Investigation of awareness in dairy cow feeding, nutrition of transition period and production of dairy cows in the province of Elaziğ

This study was carried out based on the data provided by the Elazığ Cattle Breeding Union about cattle facilities, number of which represents approximately 60% of the facilities with equal or more than 20 head of dairy cow in Elazığ and its towns. Many factors including authorized personnel's consciousness and condition of transitions period feeding practice, distribution of the race of dairy cow, feed inventory, fertility of the cows, the condition of cow's feeding in the lactation period, reproduction of the cattles, disease conditions which are frequently seen and other conditions about the cattles and cows' facilities which are in Elazığ. In the investigation, all the facilities were visited by expert animal nutritionist's to carry out face-to face interview. Feed and milk sample were gathered from the farms for analysis. The people who are in charge of feeding were the owner and family members together in 67,5% of the facilities at the feeding it is observed that the 73% of the responsible person had elementary school diploma or less. It is determined that 65% of these people had experience more than 10 years while 35% were less than 10 years. However it is also proved that the responsible people's proportion of participating scientific activities for updating themselves about feeding cattle were 30%. The 83,4% of the activities that these people attended for updating were meetings which are organized by fairs, factories and the unions of producers. It is concluded that the 77.5% of the administrators could not have any service of counseling about animal nutrition and those who take such service, they for this service. The reasons of not taking counseling service are; insufficient veterinarians (42%), lack of knowledge about where to take counseling service, and not being informed and thinking it is unnecessary (35%), and seeing themselves qualified and sufficient (23%). Production of milk during the lactation season (kg/day/animal),weight and feed that they consumed and feed names and quantities (kg/day/animal) are not recorded regularly in the establishments. The knowledges about this issue were determined to be estimation. Daily milk production of cows in the facilities were 12-15% kg in 32.5%, 16-20 kg in 52.5%and >21 kg in 15%. The composition of the samples of milk which were taken from the facilities were dry matter (KM), fat, protein and level of urea were determined as 52.5% = 11.6%-12.5 %, 77.5% = 2.5%-3.5%, 40% = 3.3%-3.5%, 80% = 10-20 mg/dl, respectively. It is determined than the calve of cows is more common at the age of 24 months in facility which is followed. It is obvious that the space between two calves is 12 and 13 months in 57.5% of facilities. Transition period is applied at the whole facilities which were investigated. It is determined that quantities of bait and needs of the animals given to animals, according to milk products and the animals weight in 47.5% of the facilities. Additionally the proportion is found of people who gave bait to the animals at the same proportion is 20% and those who look dairy products and according to it decrease or increase the bait is 15%. The administrators are feeding their animals 2 or 3 times a day, especially in summer and winter. %92.5 of the facilities are applying group feeding to the animals. Wheat straws are given to animals in all facilities. It is understood that the wheat straw are given to animals after grinding in the machine in 84% of facilities. There is dry weed at 70% of the facilities, and it is concluded that the dry weeds are given to animals chopping at the 64% of the facilities. It is determined that the wet trefoils are given to the animals by the shape of their being reaped without being withered, at the 62.5% of the facilities. It is proved that 87.5% of the facilities are using the silaj more in winter. In summer season, among the baits which are given to the animals, it is determined that there are wheat straw in 95%, mixed bait in 87.5% (factory bait), puree of barley - wheat in 75% trefoil in 72.5% scuff in 60% and maize in 35% of the facilities. However in winter season, it is determined that there are wheat straw in 95% and mixed bait in 95% (factory bait), puree of barley-wheat in 82.5%, trefoil in 52.5%, scuff in 65% and maize in 87.5% used, of the facilities. It is determined that, all the wheat straws are smaller than 5 cm. Yet the wheat straws that are used and its 2% is bigger than 2.5 cm, 34% is bigger than 1 cm, 25%, is bigger than 0.5 and its 18% is bigger than 0.3 cm but its 21% is smaller than 0.3 cm and it has a size as the same as particuls. It is observed that the dry trefoil is which is given by chopping, 60% is bigger than 5 cm but the fig's 46% is bigger than 5 cm. It is determined that the maize particle size in all facilities is smaller than 5 cm, the maize, which is used, 6% is bigger than 2.5cm its 57% is bigger than 1 cm, its 30% is bigger than 0.5, its 6% is bigger than 0.3 cm, and its 1% is smaller than 0.3 cm. It is determined that the samples of bait and ingredients of urea which less are taken from the facilities are than about 2% in 97.5% and 1.5% in 85.8%. It is determined that the level of KM, HP and NEL according to standards of NRC of the animals rations, is 45% low, 55% high, 42.5% low, 57.5% high and 22.5% low, 77.5% high respectively. While the health problems, which are seen at the facilities are at the first rank by the frequency of being seen at the 60% of the facilities. Other problems, follow such as too much artificial insemination in 47.5%, difficult birth, or calve in 35%, foot problems in 25%, hypocalcemia and calf's diarrhea in 22.5% lastly belly inflammation in 15%. As a result, it was determined that the animal owners who were responsible for feeding the dairy cows were not sufficiently trained and did not have basic information regarding the nutrition of dairy cows, they did not keep themselves updated on nutrition as they should be, they did not receive enough consultancy, they did not practice a transmission period feeding in dairy cows, they did not keep appropriate records, and they provided contradictory information and data used for analysis in this study. The owners should be aware of these important deficiencies and take necessary steps to improve these shortcomings. Key Words: Dairy Cow, Awareness In Dairy Cow Feeding, Transition Periods, Level Of Production