Examination of Effect of Season on Sustainability of Dairy Cattle Production

Abstract

Purpose of this study was to analyze effect of season on the sustainability of dairy cattle production. In the study energy input/output analysis which is one of the criteria for sustainability is conducted. Study was conducted at a commercial dairy farm, in Burdur Tefenni, which specialized only in dairying and had 175 heads lactating cow during a production year which covered December 15, 2010 through December 15, 2011. At the first visit to the farm a file that recorded milk production for each cow and number of lactating cows was formed and these records were recorded for every day. Since the purpose of the study was to compare sustainability of dairy cattle production in terms of season, seasons were classified as Winter (December to February), Spring (March to May), Summer (June to August) and Autumn (September to November). Cultural energy used for feed for cows was calculated by multiplying each ingredient with corresponding values of ingredients from literature. Transportation energy was also included in the analysis. Total cultural energy expended was similar for winter and spring, and it was higher from that of summer and autumn (P< 0.05). Cultural energy expended for feed constituted more than half of the total cultural energy and was higher for winter and spring (P< 0.05). Cultural energy expended per kg milk and energy efficiency for protein were different for each season and were lowest for summer followed by winter, spring and autumn (P< 0.05). Energy use efficiency differed for each season and was best for summer followed by winter, spring and autumn (P< 0.05). As a result, cultural energy use efficiency differed among seasons and in terms of sustainability this should be considered.

Keywords

• Dairy cattle, season, sustainability, cultural energy

Süt Sığırcılığında Mevsimin Sürdürebilirliğe Etkisinin İncelenmesi

Öz

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Süt sığırcılığı, mevsim, sürdürülebilirlik, kültürel enerji