Statistical optimization and analysis of factors maximizing milk yield

This thesis was conducted to identify the biological and environmental factors affecting milk yield and dry matter intake and to analyze their impact on livestock production. The thesis determined that lactation duration, pregnancy days, age, TMR dry matter content, and environmental conditions (e.g., temperature and humidity) play significant roles in milk yield. Regression analyses revealed that a 1% increase in TMR dry matter content decreases milk yield by 0.9148 liters, while each additional lactation increases daily milk yield by 3.753 liters. Additionally, an increase in lactation days was observed to cause a decline in milk production, and milk yield decreased as the pregnancy duration extended. Furthermore, rising temperatures negatively affected milk production, possibly due to metabolic stress in cows. Regarding dry matter intake, lactation duration and pregnancy days were the most influential variables in determining the dry matter consumed per cow. While dry matter intake decreased as pregnancy progressed, an increase in TMR dry matter content affected consumption positively. As part of the optimization analyses, the most suitable values for independent variables were determined to maximize milk yield while optimizing dry matter intake. The optimal values were calculated: TMR dry matter content at 46.77%, lactation number at 5, lactation days at 6, pregnancy duration at 230 days, cow age at 55,8 months, and environmental temperature at 20°C. The optimal values for dependent variables were 61.145 liters for daily milk yield and 19.033 units for dry matter intake. The prediction intervals provided by the model serve as reference points for future observations, demonstrating that specific biological and environmental factors strongly influence milk production. Based on these findings, it was concluded that optimizing feeding strategies and maintaining suitable environmental conditions are essential for improving milk production efficiency. The optimization model presented in the thesis facilitates the development of more efficient and sustainable feeding strategies in farm management, aiming to increase milk yield while optimizing resource utilization.