Operational organization and management of milk production in larger stocks as exemplified by the Gorlsdorf dairy farm

Milk production in larger stocks demands a heaped measure of know-how for cost management. Large agricultural enterprises work as a rule with greater outside capital and mismanagement here has more serious consequences than on smaller farms. On the other hand, large farms have much more opportunity to rationalize. It is shown how three cooperators manage to deal with 1750 dairy cows and 1900 head of followers in one turn. Personal responsibility, delimitation of functions and exact rates are much more effective stimuli to cooperators to perform than any hatched remuneration system. To exhaust the dairy cows' production potential it is indispensable to improve the cows' comfort, to adjust feeding to the requirements of high-yielding cows and to offer drinking water of excellent quality. Relevant possibilities are exemplified. For successful management of larger stocks automatic identification of animals, measuring of their kinetic activities by means of a pedometer and measuring of conductivity of milk are most important tools. In large stocks prophylactic health measures play a decisive part. Schemes of animal hygiene and vaccination as practised at the Gorlsdorf dairy farm are represented.