Table 3.
Distribution of farm characteristics of 233 Swiss dairy producers who completed the questionnaire.
| Herd characteristics (number of responses) | Median (interquartile range) |
|---|---|
| Number of adult cows (n = 227) | 28 (20–45) |
| Average cow annual milk yield (n = 224) | 7,500 L (6,775–8,500) |
| Number of responses (%) | |
| Regiona (n = 210) | |
| East | 39 (18.6%) |
| Central | 54 (25.7%) |
| West | 117 (55.7%) |
| Production type (n = 230) | |
| Conventional or non-organic label | 193 (83.9%) |
| Organic | 37 (16.1%) |
| Veal calves fattened on the farm (n = 230) | |
| No | 155 (67.4%) |
| Yes | 75 (32.6%) |
| Main WMAb disposal methods used (n = 233) | |
| Manure pit or manure pile | 138 (59.2%) |
| Fed to any calves | 33 (14.2%) |
| Fed to veal calves only | 27 (11.6%) |
| On the ground outside | 15 (6.4%) |
| With wastewater | 12 (5.2%) |
| Other | 8 (3.4%) |
| Person in charge of feeding the calves (n = 231) | |
| The respondent | 109 (47.2%) |
| Someone else | 68 (29.4%) |
| Variable personnel | 54 (23.4%) |
| Proportion of the farm revenues that come from milk production (n = 230) | |
| Less than 25% | 6 (2.6%) |
| 25–50% | 66 (28.7%) |
| 50–75% | 104 (45.2%) |
| More than 75% | 54 (23.5%) |
| Respondents planning to still be active in milk production | |
| In five years | 182/195 (93.3%) |
| In ten years | 168/195 (86.2%) |
| In fifteen years | 147/202 (72.8%) |
| Respondent's gender (n = 231) | |
| Male | 205 (88.7%) |
| Female | 26 (11.3%) |
| Respondent's highest level of education (n = 231) | |
| Secondary school | 2 (0.9%) |
| Professional training | 189 (81.8%) |
| College | 12 (5.2%) |
| University | 28 (12.1%) |
a
East: Ostschweiz, Ticino; central: Nordwestschweiz, Zentralschweiz, Zurich; west: Mittelland, Genferseeregion (30).
b
Waste milk containing antimicrobial residues.