The objective of this thesis was to determine the effects of frequency of milking and feed delivery on the behavioural patterns and productivity of lactating dairy cows. In two independent experiments, twelve free-stall housed, lactating Holstein dairy cows were exposed to either varying milking frequency or varying feed delivery frequency over 21-d periods. In the first study, cows milked three times per day and multiparous cows produced more milk than those milked twice per day and primiparous cows. Milking three times per day altered the distribution of feeding activity throughout the day. Multiparous cows had longer, and larger meals, while primiparous cows had smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day when milked three times per day. In the second study, cows delivered feed three times per day consumed more DM than those fed once per day and twice per day. Feed delivery frequency had little effect on feeding behaviour and the distribution of feeding activity, but altered the magnitude of DMI following feed delivery. Cows delivered feed more frequently achieve greater daily DMI by consuming more feed following the return from milking and the delivery of feed. / This project was financially supported by a Dairy Farmers of Ontario (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) research grant and an Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA; Guelph, Ontario, Canada)/University of Guelph Production Systems research grant. Additional project support was received from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) and the Ontario Research Fund (Toronto, Ontario, Canada).

level of cattle breeding is putting growing demands on milk production and it is closely related with fertility. The aim of this work was based on data analysis to determine fertility of dairy cows bred in modern technology in the context of the quality of nutrition, stabling and milk production and determine the level of the relationship between fertility and milk production. Monitoring herds proceeded in two breeds from May 2010 to December 2011. The data was obtained from the reports for monitoring performance, and the accompanying sheets cattle and T4C program (Time for Cows), which records detailed data on milking cows. Overall, more than 19,000 data entries on fertility and yield of cows were statistically evaluated. It was found that dairy cows kept in modern technology, which uses AMS (Automatic Milking Systems) the interval 368.97 days and 406.27 days, which is about 30 or 15.72 less compared with the average of Czech Republic. The value of service period in selected farms was 109.19 and 119.58 days. Compared to the national average is about 12.80 and 3.31 on shorter SP. Insemination interval of 62.63 and 81.06 days was again a 20.36 and 1.93 days shorter than the average insemination interval in Czech Republic in 2010. Correlation relationship between milk production and fertility was found to be statistically significant only for insemination interval rxy = - 0.302+ service period and rxy = 0.402+. The hypothesis, that using AMS does not have a negative effect on fertility was confirmed.

If we require higher yields from dairy cows, we have to provide them with good living conditions. It is necessary to know their natural behaviour and give them a chance to show it. One of the possibilities to make better living conditions to dairy cows seems to be an introduction of the automatic milking system to cowshed. The aim of this diploma thesis is to evaluate basic behaviour of dairy cows during all day in two cowsheds with automatic milking system, and to create a data file of dairy cows in two cowsheds with breeding of two different kinds of cattle - Czech Spotted cattle and Holstein dairy cows, and two different automatic milking systems ? Lely Astronaut and DeLaval. The results were evaluated by particular applicative statistics methods and the differences between the breeds and types of robots were compared. The thesis concerns three ethological observations in 2010 and 2011 which took place in Agricultural Cooperative Kluky near Písek, where Holstein dairy cows is bred and automatic milking system Lely Astronaut is used, and also three ethological observations in 2009 on a family farm in Chlumeček near Křemže, where Czech Spotted cattle is bred and automatic system DeLaval is used. The Holstein dairy cows spent feeding from 3,4 to 3,9 hours per day and Czech Spotted cattle spent feeding from 5,6 to 6,3 hours per day during all observation. In category standing were included: plain standing, standing with other activities (standing ? drinking, standing ? urinating, standing ? defecating, standing ? comfort behavior) and milking in robot. The Holstein dairy cows and Czech Spotted cattle spent standing from 5,6 to 6,3 hours per day. In the category of lying, significant differences were found. The Holstein dairy cows spent lying from 14,1 to 15 hours per day. The Czech Spotted cattle spent lying from 11,6 to 12 hours per day. Last observed category was moving. The Holstein dairy cows spent moving 0,4 hours per day and the Czech Spotted cattle spent moving from 0,9 to 1,1 hours per day. The quantity of milk of Holstein dairy cows per lactation was 6701 kg in average with quantity of protein 229,694 kg with content of 3,375%. The quantity of milk of Czech Spotted cattle was 4690 kg with quantity of protein 159,33 kg. The length of insemination interval of Holstein dairy cows was 71,35 days in average and service period was 159,97 days in average. The length of insemination interval of Czech Spotted cattle was 130,49 days in average and service period was 159,97 days in average. The data was processed with the help of Microsoft Excel and Statistica 10.

