou menor proporção de β, mas maior de k-CN, caseína total e proporção de caseína. No segundo experimento, os aditivos bicarbonato de sódio e citrato de sódio influenciaram apenas as frações protéicas β e κ-caseína. O leite instável apresentou maiores quantidades de αs-caseína. No terceiro experimento, as dietas ajustadas foram suficientes para reverter o quadro de LINA, causar influência na produção do leite, proteína, sólidos totais e teor de cálcio no leite e sangue.
9

Évaluation de la variabilité du transfert d’immunité passive dans les troupeaux laitiers du Québec

Morin, Marie-Pascale 10 1900 (has links)
No description available.
10

Reproduktionsmanagement in Milchviehbetrieben

Przewozny, Agnes 07 March 2011 (has links)
Die Arbeit liefert eine umfassende Beschreibung der Managementmethoden von Milcherzeugerbetrieben unter dem Fokus Herdenfruchtbarkeit. Die Studie analysiert Einflüsse des Managements auf Reproduktions- und Milchleistung und verfolgt hierzu einen bio-sozialen Forschungsansatz. Die Daten wurden 2007 in Interviews mit Herdenmanagern und Stallrundgängen anhand von Fragebögen in 84 v.a. Brandenburger Milcherzeugerbetrieben erhoben. Die Fragen betrafen u.a. Haltungsumwelt, Stressvermeidung, Herden-, Reproduktions- und Personalmanagement. Die Leistungsdaten der Herden entstammen der Milchleistungsprüfung 2007. Die Datenanalyse umfasste qualitative und quantitative Methoden. Abhängige Variablen waren Zwischenkalbezeit (ZKZ) und 305-Tage-Milchleistung (ML). Im Mittel betrug die Herdengröße 306,3 Kühe (+/-238,3), die ZKZ 413,2d (+/-18,73) und die ML 8555kg (+/-1132,9). Die ZKZ sank tendenziell mit steigender ML (r=-0,188, p=0,10). Die ML stieg mit der Herdengröße (r=0,29, p=0,01). Die Laufgänge (LG) waren in 71,25% der Betriebe nass und rutschig. Hier war die ZKZ tendenziell länger (+16,6d, p=,055) als bei trockenen, rutschfesten LG. Die Liegeflächen (LF) waren in 29,9% der Betriebe trocken und elastisch. Hier war die ML höher (+1110kg, p=0,011) als bei nassen, harten LF. Eine eindeutige Zuordnung der Verantwortung für die Brunstkontrolle wirkte tendenziell positiv auf die ZKZ (-6,3d, p=0,129). Akademisch ausgebildete Herdenmanagerinnen erzielten eine höhere ML als gleichqualifizierte Männer (+752,9kg, p=0,005) bei gleicher ZKZ und damit eine günstigere Relation von Reproduktions- und Milchleistung. Motivierung durch materielle und soziale Anreize bzw. Verantwortungsübertragung und gute Kommunikation war mit einer höheren ML verbunden als Motivierung durch Leistungslohn (+ ca. 1000kg, p=0,009). Die Studie belegt die Notwendigkeit verbesserter Haltungsbedingungen und bietet eine Grundlage für vertiefende Studien zum Personalmanagement in Milchviehbetrieben. / This study provides a comprehensive characterization of current management methods of dairy farms, focusing on herd fertility. Relations of management factors to fertility and milk performance are analyzed following a bio-social approach. In 2007 a questionnaire survey including face-to-face interviews and direct observations was conducted in 84 East German dairy farms, mostly located in Brandenburg. Questions referred to housing, stress prevention, and management of herds, reproduction and personnel. Herd performance data stem from milk performance testing in 2007. Data analysis combined qualitative and quantitative methods. Calving interval (CI) and 305-day-milk yield (MY) were used as dependent variables. Mean values of herd size, CI and MY were, respectively, 306.3 cows (+/-238.3), 413.2d (+/-18.73d) and 8555kg (+/-1132.9). CI tended to decrease with increasing MY (r=-0.188, p=0.10). MY increased with rising herd size (r=0.29, p=0.01). Floors were wet and slippery in 71.25% of farms. In these farms CI tended to be longer (+16.6d, p=0.055) compared to farms with dry and non-slippery floors. Lying areas were in 29.9% of the farms dry and flexible. Here MY was higher (+1110kg, p=0.011) than in farms with wet and hard lying areas. A clear assignment of responsibility for heat detection showed a trend of decreasing CI (-6.3d, p=0.129). Female herd managers with academic qualification achieved a higher MY than likewise qualified men (+752.9kg, p=0.005), with no difference in CI. Thus, herds managed by highly qualified women showed a better MY:CI ratio. Employee motivation by material and social incentives or by allocating responsibility to workers and pursuing good communication was related to higher MY than motivation by performance pay alone (+1000kg, p=0.009); CI remained unaffected. Performance pay had no positive effect on targeted parameters. Results underscore the need for improved housing and recommend further study into personnel management in dairy farms.

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