Estonian Cows Have High Productivity, Low Health
Estonian cattle give twice as much milk as they did 15 years ago, but adverse factors such as feeding regulations largely unchanged since the 1980s have caused the average cow's lifespan to drop by one lactation period, an industry expert has said.
Agriculturalist Pilleriin Puskar wrote in Maaleht that the Estonian Holstein cattle have higher productivity in exchange for low fertility and a higher chance of developing a mastitis or other health problems.
Improper upkeep and feeding are said to be the main issues. Increasing the feed quality by five percent would result in the average cow producing an additional ton of milk in her lifetime.
However, dairy farmers' first priority is said to be reducing production costs. Changes to current farming practices are not easy to implement since devotion, reliable research and regular analysis are required to better the cattle health conditions, Puskar wrote.
Farmers who have cattle with low lifespans are subject to the price volatility of the dairy market and have to utilize make-shift solutions to stay afloat, she wrote.