With increasing consumption of milk and milk products, there were increased number of dairy cattle, but the increase of demand for dairy cows and thus to changes in technology and technique of milking, which would increase milk production, productivity, and improve the welfare of dairy cows. An efficient solution could be milking robots. The first robot was placed on a farm in the Netherlands in 1992. The introduction of robotic milking on agricultural farms in the Czech Republic began in 2003 when the main reason was a shortage of skilled manpower that would be willing to work in harsh working and sanitary conditions. The thesis aim was to assess the effect of milking by the milking robot on the behavior of breeding cows throughout the day in relation to milk yield and fertility in relation to lactation and genotypic classification (H100, HxC, C100). The behavioral monitoring was carried out in dairy farms Brloh (milking by milking robots) and Haklových Dvorech - the control group (in the milking house) in the period from August 2009 to January 2010. The data processing was done with using the Microsoft Excel program. For the evaluation of all parameters were observed in herds calculated basic statistics. Differences disappear individual indicators were evaluated single-factor analysis of variance. The first monitoring of the findings in cattle reproductive performance was the terms of genotype. The values were found favorable for fertility groups HxC in the both stables. Length insemination interval reached 69.1 days in ZD Brloh (compared to 110.1 of the ŠZP Haklovy Dvory), length of service period of 110.8 (vs. 142.9 days). In the meantime, the length (due to differences in the number of animals in the group) was a length of 409.5 versus 438.5 in the group of breeding cows milked in a milking house (ŠZP Haklovy dvory). Further indicators of fertility were evaluated in terms of lactation. The longest length of service period was recorded at 1st lactation in ŠZP Haklovy Dvory were 176 days. The shortest service period was found at the 3rd and subsequent lactations of 133.5 days. Insemination interval, indicating the search of breeding cows, which were in a rutting season, was roughly the same at all lactation ZD Brloh (range 72.7 to 78.2 days) for the ŠZP Haklovy Dvory was the longest period of time to 2 lactation (118.9 days). In terms of breeding cows for milk yield for each lactation cows achieve greater results in the production company with robotic milking (100 days - 3539.1 kg, 200 days - 6727.5 kg of milk 305 days - 9602.9 kg of milk). Compared to the control group, where a 100 days lactation cows milked 3240.06 kg of milk 200 days produced 5433 kg to 305 of milk and 5327.18 kg of milk daily. The behavioral surveillance in both companies was carried out for 24 hours using the interval method with a 10 minutes interval period. The largest part of the day the cows were lying. The second largest dairy operations were the category of standing, which represented the average length of 6.05 hours in ZD Brloh. In the ŠZP Haklovy Dvory was the time period 5.71 hours. The significant period between groups is also the time of feeding, which in the system with the milking in milking house is much shorter by 1.79 hours and it taken 3.71 hours. The length of the movement was in the milking house more than half the size shorter and was 0.32 hours. Also, the length of staying in the milking house was about half shorter and it was 0.22 hours.

A study was made of cost and net return of the milking enterprise of selected D.H.I.A. members of Northern Utah. Production cost for market milk ranged from $6.37 to $3.74 per 100 pounds of milk with the weighted average for all enterprises being $4.71 per 100 pounds of milk. Production cost amounted to an average of $538.24 per cow. Total receipts amounted to $4.64 per 100 pounds of milk or $531.18 per cow per year. Net return was calculated by deducting total cost from total receipts and amounted to minus $335 per enterprise or minus $7.23 per cow per year. Manufacturing milk production cost averaged $543.85 per cow per year and average total receipts were $466.97 per cow per year. Net return averaged minus $76.88 per cow per year. A larger number of cows per herd was associated with lower total cost per cow, but a large herd did not lower cost per cow enough to make low producing cows profitable. In the milking enterprise high efficiency in one measure offered no assurance of high net return. The most successful enterprises were those that were better than average in the greatest number of efficiency measures.

