Die Bodenkultur - Journal for Land Management, Food and Environment

M. Greimel and A. Steinwidder:

Economic optimal lactation period under varying levels of milk performance on the basis of a model calculation

Summary

The aim of this paper was to look at the influence of lactation period on profitability in milk production under different levels of milk performance. A model was set up using seven different calving intervals between 327 and 451 days open. After subtracting 60 days of dry period that leads to 267, 288, 309, 330, 351,372 and 393 days in milk. Profit was calculated for three different levels of milk production, respectively 5000, 7000 and 9000 kg of milk per 305 days of standard lactation. As a result shorter days of lactation (267 respectively 288 days) lead to a decline in profitability, Assuming optimal conditions of management and fertility, an extension of days in milk clearly improved the economic efficiency of the enterprise. The increase in profit was more significant under a higher compared to a lower production level. An extension of days in lactation due to bad management or problems in fertility lead to a strong decrease in profitability. Key words:  lactation period, profitability, dairy cows, milk performance.