Dairy dissertation

[Cow300]

Hi, currently trying to figure out what my dissertation can be based around for my final year of Uni. I’ve toyed with ideas around SCC, birth weights, colostrum etc.. but no idea where to start.
I’d prefer it to be around the milking herd instead of calves however either Is fine.
Any suggestions would be appreciated
Thanks!

 

[Bald Rick]

How about:

"The mentality of a human who works stupid hours for little reward and no thanks"

I could probably bang out 10,000 words before lunch on that topic

 

[Cows 'n grass]

The effects of inbreeding and crossbreeding in dairy cows.

It's nearly 20 years but scraped me a 2:1 and it's a bargain at £250 if you can't be arsed writing your own.

 

[Jdunn55]

Cow families that shaped the UK holstein

Genetic background of the modern holstein friesian

Is PLI important?

Optimum calving interval for profitability on different yield/systems - should 365 truly be the aim?

 

[Nathan818]

Optimum calving interval for profitability on different yield/systems - should 365 truly be the aim?

I second the calving interval question.

There has been some research suggesting longer lactations can be beneficial for heifers but after that the optimum reduces to 365 again. I'd like to see more research on increasing from 365 to 395 in higher yielding herds.

 

[Jdunn55]

I second the calving interval question.

There has been some research suggesting longer lactations can be beneficial for heifers but after that the optimum reduces to 365 again. I'd like to see more research on increasing from 365 to 395 in higher yielding herds.

I'm almost the opposite actually friesians really don't get going until their second if not third so my aim is to get them back in calf ASAP after calving the first time

I'm currently getting them to calve in with to sexed on their first then they go straight to the bull from them to calve them in ASAP

It's definitely an interesting one without a straight answer

 

[jerseycowsman]

I like the calving interval idea. All problems with cow health occur at or just after calving. So if you calve every 2 years you can cut out a lot of cost. Plus, it seems idiotic to me that these high yielding Holsteins are still doing 40 or 50 litres a day and people are trying to dry them off!

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

I like the calving interval idea. All problems with cow health occur at or just after calving. So if you calve every 2 years you can cut out a lot of cost. Plus, it seems idiotic to me that these high yielding Holsteins are still doing 40 or 50 litres a day and people are trying to dry them off!

Don’t get that problem with friesians. ‍♀

 

[Nathan818]

I'm almost the opposite actually friesians really don't get going until their second if not third so my aim is to get them back in calf ASAP after calving the first time

I'm currently getting them to calve in with to sexed on their first then they go straight to the bull from them to calve them in ASAP

It's definitely an interesting one without a straight answer

I see where you're coming from but I think heifers need the best chance they can get in their first lactation since they're still growing and generally lower in the herd social ranking, so by giving them longer you can make sure to serve them out of negative energy balance. At least that's what the research I've seen suggests, but that was with milky holsteins

 

[DairyNerd]

The effect of length of dry period on many aspects of cow health and fertility (for example, your suggestion of SCC could work).