Dairy goat husbandry amongst the household agriculture: herd and economic indexes from a case study in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

-Two dairy goat systems conducted according to the household model were evaluated in terms of income generation. An enterprise budget analysis was performed using data collected from August, 2004, to July, 2005. Farms named A and B were smallholdings and raised Saanem goats intensively. Herd indexes, incomes, taxes, fuel, energy, concentrates, opportunity costs and interest in capital were computed. Net present value and internal rate of return were estimated to appreciate the business appeal in terms of income generation. Herd indexes were mostly affected by management decisions interfering on the amounts and time-trends related to milk production. Seasonal variation was reduced at unit B due to heat induction, a decision not shared by farmer A. The daily body weight gain of doelings after weaning (89 and 76 g/d for A and B) was low if compared to current recommendations. Average records of lactation (441 and 606 L/doe) and fertility (86.95% and 85.71%) were amongst the literature range. Daily tasks related to unit B consumed 5 hours and 55 minutes for an average milk production of 40.9 L/d, whereas 8 hours and 16 minutes on average were daily spent at unit A in order to produce 32.2 L/d. Unit B presented a total production cost (R$ 0.79548/L) lower than unit A (R$ 1.50239/L), but operated profitably. Unit A presented a positive gross margin (R$ 0.284/L), but operated unprofitably. The income generated on B was equivalent to a monthly salary of R$ 732.96 (US$ 278.52), a competitive income compared to the Brazilian minimum wage of R$ 300.00 (US$ 114.00) paid monthly. These results corroborate the hypothesis that the dairy goat husbandry fits adequately to the household production model and generates income competitively.Key Words: agribusiness, enterprise budget analysis, family labour A caprinocultura leiteira na agricultura familiar: índices zootécnicos e econômicos de um estudo de caso no estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil RESUMO -Dois sistemas de produção de caprinos leiteiros praticados de acordo com o modelo familiar foram avaliados quanto à geração de renda. Um teste para verificação de viabilidade econômica do empreendimento foi executado utilizando-se dados coletados de agosto de 2004 a julho de 2005. As fazendas, denominadas A e B, eram pequenas propriedades produtoras de cabras Saanem em sistema intensivo. Índices de rebanho, rendas, impostos, combustível, energia, concentrado, custos de oportunidade e capital de interesse foram computados para estimação da renda líquida e da taxa de retorno do capital para avaliação do quanto o negócio pode ser atraente em geração de renda. Os índices de rebanho foram afetados significativamente pelas decisões tomadas pelos administradores e interferiram sobre as quantidades e tendências relacionadas à produção de leite. Na unidade B, a variação sazonal reduziu com a indução de cio, uma prática não realizada na unidade A. O ganho de peso diário das cabritas após a desmama (89 e 76 g/dia para A e B) foi baixo em comparação às recomendações atuais. As médias dos...

Technical efficiency of goat farming in Turkey: a case study of Isparta province

“…Also, 21.74% of farms used only grazing and did not use supplemental feed. Vieira et al (2009) calculated milk yield as 441 and 606 L/goat and fertility was 86.95% and 85.71% in two types of goat farms in Brazil. In this study, milk yield was 62.12 L/goat and fertility was calculated as 108.89%.…”

Simulation of diets for dairy goats and growing doelings using nonlinear optimization procedures

“…This activity can produce enough wealth to the succession of the family business, which is an important tool for generating jobs and income (Vieira et al, 2009), mainly in the state of Rio de Janeiro, because of its unique goat milk production systems that favor the development of special products for specific markets (Santos Junior et al, 2008). Therefore, the control of production costs is mandatory.…”

“…The productive animal must be fed properly to express its genetic potential, and feeding represents a high proportion of the total production costs. In two small dairy goat production systems in Northwestern Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, 41 to 73% of the total effective operating costs consisted of concentrates (Vieira et al, 2009). Least-cost optimization procedures are used to find the most suited combination of foods that meets animal requirements (Agrawal and Heady, 1972).…”

Long-term growth of body, body parts and composition of gain of dairy goat wethers

“…Otherwise, smaller time-trend effects jeopardise inferences regarding asymptotic estimates at maturity (Strathe et al 2010). The definition of the asymptotic growth phase is crucial to establish the weight and its variability at maturity, particularly for vertical production systems that host breeding categories such as replacement doelings, as is the case in some goat dairying systems (Morand-Fehr & Sauvant 1988;Santos Júnior et al 2008;Vieira et al 2009). The sexual condition (Strathe et al 2010) and breed (Regadas Filho et al 2014) are additional determinant effects of growth trajectories.…”