Assessment of milk production competitiveness of the Slovak Republic within the EU-27 countries

Abstract

Raw cow milk represents one of the most important commodity in the agricultural market. Th e Slovak agro-food foreign trade is characterized by a substantial increase in the commodity trade, monitoring of competitiveness is therefore very important. Th e aim of the article was to evaluate the current situation of breeding processes in the cattle production with focus to the raw cow milk production and dairy products; and to compare the competitiveness of the domestic supply with the EU-27 countries. To quantify the evaluation of competitiveness, mathematical and statistical methods were used. Indicators of the exposed comparative advantage (RCA); the competitiveness growth index (RCA 1); the net trade performance index (RCA 2); the indicator of relative import penetration (RMA); the indicator of relative export advantages (RXA); and the indicator of relative business advantages (RTA) were calculated. Th e research of the foreign trade competitiveness parameters of the aggregated group Milk (RCA, RCA 1, RCA 2, RMA, RXA; and RTA) showed that the Slovak Republic has a comparative advantage among the EU-27 countries in the commodity 0401 (milk and cream, not concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweeteners), in all other monitored commodities, a comparative disadvantage was determined. Based on the research, the ideas and recommendations for the agricultural policy and for the milk processors were formulated.

Factors Shaping Cow’s Milk Production in the EU

“…Dairy products are nutrient-dense foods in the overall human diet, and contain needed nutrients, such as calcium, potassium, protein, fat, and vitamin D which are critical in a balanced diet [1]. Milk and dairy products, may reduce the risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes and are the best compliment for a healthy meal [2].…”

Economic Situation of Dairy Farms in Identified Clusters of European Union Countries

“…Similarly to meat, the consumption of milk reflects national wealth [2]. Milk is among the essential products of the agricultural market [3], and the key agricultural product for the European Union (EU) [2]. Considering its share in the turnover or its contribution to the value added of production, the dairy industry plays a more important role in EU countries than in the United States [4,5].…”

Assessment of social and environmental dimensions of stockbreeding efficiency at agricultural enterprises

“…Цей підхід є поширеним і в країнах світу, зокрема в країнах Європейського Союзу (ЄС). Саме державна підтримка, з одного боку, дозволяє зробити галузь стабільною, яка забезпечує потрібні обсяги виробництва продукції, з другого боку, створити умови для прибуткового виробництва продукції, що є надто важливим для виробників [31].…”