Descriptive survey of the environmental risk factors of diseases in dairy farms of Fars province: suggestion of a method for quantifying the subjective data

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

    The aim of this study was to describe the environmental risk factors of diseases in dairy farms in Fars province, Iran; and to suggest a method to quantify the data and to simplify their interpretation. In 30 dairy farms the familiarity of the owners with the effects of environmental factors on general health of the herd as well as the major environmental parameters known as predisposing factors of diseases were assessed. These included grouping, the housing area and the qualities of floor and bedding, conditions of mangers and waterers and the facilities for countering heat stress. Only 10% of the studied farms had comprehensive programs (or information) for establishing the general health of the animals. Fifty percent of the farms had rather acceptable groupings. With regards to ventilation of the milking cows' housing 10 percent the studied farms had relatively acceptable conditions. Regarding the housing area, floor and bedding 53.3% and regarding the manger conditions 50% of the farms needed some degrees of modification. Waterers had no problems in 56.7% of the farms while the remainder of the farms needed minor renovations. Neither of the farms had the facilities for effective prevention of heat stress so that 96.7% of them needed moderate-to-high renovations. According to the results, among the studied parameters, ventilation and countering heat stress required the greatest attention. Renovation of the housing conditions for area, floor, bedding and mangers lied in the second line while waterers needed the least renovation. 

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