ANALYSIS OF PRODUCTION PROGRESS IN SELECTED DAIRY HERDS IN TERMS OF ASSESSMENT OF UTILITY VALUE. PART 1. ANALYSIS OF THE PROGRESS OF PRODUCTION IN MILK YIELD, INCLUDING MILK YIELD, PROTEIN PERCENTAGE AND FAT PERCENTAGE AND THEIR MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP
Authors:   Institute of Zootechnics and Fisheries University of Siedlce, Siedlce, Poland, SOCHA Stanisław , POROWSKI Kamil ,   Institute of Zootechnics and Fisheries University of Siedlce, Siedlce, Poland, KOŁODZIEJCZYK Dorota ,   Institute of Zootechnics and Fisheries University of Siedlce, Siedlce, Poland
Published: December 2024

The purpose of the study was to analyze the production progress in selected dairy cattle
herds included in the performance evaluation. The study analyzed production traits such as milk yield,
percentage fat, percentage protein, somatic cell count, urea content in milk and the following sources of
variation: year of study, month of year and herd, in addition, the fat-protein ratio and energy corrected
milk (ECM) and fat corrected milk (FCM) indices were calculated over 21 years in the herds included
in the analysis. In addition, the study took into account the most important aspects of dairy farming
and breeding, which can include: behavior, nutrition, welfare, milking systems, and the functional types
of cattle and the breeds belonging to them.Analysis of variance for production traits showed that all
sources of variation (year of study, month of year, herd) had a statistically high effect on the traits
evaluated (milk yield, percent fat, percent protein, somatic cell count, urea content fat-protein ratio, and
FCM and ECM indices). An analysis of variance was also conducted for interactions: month × herd,
year × month and year × herd.Least-squares means and standard deviation were calculated for the
analyzed traits in successive study years and months of the year by herd. Detailed results of the analyzed traits by study year and herd and month and herd are presented in line graphs. Summarizing
the results of the analyses, it can be said that all the analyzed herds showed significant production
progress in basic traits such as milk yield, fat and protein percentages. It should be noted that the
number of somatic cells was characterized by significant fluctuations, which may indicate a significant
influence of the environment on this parameter. However, it should be emphasized that during most of
the study period, the number of somatic cells was definitely within the specified norms.Improvement of
milk yield in herds was achieved as a result of changes in cow breeding technology. The introduction
of a change in the herds’ feeding system from traditional to total mixed ration (TMR) feeding resulted
in an improvement in both milk yield and milk quality composition. The production results obtained in
these herds are of great application importance. Therefore, it is recommended to implement modern
technological systems in the form of the TMR feeding system in dairy cattle herds.Dairy performance
in the selected cow herds has increased over the analyzed period of 21 years. This testifies to properly
conducted breeding work, thanks to which there was an increase in production in these herds.