Technical efficiency in dairy farms

Abstract

page 000. Data from 273 Wisconsin dairy farms were used to examine the extent to which 2 technical efficiency is related to practices commonly used by dairy farmers and the effect of 3 intensification on the performance of the farms. The empirical analysis showed that at a 4 commercial level the administration of bovine somatotropin hormone to lactating cows increases 5 milk production. In addition, farm efficiency is positively related to farm intensification, the 6 level of contribution of family labor in the farm activities, the use of a total mixed ration feeding 7 system and the milking frequency. ABSTRACT 24 The US dairy sector is facing structural changes including a geographical shift in dairy 25 production and a tendency towards the implementation of more intensive production systems. 26 These changes might significantly affect farm efficiency, profitability and the long-term 27 economic sustainability of the dairy sector, especially in more traditional dairy production areas. 28 Consequently, the goal of this study was to examine the impact of practices commonly used by 29 dairy farmers and the effect of intensification on the performance of the farms. We used a sample 30 of 273 Wisconsin dairy farms to estimate a stochastic production frontier simultaneously with a 31 technical inefficiency model. The empirical analysis showed that at a commercial level the 32 administration of bovine somatotropin hormone to lactating cows increases milk production. In 33 addition, we found that production exhibits constant returns to scale and that farm efficiency is 34 positively related to farm intensification, the level of contribution of family labor in the farm 35 activities, the use of a total mixed ration (TMR) feeding system and the milking frequency. 36

Enhancing Dairy Farm Welfare: A Holistic Examination of Technology Adoption and Economic Performance in Kahramanmaraş Province, Turkey

“…On the other hand, efficiency can be calculated without making assumptions about the technology by using DEA. Additionally, DEA is not limited by statistical concerns regarding the number of inputs that can be included [50,51].…”

“…Then, a regression model was used to determine the factors that affect TE, AE, and CE. Tobit regression was used to evaluate the impact of various factors on the efficiency scores, as in prior studies [51,52,75]. The model is expressed as follows:…”

“…The previous literature on dairy farming has investigated various factors that influence efficiency scores. Mareth et al [51] surveyed 42 studies and identified 14 variables: location, age, education, farm size, feeding practices, animal health, and technology adoption. However, this study specifically focuses on the impact of technology adoption levels on dairy farm efficiencies.…”