Feeding characteristics and milk production of dairy cattle facilities in different climate conditions in Tokat

The aim of this research is to determine the general condition of dairy cattle, animal feeding habits and milk yield in the districts of Merkez, Niksar and Zile, which show different climate transitions in the province of Tokat. In the study, 180 dairy farms in Tokat province were visited. Questionnaires were asked to the owners of the enterprises in order to determine the general situation of dairy cattle, animal feeding habits and milk yield in Tokat province. In the questionnaire form, general information about the enterprise, calf rearing and feeding, feeding and insemination of heifers, milk yield, care, feeding, milking and diseases were asked. It was determined that 51.1% of the 180 business owners surveyed were primary school graduates and their average age was 47.58. It has been determined that the breeders have been breeding dairy cattle for about 25 years, 28.9% do not have social security, 42.8% have social security, and 28.3% are retired. It has been determined that 14.61% of the farms are bred Holstein, 45.34% Simental, 29.72% Brown and 1.76% domestic cattle. It has been determined that hybrid cattle breeds are preferred in the farms. It was determined that 0-50 lt milk in 83 enterprises, 51-100 lt milk in 65 enterprises, 101-150 lt milk in 19 enterprises, 151-200 lt milk in 7 enterprises, 200 and more milk in 6 enterprises. It has been observed that 99.40% of the enterprises do not employ a Veterinarian or Agricultural Engineer. It was determined that 72.8% of the farms were fed two meals a day, and 50.6% of them were fed before milking. It was observed that colostrum was given to the calves born in the farms, but the delivery times were different. It has been determined that the calves are given 2 meals a day of milk, the weaning age is 3-4 months old in 87.8% of the enterprises, but there are differences according to the districts. It was determined that concentrated feed was given to the calves in all of the farms, and the time of giving concentrated feed for the first time did not differ according to the districts. Again, it was determined that roughage was given to the calves in all of the farms, but the time of giving roughage for the first time differed. It has been determined that the enterprises do not make special feeding according to the yield characteristics and physiological periods of the animals, and the enterprises that do get help from Veterinarians or Agricultural Engineers. It has been determined that mastitis (15%) and difficult birth (13.3%) problems are generally seen in dairy cows. It was determined that 61.7% of the enterprises gave mixed roughage and concentrate feed, the amount of feed was adjusted by eye, and this situation differed according to the districts. It has been determined that roughage and grain feed production is carried out in the enterprises. It was determined that 59.4% of them purchased because the amount of roughage produced in the enterprises was not enough. Considering the incidence of nutritional diseases in animals; 20.6% of the farms had laminitis, 7.2% had milk fever and 1.7% had acidosis. As a result, it was seen that 51.1% of the owners of the businesses surveyed were primary school graduates, and they did not have enough knowledge about cattle care and feeding because they did not feed their animals separately according to their yield and seasonal needs, but randomly fed them. It was observed that they were careful about feeding the calves colostrum, but they did not pay attention to the amount of milk drinking, rough and concentrated feed, and as a result, there were problems in calf development. It has been observed that the desired yield is not achieved in the farms, as the milking cows, pregnant heifers and heifers are fed without paying attention to their nutrition. It is thought that increasing the theoretical and practical training studies on maintenance, feeding, silage making, forage crops production and herd management in order to increase productivity in the enterprises will contribute to the production of the farmers. Keywords: Tokat, Dairy Cattle, Herd Management, Animal Feeding Practices, Feeds, Feeding Practices