PFHBiPM published the results of the assessment of the utility value of dairy cows for 2023. The assessment was carried out in 17,642 barns and included 807,719 dairy cows, which were characterized by a productivity of 9,150 kg of milk with a fat content of 4.08%. (374 kg) and protein 3.43%. (314 kg).
The Polish Federation of Cattle Breeders and Milk Producers has published the results of the assessment of the utility value of dairy cows for 2023. Compared to 2022, the average productivity of the assessed cows increased by 113 kg (1.2%), fat content by 6 kg, and protein content by 6 kg. 5kg.
The total milk yield of cows in Poland in 2023 was 7,596 kg of milk, for assessed cows it was 9,150 kg, and in the case of unassessed cows it was 6,601 kg.
Cow population in Poland in 2023
According to PFHBiPM, the cattle population in Poland in December 2023 was 6,435,520. In turn, the cow population in Poland at that time reached 2,203,940 units (+1.57%), of which 2,068,755 units were cows used for dairy purposes (+1.5%), including 783,851 units covered by the assessment.
The assessment of milk productivity in 2023 was carried out in 17,642 herds and included 807,719 cows, which constitutes nearly 40%. dairy cows in Poland. As we read in the PFHBiPM report, in 2023 there was an increase in the active population of dairy cows (0.5%). Compared to 2022, the increase in the number of cows assessed on a national scale reached approximately 4,000. animals. Territorially, the largest number of cows assessed for milk in 2023 were located in voivodeships specializing in the production of raw material for the dairy industry, i.e. Greater Poland (174,455 pcs.), Podlaskie (149,699 pcs.) and Masovian Voivodeship (144,283 pcs.) . Over the course of the year, the largest increase in the number of cows assessed was recorded in the Wielkopolska Voivodeship (by 3.3% and 5,539 pcs.), while a significant decrease was recorded in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship (by 2.8%, 1,734 pcs. ) and Masovia (by 1.1 percent, 1,639 pcs.).
Average size of herds under assessment
PFHBiPM emphasizes that, according to Central Statistical Office data, in December 2023, as many as 64 percent dairy herds in Poland numbered up to 9 cows, and only 3 percent herds were estimated at over 50 animals.
Invariably, in the case of assessed barns, the largest herd size is recorded in the western and northern Polish voivodeships, i.e. in the Lubusz Voivodeship (120 pcs.), Lower Silesia (98 pcs.), Opole Voivodeship (85 pcs.) and West Pomeranian Voivodeship (66 pcs.).
The average size of the herd assessed in 2023 was 46 animals, an increase of 1.3%. compared to 2022
The structure of herds and population assessed in 2023.
In 2023, there was a decrease in the population and barns with up to 50 animals – 73.1%. stocks under assessment, to large entities – 26.9 percent hence under evaluation.
In 2023, barns with up to 10 animals accounted for only 3.9%. assessed barns, and those with a stocking density of 10-19 animals accounted for 16.3%. The next group, i.e. 20-49 pieces, represented as much as 52.9%. assessed barns. Barns with 50-149 units also constituted a large percentage – 232.3%. Barns with 150-299 units accounted for only 2.4%, while those with 300-499 units accounted for only 0.7%. The smallest share was recorded in groups including barns with more than 500 animals (0.4%) and more than 1,000 animals (0.1%).
Milk production increased by 1.8%. in 2023
The cows assessed (807,719 units) had an average yield of 9,150 kg of milk with a fat content of 4.08%. (374 kg) and protein 3.43%. (314 kg). In total, they produced 7,390,549,306 kg of milk, i.e. 1.8%. more than a year earlier. This represents 55 percent. purchased raw material and 48 percent domestic production of raw milk.
The breed structure of dairy cows will be assessed in 2023.
In Poland, the most popular dairy cattle breeds are still the Polish Holstein-Friesian, both colored varieties, and the Simmental.
In 2023, cows of the Polish Holstein-Friesian breed, black and white, accounted for 85.82%. included in the assessment. Their population amounted to 693,558 pieces.
In turn, cows of the Polish Holstein-Friesian breed, red and white variety, accounted for 3.50%. pieces assessed. Their number was 28,326 pieces.
The third largest breed in 2023 was the Simmental breed (1.24%, 9,986 pcs.).
Crossbreeds without meat breeds accounted for 6.78%. cows assessed (54,801 pcs.)
Milk yield of individual cattle breeds in 2023.
As could be expected, the most productive of the breeds assessed in 2023 was the Polish Holstein-Friesian, a black and white variety. Cows of this breed produced an average of 9,458 kg of milk with a fat content of 4.07%. and proteins 3.43%. As PFHBiPM emphasizes, this breed includes the so-called “record-breaking cows”, which include, among others, belongs to Pohl Sandra from Maciej Pohl’s herd from Greater Poland (milk yield 27,413 kg – 3.03% fat, 3.24% protein).
Second place was taken by the Polish Holstein-Friesian breed, a red and white variety. Last year, its assessed representatives produced an average of 8,418 kg of milk with a fat content of 4.16%. and proteins 3.44%.
Montbeliarde cows had slightly lower productivity. Their average yield was 8,183 kg of milk with a fat content of 4.07%. and proteins 3.51%.
Average milk yield of the PHF-HO breed in 2023.
According to the report, the highest efficiency of the PHF-HO breed in terms of production of kilograms of milk, exceeding 9.4 thousand. kg of milk, i.e. the average yield for this breed, was characteristic of cows from eight voivodeships. These are the provinces
- Lubuskie (10,994 kg),
- Opole Voivodeship (10,838 kg),
- Lower Silesia (10,752 kg),
- Greater Poland Voivodeship (10,046 kg),
- Silesian (10,014 kg),
- West Pomeranian Voivodeship (9,940 kg),
- Lesser Poland Voivodeship (9,623 kg) i
- Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship (9,530 kg).
Reproductive performance of cows in 2023
According to the information presented in the report, the age of the first calving in 2023 was 800 days (+2 days y/y), and the length of the inter-calving period was 420 days (-2 days y/y). The average interpregnancy period lasted 137 days (no change y/y). The average length of pregnancy in 2023 was 278 days (no change y/y). The length of the dry period is 56 days (-1 day y/y).
