Production Cost of Calves in a Breeding System With Nellore Heifers Mated Between 12 and 17 Months of Age

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the cost of calf production in a beef cattle breeding system with mated Nellore heifers from 12 to 17 months of age. It was also intended to identify the components that exerted greater influence on the operational costs of the activity. The evaluation of the was considered from the weaning of the heifers in June 2019 until May 2021, when the calves of these heifers were weaned. For profitability analysis, gross revenue, total operating cost and economic indicators such as operating profit, profitability index and leveling point were considered. The items that exerted the greatest influence on the costs of the activity were food with 65.85% and labor with 19.45%, however, a profitability index of 18.64% was obtained, indicating that the livestock activity of raising of Nelore calves, developed in the analyzed production system, is profitable. The economic analysis of livestock is a fundamental tool for management and decision making, as well as for profitable and efficient production.