Dairy cattle nutritional practices in member farms of cattle breeder's association of Sivas province

It is aimed to produce some solutions related with the problems take placed in dairy cattle farms which are the members of Cattle Breeder's Association of Sivas such as structural situations, general information of farms, educational status, in barn conditions, forage production and storage, socio-economical status of farmers, level of knowledge on dairy cattle nutrition and how can accelerate to production levels. Public survey is carried out face to face with 133 selected farmers randomly. Obtained datas is analyzed with SPSS statistical software. Poll results showed that most of farms are small and medium sized family enterprises and 97 % of breeders have not any educational diplomas. Dairy cattle are on the pasture around for 5 months. 23.3 % of farms have no milking system and milking manually, 60.9 % of farms have portable milking system. In spite of many of farmers have enough arable lands, it is observed that lack of silage production and cultivation of crop feeds. It is clearly seen that one and only roughage source is hay. Both high and low producer dairy cattle are fed with similar diet and, 99.25 % of farmers preferred same amount of feed during the whole lactation period. Therefore, it is observed that dairy cattle are not fed with convenient feeding schedules. It can be concluded that educational activities related to farm management, nutrition, breeding, silage production, roughage production and herd management courses, not only theoretical but also in practical, will help either buildup personal knowledge or production levels. Key words : Sivas, Dairy Cattle, Nutritional Practices, Feeds