The aim of this diploma thesis was to analyze milk performance in two centers of Cooperative farm Rodvínov (in Zdešov and in Bednárec) and to find out the level of milk performance in different breeding conditions. The analysis was divided into two parts. Analysis No. 1 was comparing two centers of the farm with different breeding environment in 2012-2015. In Zdešov, the cows were reared in cubicle sheds (capacity 500 cows) and were milked twice a day in 2 x 12 herringbone milking parlor. In Bednárec, dairy cows were reared in an older cubicle shed K96 and K64 (capacity 160 cows), on straw bedding., and grazing during the grazing season and milking twice a day in 2 x 6 tandem parlor. In Bednárec, dairy cows achieved better results in the milk performance, in the fatness of milk, production of fat and protein. A statistically significant difference was confirmed in content ( = 0.001; p 0.001) and fat production ( = 0.05; p < 0.05) in a favor of dairy cows in Bednárec. A statistically significant difference was also confirmed in the milk performance of the same breeding groups reared in the different environment. Analysis No. 2 was monitoring the milk performance of dairy cows in Bednárec between years 2015 to 2018, divided in two periods. Period A - without change of breeding environment and period B - with changes in breeding environment and animal welfare. The first change was the movement of the dairy cows to the year-round pasture run. The second change was the commissioning of the new 2 x 12 side by side milking parlor and final movement to a new modern large-capacity stable (capacity 312 cows). There was no significant difference in the average milk performance of dairy cows depending on the change of breeding environment. During the changes, there was a statistically significant extension of the between calving period and the extension of the 1st calving age. Effect of stress caused by the environment and wellfare changes wasn't statistically significant for the level of milk performance of dairy cows. For the level of milk performance was more important the quality level of breeding management, finding cows in heat and insemination during the period of changes.

Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar o impacto da adoção do SOA em uma propriedade leiteira no Município de Castro - Paraná através da identificação e análise das atividades de valor que influenciam os “direcionadores de custos” de Porter (1989) e comparar com duas propriedades leiteiras de perfil semelhante, porém com o Sistema de Ordenha Convencional (SOC). A partir deste contexto, este trabalho busca avaliar como esta opção tecnológica sustenta o desenvolvimento das estratégias competitivas em propriedades leiteiras. Foi utilizado o método de estudo de caso, através de entrevistas semiestruturadas, consulta a dados secundários e observação direta. Analisando as atividades de valor em cada direcionador explorado na propriedade que adotou o SOA, foi possível estabelecer principalmente que: a) ocorreu redução da mão de obra via aumento percentual da sua produtividade; b) redução de gastos com tratamento veterinário do rebanho através de análise automática do leite pelo robô, no momento da ordenha, identificando animais com problemas sanitários e, c) aumentou a produtividade do rebanho através do aumento do número de ordenhas/vaca/dia. Em especial, a adoção do SOA na propriedade leiteira estudada impactou positivamente no controle dos custos, porém, existem fatores não econômicos responsáveis pela aceitação e satisfação na adoção deste sistema, como razões sociais (melhora da qualidade de vida dos funcionários e do proprietário através da liberdade de monitorar a ordenha à distância sempre que oportuno). Complementarmente, observou-se que propriedades com SOA em fase inicial chegam a níveis de produtividade da mão de obra semelhantes à de propriedades com SOC em alta escala. Portanto, à medida que a propriedade com SOA expande as unidades robóticas, a ponto de chegar próximo à escala de animais de propriedades com SOC, o índice de produtividade da mão de obra de propriedades com SOA torna-se superior. É possível concluir que a adoção do SOA causou alterações em algumas atividades de valor no período de adaptação e após este período. Comparando a propriedade com SOA frente as duas propriedades com SOC 1 e 2, observou-se diversas semelhanças nas atividades de valor de alguns direcionadores de custos, demonstrando que a decisão de optar por este sistema de ordenha vai além de questões econômicas e produtivas, mas também engloba questões sociais (qualidade de vida). / The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of AMS adopting in a dairy farm in the municipality of Castro - Paraná, through the identification and analysis of value activities that influence the "cost drivers" of Porter (1989) and compare with two dairy farms with similar profile, but with the Conventional Milking System (CMS). From this context, this study aims to assess how this technology option supports the development of competitive strategies in dairy farms. It was used the case study method, through semi-structured interviews, consultation with secondary data and direct observation. Analysing the value activities in each cost driver explored at the dairy farm that adopted AMS, It was possible established mainly that: a) there was a reduction of labour via percentage increase in productivity; b) reduced spending on veterinary care of the herd through automatic analysis of milk by the robot at the time of milking, identifying animals with health problems and, c) increased herd productivity through increasing the number of milking per cow per day. In particular, the adoption of AMS in dairy farm studied impacted positively on cost control. However, there are no-economic factors responsible for acceptance and satisfaction in the adoption of this system, as social reasons (improved the life quality of employees and owner through freedom to monitor the milking at distance, where appropriate). In addition, it was noted that dairy farms with AMS in the initial stage achieve to labour productivity levels similar to the dairy farms with CMS on a large scale. Therefore, as the property with AMS expands the robotic units, to the point to get near of the animal scale in dairy farms with CMS, the labour productivity index with AMS dairy farms become higher. It was concluded that the adoption of the AMS caused changes in some value activities in the adaptation period and thereafter. Comparing the dairy farm with AMS face the two dairy farms with CMS 1 and 2, there are some similarities in the value activities of some cost drivers, demonstrating that the decision to opt for this milking system goes beyond economic and production issues, but also includes social issues (quality of life).

Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar o impacto da adoção do SOA em uma propriedade leiteira no Município de Castro - Paraná através da identificação e análise das atividades de valor que influenciam os “direcionadores de custos” de Porter (1989) e comparar com duas propriedades leiteiras de perfil semelhante, porém com o Sistema de Ordenha Convencional (SOC). A partir deste contexto, este trabalho busca avaliar como esta opção tecnológica sustenta o desenvolvimento das estratégias competitivas em propriedades leiteiras. Foi utilizado o método de estudo de caso, através de entrevistas semiestruturadas, consulta a dados secundários e observação direta. Analisando as atividades de valor em cada direcionador explorado na propriedade que adotou o SOA, foi possível estabelecer principalmente que: a) ocorreu redução da mão de obra via aumento percentual da sua produtividade; b) redução de gastos com tratamento veterinário do rebanho através de análise automática do leite pelo robô, no momento da ordenha, identificando animais com problemas sanitários e, c) aumentou a produtividade do rebanho através do aumento do número de ordenhas/vaca/dia. Em especial, a adoção do SOA na propriedade leiteira estudada impactou positivamente no controle dos custos, porém, existem fatores não econômicos responsáveis pela aceitação e satisfação na adoção deste sistema, como razões sociais (melhora da qualidade de vida dos funcionários e do proprietário através da liberdade de monitorar a ordenha à distância sempre que oportuno). Complementarmente, observou-se que propriedades com SOA em fase inicial chegam a níveis de produtividade da mão de obra semelhantes à de propriedades com SOC em alta escala. Portanto, à medida que a propriedade com SOA expande as unidades robóticas, a ponto de chegar próximo à escala de animais de propriedades com SOC, o índice de produtividade da mão de obra de propriedades com SOA torna-se superior. É possível concluir que a adoção do SOA causou alterações em algumas atividades de valor no período de adaptação e após este período. Comparando a propriedade com SOA frente as duas propriedades com SOC 1 e 2, observou-se diversas semelhanças nas atividades de valor de alguns direcionadores de custos, demonstrando que a decisão de optar por este sistema de ordenha vai além de questões econômicas e produtivas, mas também engloba questões sociais (qualidade de vida). / The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of AMS adopting in a dairy farm in the municipality of Castro - Paraná, through the identification and analysis of value activities that influence the "cost drivers" of Porter (1989) and compare with two dairy farms with similar profile, but with the Conventional Milking System (CMS). From this context, this study aims to assess how this technology option supports the development of competitive strategies in dairy farms. It was used the case study method, through semi-structured interviews, consultation with secondary data and direct observation. Analysing the value activities in each cost driver explored at the dairy farm that adopted AMS, It was possible established mainly that: a) there was a reduction of labour via percentage increase in productivity; b) reduced spending on veterinary care of the herd through automatic analysis of milk by the robot at the time of milking, identifying animals with health problems and, c) increased herd productivity through increasing the number of milking per cow per day. In particular, the adoption of AMS in dairy farm studied impacted positively on cost control. However, there are no-economic factors responsible for acceptance and satisfaction in the adoption of this system, as social reasons (improved the life quality of employees and owner through freedom to monitor the milking at distance, where appropriate). In addition, it was noted that dairy farms with AMS in the initial stage achieve to labour productivity levels similar to the dairy farms with CMS on a large scale. Therefore, as the property with AMS expands the robotic units, to the point to get near of the animal scale in dairy farms with CMS, the labour productivity index with AMS dairy farms become higher. It was concluded that the adoption of the AMS caused changes in some value activities in the adaptation period and thereafter. Comparing the dairy farm with AMS face the two dairy farms with CMS 1 and 2, there are some similarities in the value activities of some cost drivers, demonstrating that the decision to opt for this milking system goes beyond economic and production issues, but also includes social issues (quality of life).

Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar o impacto da adoção do SOA em uma propriedade leiteira no Município de Castro - Paraná através da identificação e análise das atividades de valor que influenciam os “direcionadores de custos” de Porter (1989) e comparar com duas propriedades leiteiras de perfil semelhante, porém com o Sistema de Ordenha Convencional (SOC). A partir deste contexto, este trabalho busca avaliar como esta opção tecnológica sustenta o desenvolvimento das estratégias competitivas em propriedades leiteiras. Foi utilizado o método de estudo de caso, através de entrevistas semiestruturadas, consulta a dados secundários e observação direta. Analisando as atividades de valor em cada direcionador explorado na propriedade que adotou o SOA, foi possível estabelecer principalmente que: a) ocorreu redução da mão de obra via aumento percentual da sua produtividade; b) redução de gastos com tratamento veterinário do rebanho através de análise automática do leite pelo robô, no momento da ordenha, identificando animais com problemas sanitários e, c) aumentou a produtividade do rebanho através do aumento do número de ordenhas/vaca/dia. Em especial, a adoção do SOA na propriedade leiteira estudada impactou positivamente no controle dos custos, porém, existem fatores não econômicos responsáveis pela aceitação e satisfação na adoção deste sistema, como razões sociais (melhora da qualidade de vida dos funcionários e do proprietário através da liberdade de monitorar a ordenha à distância sempre que oportuno). Complementarmente, observou-se que propriedades com SOA em fase inicial chegam a níveis de produtividade da mão de obra semelhantes à de propriedades com SOC em alta escala. Portanto, à medida que a propriedade com SOA expande as unidades robóticas, a ponto de chegar próximo à escala de animais de propriedades com SOC, o índice de produtividade da mão de obra de propriedades com SOA torna-se superior. É possível concluir que a adoção do SOA causou alterações em algumas atividades de valor no período de adaptação e após este período. Comparando a propriedade com SOA frente as duas propriedades com SOC 1 e 2, observou-se diversas semelhanças nas atividades de valor de alguns direcionadores de custos, demonstrando que a decisão de optar por este sistema de ordenha vai além de questões econômicas e produtivas, mas também engloba questões sociais (qualidade de vida). / The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of AMS adopting in a dairy farm in the municipality of Castro - Paraná, through the identification and analysis of value activities that influence the "cost drivers" of Porter (1989) and compare with two dairy farms with similar profile, but with the Conventional Milking System (CMS). From this context, this study aims to assess how this technology option supports the development of competitive strategies in dairy farms. It was used the case study method, through semi-structured interviews, consultation with secondary data and direct observation. Analysing the value activities in each cost driver explored at the dairy farm that adopted AMS, It was possible established mainly that: a) there was a reduction of labour via percentage increase in productivity; b) reduced spending on veterinary care of the herd through automatic analysis of milk by the robot at the time of milking, identifying animals with health problems and, c) increased herd productivity through increasing the number of milking per cow per day. In particular, the adoption of AMS in dairy farm studied impacted positively on cost control. However, there are no-economic factors responsible for acceptance and satisfaction in the adoption of this system, as social reasons (improved the life quality of employees and owner through freedom to monitor the milking at distance, where appropriate). In addition, it was noted that dairy farms with AMS in the initial stage achieve to labour productivity levels similar to the dairy farms with CMS on a large scale. Therefore, as the property with AMS expands the robotic units, to the point to get near of the animal scale in dairy farms with CMS, the labour productivity index with AMS dairy farms become higher. It was concluded that the adoption of the AMS caused changes in some value activities in the adaptation period and thereafter. Comparing the dairy farm with AMS face the two dairy farms with CMS 1 and 2, there are some similarities in the value activities of some cost drivers, demonstrating that the decision to opt for this milking system goes beyond economic and production issues, but also includes social issues (quality of life).

The work is focused on the performance of milking robots in the herd's controlled movemement system. The popularity of this method of the milk gaining in the world and in the Czech Republic is increasing every year. The reason is mainly the excellent results in increasing the labour productivity and welfare of dairy cows. For this thesis, a stable building was selected for livestock breeding with the market production of milk using AMS with the controlled movement of the herd.