Formation of highly productive dairy herds as a factor of increasing the milk production efficiency

The purpose of the article is to evaluate the technological level of the heifers rearing in dairy farms Ukraine and an impact of this factor on the dairy farming efficiency. Research methodology. The research has been conducted on the data of the form No.7-mol “Report on the results of boning cattle of dairy and dairy and meat breeds” in 2016, which characterize the level of development of seven specialized dairy and dairy-meat breeds cattle in 271 breeding farms of Ukraine, using statistical methods. Research results. According to the results of the study, it has been substantiated that the economic potential of dairy cattle breeding depends on the observance of optimal parameters of intensive growth, live weight and age of heifers during the first insemination. It has been established that the highest level of milk productivity cows at first calving (up to 8,000 kg of milk for 305 days of complete lactation) was achieved in herds, where the average daily gain of heifers was on 820-850 g in the age of 0-12 months. There has been proved that the observance of the indicated parameters is a prerequisite for the formatting of highly productive dairy herds, in which an increase in milk production efficiency would be achieved by reducing the unproductive costs of heifers' keeping and growing of income volume. Elements of scientific novelty. The present state of the technological level of the heifers rearing in dairy farms of Ukraine and an impact of this factor on the dairy farming efficiency has been investigated. There has been established that the existing level of heifers' repair is not sufficient. In the studied herds, the growth and development rates of a third of young animals do not meet the minimum requirements of the approved standard of dairy cattle breeding. In this regard, it is necessary to deepen the detailed study of measures that will improve the efficiency of organization and management of technological processes in the conditions of breeding farms. Practical significance. By implementing measures for intensive breeding heifers, it is possible to increase the level of milk productivity of herd by 1101-1234 kg, net income from milk sales to 6011-6738 UAH, reduce the unproductive costs for maintaining heifers by an average by 4.8 thousand UAH per a cow. Tabl.: 3. Figs.: 2. Refs.: 14.