CATTLE AND CALF RAISING PRACTICES IN THE EASTERN ANATOLIA REGION: AN EXAMPLE OF CENTRAL COUNTY OF AĞRI PROVINCE

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the farm management, dairy cattle, and calf raising practices of dairy cattle enterprises in the central county of Ağrı province. For this purpose, data were obtained by conducting a face-to-face survey with 400 owners of the enterprises. It was determined that 74.8% of the farmers who participated in the survey kept individual records and 90.0% of the enterprises specifically kept records of artificial insemination and breeding. It was also found out that 93.2% of the farms had their cows artificially inseminated, the insemination was generally performed at the first heat after birth (92.8%), and the majority of the cattle breeders (69.7%) stated that they were pleased from the artificial insemination service. Furthermore, 51.7% of the breeders stated that the cows were dried off spontaneously in their farms. Foot and hoof diseases were determined to be the most common disease (58.4%) in dairy cattle farms. The calves were vaccinated against septicemia (86.0%) and umbilical cord care was applied to calves in the majority of the farms (76.3%). Colostrum feeding lasted for three days in 85.2% of the farms, and the colostrum was fed to calves by suckling their dams (81.7%) or with a bottle (16.5%). As a result of the study, some improper practices were determined in terms of farm management, dairy cattle, and calf raising in the cattle enterprises of the central county of Ağrı province. It was concluded that farmer training activities should be carried out in cooperation with relevant institutions and organizations in order to improve cattle breeding practices in the central county and to carry out more profitable animal husbandry.