Between Bovine Milk Production and Reproduction: the Challenge

Huge differences in dairy milk production can be observed around the world. They can be explained by differences in genetic, nutritional resources and management including the capacities of the farmers and veterinarian to prevent and treat the different pathologies inducing of the wellbeing of the animals. According to the world market of milk production, the challenge of each farm is not only to produce a milk of quality but also to reduce the costs of milk production by improving reproductive performances. Anywhere in the world we are responsible to encourage and develop a sustainable approach of milk production and agriculture development according to his three pillars: environment, economic and social. Our presentation will present (1) the mains figures about the milk production in the world, (2) the definitions and prevalence of the different periods involved in the reproductive life of a cow, (3) the nutritional, genetic and pathological factors involved in the milk production on general and more specifically in reproduction (dystocia, placental retention, uterine infections, postpartum anoestrus), the relationships between these factors: the state of art of the definition, methods of diagnostic state of art of the main reproduction pathologies (dystocia) affecting the dairy cows during the waiting and reproduction periods. 1. What are the main figures about the milk production in the world? In three key words: production, consumption, organization World milk production has increased during the last three decades by more than 50 percent. Milk production in the world was in 2013 estimated at 782 billion kgs, 13% buffaloes and 83 % being produced by cows, 13 % by buffaloes and 4 % by goats and. They are 269 million dairy cows around the world. Respectively 40,1; 24,4; 12,5;8,7, 6,4, 2,4 and 4,2 % are in Asia, Africa, South America, European Union, Central and North America, Oceania and Russia Ukraine. Huge differences between milk production by continent can be observed. So, Asia, Africa, South America, European Union, Central and North America, Oceania and Russia Ukraine respectively assume 28,4; 5,3; 10,8; 23,8; 18,0; 4,6 and 6,4% of the total dairy cow production (http://www.fil-idf.org). Such differences results from huge differences in the average milk production per cow by continent (2405 kgs on average in the world): 520 kg in Africa, 1704 kgs in Asia, 6627 kgs in European Union and 6772 kgs in Central and North America Fig 1. Distribution of cow and milk production according to the continents More than 6 billion people worldwide consume milk and milk products; the majority of these people live in developing countries. Since the early 1960s, per capita milk consumption in developing countries has increased almost twofold. In 2012, 2,4 billion people consumed milk in the world. In 2025 this figure will be 4,2 billion. Per capita milk consumption (103 kg per capita on average in the world) is quite different according to the countries high (> 150 kg/capita/year) in Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, Europe, Israel, North America; medium (30 to 150 kg/capita/year) in India, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, North and Southern Africa, and low (< 30 kg/capita/year) in Viet Nam, Senegal, most of Central Africa and most of East and Southeast Asia. In South Asia, the consumption of milk and milk products is expected to increase by 125 percent by 2030 (http://www.fil-idf.org ). Milk production systems across world are varied in terms of structure, scale and level of intensification. 47% of the world production are under control of factories (25 factories control 25% of the total milk production). In developing countries, 80% of the milk production is delivered through the informal market (http://www.maisondu-lait.com/fr). Fig 2. Milk production according to the size of herd Recently, Barkema et al. (2015) has published an overview of the evolution of dairy industries in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. In Europe, the end of milk quotas will probably accelerate the increase in the number of dairy cows per farm. In Belgium the number was 34.8 in 2001 and 58.5 in 2010. For comparison, these figures were the Netherlands 51.8 and 78.7 respectively, in France 34.6 and 49.5 and Germany 34.5 and 50.2. Such increase of the farm size is particularly observed in Australia and New Zealand. With the decrease of milk price, the farmers attempt to decrease nonessential (for them) inputs and expenses (like veterinary services and HHM). In different developed countries, the consumers became more aware about welfare. The gap between industry practices and citizen expectations is increasing. It’s necessary to increase studies about the effect of management (tail docking practiced in 48 % of USA dairy farms or tied vs free stalls for example: 38% of tie stall in USA, 72% in Canada, 79% in Switzerland but 8% in Netherlands) on animal welfare (building new tie stall housing was outlawed since 2004 in Norway and 2000 in Europe for “small” herds, zero grazing system is being increasingly questioned). Zero grazing system is also increasingly questioned. More attention is given to pain of animals (dehorning, castration, lameness, mastitis ...). Many changes in technology can be observed. They concern automatic calf feeder for calves, automated milking system (25,000 around the world), automated estrus detection system, used of sexed semen, automated analysis of milk. Many data can be collected but are not routinely used when a management decision needs to be taken. It appears also necessary to reduce the use of antibiotics according to the development of an antibiotic resistance, to reduce also the use of hormones as such as those used for timed artificial insemination and to develop biosecurity in the farms. Anywhere in the world we are responsible to encourage and develop a sustainable approach of milk production and agriculture development according to his three pillars: environment, economic and social (Von Keyserling, 2013). 2. Which factors can influence the milk