Abstract
In order to have a more precise description of dairy farm structure and characteristics of dairy production systems, as well as to assess possibilities for improving production and farming conditions in which milk production is organized, a survey based research was directed at a select group of farms across the Serbia. 1180 questionnaires have been mailed to farmers whose farms are registered for either cattle or mixed production. Questionnaire was divided into 6 sections: general information of the farm, agricultural and structural information, zootechnical information, sanitary and veterinarian information, information about education and extension, and information on the perspectives of future farming. About 59% of analyzed farms have size up to 20 ha, with average size of about 10 ha. On the other hand, about 55% farms raises up to 15 cows and heifers with average of 6 heads per farm, while 3% of farms have more than 200 cows and heifers. Over 86% of surveyed farmers intend to expand existing farm production, mainly by increasing the number of animals, stricter selection and improvement of the conditions for feeding, housing, care and milking. About 75% of farmers have expressed a positive expectation from future membership of Serbia in EU, although these expectations are not clearly defined.
Highlights
Dairy cattle production has traditionally been one of the most important branches of livestock production in Serbia
In order to have a more precise description of dairy farm structure and characteristics of dairy production systems, as well as to assess possibilities for improving production and farming conditions in which milk production is organized, a survey based research was directed at a select group of farms across the Serbia. 1180 questionnaires have been mailed to farmers whose farms are registered for either cattle or mixed production
For the success of any dairy farm optimization program or improvement of dairy cattle production parameters, it is necessary that the farmers are interested in such a thing, and are ready to apply some new solutions on their own farms
Summary
Dairy cattle production has traditionally been one of the most important branches of livestock production in Serbia. Since the first official Simmental cattle imports in the second half of the nineteenth century until today it has passed through various stages of development. Despite several decades of development, the current state of dairy cattle production in Serbia is not completely satisfactory. The production of milk is done with a significantly reduced number of cattle. A negative trend has been visible, for more than two decades, in the numbers of cattle and all forecasts indicate that this tendency will continue in the future. The situation is aggravated by the existence of a large number of non-commercial, mostly elderly households, with poor equipment and motivation, with which it is not possible to organize an efficient production, or make any long-term production plans (Perišić et al, 2011; Perišić et al, 2006)
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