ESTUDIO TÉCNICO-ECÓNOMICO DE UN GRUPO DE FINCAS El caso de las fincas lecheras de doble ordeño en el Valle de Aroa

Abstract

The present study consists of the characterization and analysis of a group of farms in which the production system used includes twice daily milking, high grade european crossbred cows and supplementary feeding with grazing. The natural environment is described on the basis of existing literature. The area is situated in the humid tropics at between 40 and 250 m above sea level, in the valley of the Aroa River, which covers approximately 300000 hectares. The socioeconomic situation is determined by the local authority responsible for an integrated rural development process. Five types or subsystems of the dairying are described, using original information: dairying with calf rising; dairying with young stock rising; dairying with steer fattening; dairying with cheese production and dairying in combination with crop production. Data are presented for each of these subsystems as well as for the farms altogether. Information is given on the location of the farms, years since foundation (over twenty years), the farmers education (over eight years of schooling), their age (over fifty years); the resources available (average 161 hectares); labor (mean 3098 working days per year) and capital investment (7.13 million bolivars). Average production amounts to 232.000 liters of milk per farm, 2496 liters per cow in the herd per year and 6.8 liters per cow in the herd per day. Total, fixed and variable costs are calculated and various methods are used to calculate costs per liter of milk produced which range from 1.98 to 6.47 bolivars, according to the method used. The mean net utility ranges from -8000 to 705000 Bs/farm, depending whether or not a 10% interest rate on the capital investment is charged. Mean profitability was 9.7% (as capital income in relation to mean capital investment) and net cash income was 941000 Bs. In 1986 1 $ USA = 17.32 Bs. Rafael Isidro Quevedo Camacho ESTUDIOS TÉCNICOS-ECONÓMICOS DE UN GRUPO DE FINCAS. El caso de Las Fincas lecheras de doble ordeño en el Valle de Aroa A principal components analysis was carried out, which demonstrated the importance of size, productivity and intensity, administration and management, year of foundation, degree of specialization, family participation, location and animal production indices. Farms were then classified into three and five categories, based upon which a comparative study of groups was carried out. "Key points" were established for the best farms, both large and small, which could be used for technical assistance and development purposes. Finally, an economic analysis was made of the efficiency of production which showed that the farms should continue to increase the area of land devoted to pastures and to intensify the use of all inputs, apart from concentrate feeds. At present, they are close to the point of maximum efficiency with respect to stocking rate and slightly above the level which is economically recommendable with respect to the use of concentrate supplements (.86). The results obtained permit a series of recommendations which are made throughout the study. It is concluded that the production system, which is considered to be semi-intensive, is consistent and viable. It allows a duplication of the national average levels of production under tropical conditions which are usually considered to be difficult for this model of milk production, it is pointed out that this experience constitutes a demonstration of a semi-intensive production system, with reasonable economy in the use of resources and an increased productivity per hectare and per animal. Key words: dairying, system, resources, productivity, profitability, efficiency, analysis, components, models.