Practices Used by Dairy Farmers to Reduce Seasonal Production Variability

Abstract

The objective of this analysis was to identify the production practices used by farmers to change seasonal production. Production practices included milk production per cow, proportion of cows milking, number of first lactation animals entering the herd, number of cows leaving the herd, number of days to first breeding, and calves born. Farms that participated in a seasonal pricing plan during 1993, 1994, and 1995 decreased production practice seasonality in response to price premiums, which caused a decrease in production seasonality compared to nonparticipating farms. Participating farms showed a preference for adjusting entering first lactation animals and number of calves born, but did make adjustments in other practices as well.

Components of farm milk price behavior in Brazil from 2005 to 2020

“…From October to March (spring and summer), the hottest and rainiest months, the reverse is observed. This seasonality differs in temperate climate countries like the US, in which calving are strategically concentrated in more profitable periods of the year (Oltenacu et al, 1989;Washington et al, 2002;Ferreira et al, 2020). Reducing milk production seasonality would benefit dairy processors and, at least theoretically, would reduce milk price oscillations at the farm level.…”

Distribution of seasonality of calving patterns and milk production in dairy herds across the United States

“…In 2018, the maximum variation in average daily delivery of milk per producer to regulated handlers in each month (compared with the annual average) was 6% in the Pacific Northwest Federal Milk Marketing Order Area and 12% in the Southwest Federal Milk Marketing Order Area. Seasonal changes in milk production across the United States and the world are extensively reported in the literature (for example, Allore et al, 1997;Washington et al, 2002;Ferreira and De Vries, 2015;Bernabucci et al, 2015;Salfer et al, 2019). The distribution of seasonality among herds within states in the United States is not well documented, however.…”

“…This may be useful to management planning and decision-making, because seasonality in calving patterns and milk production changes cash flows throughout the year. Furthermore, seasonality in milk production can result in supply and demand imbalances, which are costly (Washington et al, 2002).…”