| Beef Production of a Dairy Farm
"Milk and beef are the two main products from the dairy farm. Due to the BSE crisis and the related problems in the EU beef sector this study shall estimate the beef output of a dairy farm under different management regimes by using IFCN methods and databases."
Background
information on IFCN and this study”
Aim of the study Milk
and beef are the two main products from the dairy farm. Due to the BSE
crisis and the related problems in the EU beef sector this study shall
estimate the beef output of a dairy farm under different management
regimes by using IFCN methods and databases. What
is IFCN ?
IFCN
means International Farm Comparison Network. The IFCN is a worldwide
association of agricultural scientists, advisors and farmers. What is the IFCN Dairy Report? For
a better understanding of dairy farming worldwide a unique database of
typical farms is created and updated annually. Starting with the 8 main
milk producing countries in 2000. In 2001 we might be able to increase
the number up to 20 countries. Besides the growth of the network the
methods and models used for projection shall be improved permanently. What are the benefits of scientists joining the network? For
participating scientists, joining the IFCN-network is a low input - high
output activity. If you prefer a low
input participation - you provide typical farm data from
your country and in return receive the annual IFCN-dairy report
comparing your farms with the rest of the world. If you prefer a more intensive
co-operation you have the opportunity to join the annual IFCN
meetings, take a model training, receive the models, the databases of
the typical farms used in the network. Can non scientist participate ? The
IFCN offers partnerships to companies of the agribusiness. In this way
these companies can participate in the knowledge (forecasts, background
information, etc.) of the network.
Is IFCN only working in dairy? No
– besides analysing dairy farms the IFCN has done first studies in the
field of crop farming (wheat,
oilseeds and sugar). First steps are done to analyse beef
production farms worldwide. Conclusions
of this case study: Starting
point: A 7500 kg cow with a culling rate of 25% produces 510 kg beef
live weight ( 68 g per kg milk) per year. 27% results from cull cow meat.
73% comes from male calves and heifers that are not used for replacement. Tab. 1: Beef Production of a dairy cow under different scenarios
Determinants
of the beef production from the dairy herd 1.
Milk yield Increasing
only the milk yield from 7500 to 10000 kg can reduce the beef production
by 23% to 55 g/kg milk. 2.
Culling rate Reducing
only the culling rate from 25% to 20% can reduce the beef production by
ca. 2% to 67 g/kg milk. 3.
Sale weight of “surplus calves” Selling
the calves that are not used for replacement of the dairy herd with 40
kg instead with “500 kg/animal” can reduce the beef production by
67% to 22 g/kg milk 4.
Cumulative view – theoretical calculation Increasing
the milk yield to 10.000 kg, reducing the culling rate to 20% and
selling the surplus calves right after birth can reduce the beef
production by 74% to 15 g/kg milk. Tab.
2: Beef production of a dairy cow using under current conditions
Tab.
3 : Beef
production of a dairy cow under a new scenario
05 marzo 2001 |
