Effect of calving rate of cows and early calfhood mortality on the profitability of dairy farming

Abstract

A simulation procedure was used to analyze the effect of calving rate and early calfhood mortality rate on the economic efficiency of dairying operation with a theoretical 68-cow herd, under two scenarios of more and less favorable conditions of husbandry and technological level (assuming 98.13 vs. 80.0% calving rate and 7 vs. 12% calf mortality, respectively). During the rainy summer season, the cows were kept at pasture, while during the dry winter season they were confined and fed sugarcane with NPN addition (urea and ammonium sulphate). Supplementation with concentrates was at the rate of 1 kg per 3 kg of milk yield above 5 kg daily). To obtain reference information use was made of the herd of F1 Holstein x Gir cows of the Felixlândia Experimental Farm (FEFX). Data on inventory, expenditures, revenues, and other details were registered in Custo Bovino Leite 1.0 software for economic analysis. This software includes the classical methodology of total production costs, which involve fixed and variable costs, and operating costs. Under conditions of low technology level and mediocre husbandry, the low calving rate decreased the number of lactating cows and, thus, the volume of milk sold. The high calf mortality resulted in fewer weaned calves sold. A series of interconnected factors was shown to decrease profitability under the less favorable scenario.