Abstract
Simple SummaryThis study aimed to evaluate differences and critical factors in production and health management between dairy cattle farms with fixed milk parlours (FMP), and mobile milk systems (MMS) from Azorean grasslands. According to the farmers’ perspective, calf diarrhea, calf pneumonia, infertility/poor reproductive management, and mastitis were the main problems that farms faced in 2020. FMP was associated with more advanced and mechanized production systems, with a higher adherence to preventive and biosecurity control programs, than traditional MMS farms. MMS farms also showed a greater vocation for dual-purpose farming (beef and milk), smaller herd sizes and more grazing time for cows. In conclusion, inherent and non-inherent differences in production and health management between FMP and MMS were quantified by authors. These results indicate that a greater adoption of preventive veterinary medicine and biosecurity measures should be taken, especially among MMS farms. The education of farmers should also be improved and stimulated.The intensification of bovine milk production in the Azores has led farmers to increase farm size and specialization in grasslands, implementing confined and semi-confined production systems. Fixed milking parlours (FMP) have progressively gained more popularity, at the expense of conventional mobile milking systems (MMS). The present study aimed to evaluate the associations between production and health management in dairy cattle farms, with FMP or MMS, in grasslands (São Miguel, Azores), according to the farmers’ perspective. A total of 102 questions about production and health management were surveyed in 105 farms with >30 dairy cows each. Farms with FMP were associated (p ≤ 0.05) with larger herd size, better facilities, and specialized management, however, the adoption of preventive and biosecurity measures should be improved by these farmers. MMS farms implemented a lower level of disease prevention or control programs, less frequent transhumance, and showed a wider vocation to dual-purpose (milk and cross beef) than FMP farms. In conclusion, MMS and FMP farms tried to optimize yield and economic viability in different ways using grasslands. Several biosecurity and health prevention constraints were identified for improvement.
Highlights
The termination of milk quotas in the European Union has led to a more liberal and competitive market, with a more volatile and uncertain milk price [1]
Located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the Azores is an archipelago with 9 islands, with mild temperatures, humidity [26,27], and an abundant rainfall climate with precipitation of 960.6 ± 201 mm per year, with 75% of the precipitation falling between October and March [26,27]
Our study reveals that both Fixed milking parlours (FMP) and milking systems (MMS) have the potential for progress, improving their efficiency and preserving animal welfare, in extensive and intensive production systems
Summary
The termination of milk quotas in the European Union has led to a more liberal and competitive market, with a more volatile and uncertain milk price [1]. Dairy farms are increasing in size with growing efficiency, specialized work, and a higher adoption of preventive measures [2,3,4]. Areas with a mild temperature and sufficient humidity and rainfall, make pasturebased dairy production possible for bovine farms [5]. Several regions worldwide, such as São Miguel Island (Azores) and New Zealand have adopted a “traditional” dairy milk production system, based on pastures with cows grazing during most of the year. Cows are naturally grazing animals, and pastures are their normal environment, where they can express normal behavior, and this theoretically creates the highest welfare level [6,7]. Grazing herds achieve better animal welfare indicators, and a lower prevalence of certain diseases, such as lameness or even mastitis [8,9]
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