The Effects of Calf Births on Working Times of Farm Staff

Abstract

Inthis study, it was aimed to determine the effects of calf births on workingtimes of farm staff. The calf born time groups are planned according to theshift hours of the staff working in the farm, and  this sorting of the shift hours were asfollows: 16:01 - 24:00 for evening, 24: 01-08: 00 for night, and 08:01 - 16:00for daytime. In this study using 262 heads calves,  the effect on the calf birth times of thebreed (Brown Swiss, Holstein Friesian), the sex (male, female), the season(spring, summer, autumn, winter), the dam age (2-4, 5-6, 7+ years), the birthweight (21-35 kg, 36-45 kg, 46-57 kg) and the birth year (2008-2009-2010-2011years) were examined. When the effect of these factors on staff shift hours isexamined; only a statistically significant effect of the breed was found (P< 0.05). The proportions of calf births were 30.2% in the evening shift,42.4% in the night shift and 27.5% in the day shift. In terms of both breeds,calf birth is mostly at night. In terms of other shift hours, it was observedthat Brown Swiss calves were born during daytime (32.9%) and Holstein Friesiancalves were born in evening (35.6%). As a result, farms should arrangeexperienced staff to intervene, especially at night hours. Besides, for farms,it is recommended that the staff is more carrefully selected in the daytimetimes is for Brown Swiss calves and in the evening time for Holstein Friesiancalves.