An examination of labor time-use on spring-calving dairy farms in Ireland
ABSTRACT: The seasonal workload associated with pasture-based dairy farms, combined with increasing herd sizes, has led to a renewed focus on labor time-use and efficiency on dairy farms. The objective of this study was to examine labor time-use on pasture-based dairy farms in the spring and summer...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Dairy Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030222003228 |
| _version_ | 1818247640626757632 |
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| author | C. Hogan J. Kinsella B. O'Brien M. Gorman M. Beecher |
| author_facet | C. Hogan J. Kinsella B. O'Brien M. Gorman M. Beecher |
| author_sort | C. Hogan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT: The seasonal workload associated with pasture-based dairy farms, combined with increasing herd sizes, has led to a renewed focus on labor time-use and efficiency on dairy farms. The objective of this study was to examine labor time-use on pasture-based dairy farms in the spring and summer seasons. A total of 82 spring-calving Irish dairy farms completed the study from February 1 to June 30, 2019 (150 d). Each farmer recorded their labor input on one alternating day each week using a smartphone app. Any labor input by farm workers not using the app was recorded through a weekly online survey. Farms with data for each month (n = 76) were classified into 1 of 4 herd size categories (HSC) for analysis: farms with 50 to 90 cows (HSC 1); 91 to 139 cows (HSC 2); 140 to 239 cows (HSC 3); and ≥240 cows (HSC 4). Total hours of labor input was similar on HSC 1 (1,821 h) and HSC 2 (2,042 h) farms, but predictably as HSC increased further, total hours of labor input increased (HSC 3: 2,462 h, HSC 4: 3,040 h). On a monthly basis, labor input peaked in February (15.4 h/d) and March (15.7 h/d). The farmer worked on average 60.0 h/wk over the duration of the study period. Hired labor and contractors completed a greater amount of work as HSC increased. Labor efficiency, as measured by hours/cow, improved as HSC increased (HSC 1: 26.3 h/cow, HSC 2: 17.7 h/cow, HSC 3: 14.3 h/cow, HSC 4: 10.9 h/cow), though there were large variations in labor efficiency within HSC. Milking was the most time-consuming task, representing 31% of farm labor input making it an important focus for potential improvements in efficiency. The next 5 most time-consuming tasks were calf care (14%), grassland management (13%), cow care (10%), repairs and maintenance (10%), and administration/business (8%). This study contributes to the understanding of labor use during the busiest (most labor demanding) time of the year on pasture-based dairy farms and points to areas where labor efficiency improvements can be made on farms. The considerable variation in farm labor efficiency observed within HSCs emphasizes the necessity for a greater focus on knowledge transfer of methods to achieve improved labor efficiency and a better work–life balance on many dairy farms. As the 2 busiest months on most dairy farms, February and March require the most focus for identification of potential labor savings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T15:07:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-49df4fa6cfdc4766a850418941da347e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0022-0302 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T15:07:55Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Dairy Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-49df4fa6cfdc4766a850418941da347e2022-12-22T00:20:41ZengElsevierJournal of Dairy Science0022-03022022-07-01105758365848An examination of labor time-use on spring-calving dairy farms in IrelandC. Hogan0J. Kinsella1B. O'Brien2M. Gorman3M. Beecher4Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, P61 P302, Co. Cork, Ireland; School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, Ireland; Corresponding authorSchool of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, IrelandTeagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, P61 P302, Co. Cork, IrelandSchool of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, IrelandTeagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, P61 P302, Co. Cork, IrelandABSTRACT: The seasonal workload associated with pasture-based dairy farms, combined with increasing herd sizes, has led to a renewed focus on labor time-use and efficiency on dairy farms. The objective of this study was to examine labor time-use on pasture-based dairy farms in the spring and summer seasons. A total of 82 spring-calving Irish dairy farms completed the study from February 1 to June 30, 2019 (150 d). Each farmer recorded their labor input on one alternating day each week using a smartphone app. Any labor input by farm workers not using the app was recorded through a weekly online survey. Farms with data for each month (n = 76) were classified into 1 of 4 herd size categories (HSC) for analysis: farms with 50 to 90 cows (HSC 1); 91 to 139 cows (HSC 2); 140 to 239 cows (HSC 3); and ≥240 cows (HSC 4). Total hours of labor input was similar on HSC 1 (1,821 h) and HSC 2 (2,042 h) farms, but predictably as HSC increased further, total hours of labor input increased (HSC 3: 2,462 h, HSC 4: 3,040 h). On a monthly basis, labor input peaked in February (15.4 h/d) and March (15.7 h/d). The farmer worked on average 60.0 h/wk over the duration of the study period. Hired labor and contractors completed a greater amount of work as HSC increased. Labor efficiency, as measured by hours/cow, improved as HSC increased (HSC 1: 26.3 h/cow, HSC 2: 17.7 h/cow, HSC 3: 14.3 h/cow, HSC 4: 10.9 h/cow), though there were large variations in labor efficiency within HSC. Milking was the most time-consuming task, representing 31% of farm labor input making it an important focus for potential improvements in efficiency. The next 5 most time-consuming tasks were calf care (14%), grassland management (13%), cow care (10%), repairs and maintenance (10%), and administration/business (8%). This study contributes to the understanding of labor use during the busiest (most labor demanding) time of the year on pasture-based dairy farms and points to areas where labor efficiency improvements can be made on farms. The considerable variation in farm labor efficiency observed within HSCs emphasizes the necessity for a greater focus on knowledge transfer of methods to achieve improved labor efficiency and a better work–life balance on many dairy farms. As the 2 busiest months on most dairy farms, February and March require the most focus for identification of potential labor savings.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030222003228dairy farm laborlabor efficiencytime-useseasonality |
| spellingShingle | C. Hogan J. Kinsella B. O'Brien M. Gorman M. Beecher An examination of labor time-use on spring-calving dairy farms in Ireland Journal of Dairy Science dairy farm labor labor efficiency time-use seasonality |
| title | An examination of labor time-use on spring-calving dairy farms in Ireland |
| title_full | An examination of labor time-use on spring-calving dairy farms in Ireland |
| title_fullStr | An examination of labor time-use on spring-calving dairy farms in Ireland |
| title_full_unstemmed | An examination of labor time-use on spring-calving dairy farms in Ireland |
| title_short | An examination of labor time-use on spring-calving dairy farms in Ireland |
| title_sort | examination of labor time use on spring calving dairy farms in ireland |
| topic | dairy farm labor labor efficiency time-use seasonality |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030222003228 |
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