THE ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF PRODUCTIVE LIFETIME IN DAIRY CATTLE BREEDING

JOSZSEF HORVATH, ZSANETT TÓTH, EDIT MIKÓ

Abstract


Breeding dairy cows are profitable if milk and beef income exceed the total costs including materials, labour, housing, maintenance and other expenses over the cow’s lifetime. Profitability of dairy herd is determined mainly by milk yield per lactation and the length of cow productive life which in intensive production system often does not exceed three lactations. Data were collected for 17 years from 2000 to 2016 from a dairy cattle farm in South-Hungary.  Results from farm data as well as model calculations are reviewed to indicate some crucial features concerning longevity in dairy cattle breeding. From the farm data gathered the level of production is measured in separate phases of the lactation. The strongest correlation between the total milk yield and the productive lifetime was observed in the first phase (0-100 days) of the lactation. One day increase in productive lifetime resulted from 19.32 to 29.34 kg increasing of milk yield. From economic viewpoint it is an interesting question when is the point in the lactation the cows fall out of production.

Keywords


dairy cow economy; culling rate; productive lifetime; break-even point

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References


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LUCRĂRI ȘTIINȚIFICE MANAGEMENT AGRICOL

ISSN print 1453-1410
ISSN online 2069-2307
(former ISSN 1453-1410, E-ISSN 2069-2307)

PUBLISHER: AGROPRINT Timisoara, Romania
PAPER ACCESS: Full text articles available for free
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Banat`s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Michael I of Romania” from Timisoara
Faculty of Management and Rural Tourism
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