Comparative profitability of purebred and crossbred Holstein herds

The objective was to compare the profitability of dual purpose systems (beef and milk) with Holstein crossbred cattle in lowland ecozones with those in highland dairy systems using purebred Holsteins. Data were variable costs for feed, labor, health, and reproduction; gross incomes from milk and beef and records of dairy performance. Profit measures were milk income over feed cost for lactating cows and net margin for all cows (gross income from milk and beef minus variable costs per year). Milk income over feed cost for dairy systems was greater than for dual purpose systems, but this was a misleading profit measure because it ignores beef sales and other costs and relevant animal categories (e.g., dry cows). When these factors were considered, dual purpose systems with crossbred cows (lowest cost) and dairy systems with Holsteins had similar net margins. However, greater profits were indicated for dual purpose systems when the average milk per cow for these systems was considered to earn similar profits, eliminating the concentrate feed subsidy and the preferential exchange rate, beef production, transport costs, and fixed costs of capital. Thus, the most economical production system for Venezuela at this time is dual purpose herds with croosbred cattle in the lowland ecozones

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: 78501 Holmann, F.J., 49215 Blake, R.W., 75598 Hahn, M.V., 46437 Barker, R., 94345 Milligan, R.A., 101120 Oltenacu, P.A., 121468 Stanton, T.L.
Format: biblioteca
Published: 1990
Subjects:GANADO DE LECHE, GANADO DE DOBLE PROPOSITO, SISTEMAS DE PRODUCCION ANIMAL, ANALISIS ECONOMICO, VENEZUELA,
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