Applicability of management tools to the correction of weaknesses in family dairy farms in the Western Amazon

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse the applicability of management tools associated with technical assistance to family dairy farms with the aim of identifying and correcting weaknesses. A total of 100 dairy farms located in the mesoregion of the Acre Valley, in the Western Amazon, were analysed from March 2016 to March 2017. The data used were collected via a semi-structured form containing 549 questions, through on-site observation and from the owners during the diagnosis. To define the weaknesses, a multidisciplinary team used the brainstorming management tool. The main weaknesses obtained using the GUT Matrix, in descending order, were: a lack of drinking fountains, no vaccination of all heifers against brucellosis, low body condition of cows at calving, and a calving interval longer than 12 months. Based on the ranking of the weaknesses, the research team defined the management tools to be used to correct or at least mitigate the weaknesses: PDCA, 5W2H, and/or a fishbone diagram. Among the 20 most graded weaknesses, the management tools used by the extensionist technician obtained significant results in solving the problems. It was concluded that it is possible to adapt and apply the management tools used in other activities to dairy farming and that they can be used continuously for management or specifically to establish a plan or project.

Management tools applied to milk quality in cattle farming in the Western Amazon

“…Nineteen weaknesses were found in the properties, being listed in the GUT matrix in decreasing order by the average of the assigned score (Table 1). According to Reis et al (2019), higher scores indicate the weaknesses that should be prioritized in an attempt to equate or minimize them. This article discusses the points that received the highest score in the GUT matrix, namely: the non-disposal of milk unfit for consumption; incorrect hygiene of facilities, equipment, and utensils; lack of knowledge about good milking practices; and high incidence of mastitis.…”

“…Of these, 83% is composed of smallholder livestock producers, with herds of up to 100 heads. In 2019, state production totaled 42.47 million liters of milk (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística [IBGE], 2019; Reis et al, 2019).…”

“…However, few studies are related to livestock, especially regarding milk quality. In the State of Acre, Reis et al (2019) analyzed 100 dairy farming properties using management tools and observed good results in minimizing failures and increasing profitability.…”

Dairy herd production aspects of family farms in Western Amazon, Brazil

“…The main objective of this practice is to obtain extremely necessary information to plan, monitor, manage, and assist decision-making in any milk production system (E. M. B. Reis et al, 2019). J. N. Santos, Carvalho and Silva, (2006) stated that a barrier for increases in daily milk production and livestock breeding is the lack of information, hindering improvement of zootechnical indexes, which are the basis for a good management planning focused on livestock production effectiveness.…”

Análisis y propuesta de mejora en el proceso de producción de yogur griego de una empresa peruana mediante herramientas Lean (5S)

“…El uso de herramientas lean, como 5S y JIT, junto con metodologias como el Value Street Mapping (VSM), ayudan a indentificar necesidades para lograr dichos enfoques (De Steur et al, 2016). De igual forma, Reis et al (2019) indican que el uso de herramientas como el diagrama de Ishikawa brinda una guía de cómo proceder con la implementación de soluciones. Rahman et al (2010) enfatizan la idea de que el uso eficiente de estas herramientas, junto con un fuerte compromiso y enfoque de parte de los trabajadores, mide el factor de éxito de una compañía.…”