Some Factors Influencing Dairy Practice Adoption by Grade A Milk Producers in Selected Tennessee Counties. A Research Summary of a Graduate Study.

A study was conducted to determine the relationships between Grade A dairy producers' milk production levels and size of herd and their use of 21 milk production practices recommended by the University of Tennessee. The population consisted of 405 Grade A dairymen in 42 Tennessee counties. The extension agent in each county interviewed 10 or more dairymen. The 21 recommended milk production practices were classified into groups--herd management, breeding management, forage feeding, and concentrate feeding. Milk production levels were significantly related to 14 of the 21 recommended milk production practices. A significantly greater proportion of the producers in the high than in the low milk production group were using each of the 14 recommended practices. Size of herd was significantly related to 8 of the recommended practices. Size of herd was significantly related to only one group, herd management. Level of milk production was significantly related to the total number of recommended practices used. Size of herd was not significantly related to the total number of recommended practices used. (Author/KM)