INITIAL OBSERVATIONS ON PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN HERDS OF DAIRY COWS OF CONSERVED AND HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE BREEDS

Cattle of conserved breeds are more resistant, healthier, and more adaptable to unfavour- able environmental conditions, with less rigid feed requirements. In contrast, cattle of highly productive breeds are more sensitive to deviations in environmental conditions and therefore are assumed to re- quire a wider range of preventive actions. The aim of the study was to present the differences and simi- larities in the use of preventive measures in herds of cattle of conserved and high-yielding breeds. The data for the study were collected by means of an Internet survey. A total of 150 responses from dairy cattle farmers were obtained, from four producer groups. Statistical analysis of the results was per- formed by the chi-squared test. It was concluded from the responses that farmers raising high-yielding breeds more often make use of prophylactic tools such as regular veterinary and zootechnical checks, microclimate measurements, TMR and PMR feeding systems, balancing of feed rations, feed quality testing (especially haylage and maize silage), and use value assessment. However, high-yielding cows had access to pasture much less often than cattle of breeds included in a genetic resources conservation programme. Breeding progress is important in the development of a breeding farm, and therefore farmers should be aware of the value of genetic and cytogenetic testing as additional tools broadening the range of preventive measures that could improve the genetic pool in the dairy cattle population in Poland.