Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the socioeconomic, production characteristics and milk production cost of dual-purpose farms (DPF) oriented to milk production in a subtropical region of Central Mexico. The study focused on ten DPF that produce milk all year round, to gather socioeconomic characteristics of farmers (age, family structure, education level), farm resources (land holding, herd structure, infrastructure, management) and economic information during the year 2008. Family labour (FL) covers 66 % of labour needs. The average milk production cost was US$0.21, fluctuating from US$0.19 to US$0.31 during the rainy and dry season, respectively. Supplements and hired labour (HL) accounted for 48 and 35 % of milk production cost, respectively. Milk production generated daily incomes that covered daily operation costs of farms, as well as the economic needs of the farming family. Calves represented important incomes that ranged between 30 and 50 % of total annual farm incomes, cashed in once or twice a year. Milk production provides economic stability to DPF, whereas FL and low input use are key elements that allow low costs in the production of milk and calves in DPF in Central Mexico.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bautista-Tolentino, M., López-Ortíz, S., Pérez-Hernández, P., Vargas-Mendoza, M., Gallardo-López, F., and Gómez-Merino, F.C., 2011. Agro-and silvopastoral systems in the community El Limón, Paso de Ovejas, Veracruz, México. Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 14, 63–76.
Espinoza-Ortega, A., Espinosa-Ayala, E., Bastida-López, J., Castañeda-Martínez, T., and Arriaga-Jordán, C., 2007. Small-Scale dairy farming in the highlands of central Mexico: technical, economic and social aspects and their impact on poverty. Experimental Agriculture, 43, 241–256.
Gallardo-López, F., Riesta-Díaz, D., Aluja-Schunemann, A., and Martínez-Dávila, J.P., 2002. Factors determining agricultural diversity and production objectives for agroecosystems in the municipality Paso de Ovejas, Veracruz, México. Agrociencia, 36, 495–502.
García-Martínez, A., Olaizola, A., and Bernués, A., 2009. Trajectories of evolution and drivers of change in European mountain cattle farming systems. Animal, 3, 152–165.
García-Martínez, A., Bernués, A., and Olaizola, A., 2011. Simulation of mountain cattle farming systems changes under diverse agricultural policies and off-farm labour scenarios. Livestock Science, 137, 73–86.
Guadarrama-Estrada, J., Espinoza-Ortega, A., González-Esquivel, C.E., and Arriaga Jordán, C.M., 2007. Cows in small-scale Campesino systems in the highlands of central Mexico. Journal of Applied Animal Research, 32, 19–23.
LACTODATA Información sobre el sector lechero. Boletín 30 de Agosto de 2013 México, Retrieved September 23, 2013 from http://www.Lactodata.info/lactodata/index.php.
Posadas-Domínguez, R.R., Arriaga-Jordán, C.M., and Martínez-Castañeda, F.E., 2014. Contribution of family labour to the profitability and competitiveness of small-scale dairy production systems in central Mexico. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 46, 235–240.
Rojo-Rubio, R., Vázquez-Armijo, J.F., Pérez-Hernández, P., Mendoza-Martínez, G.D., Salem, A.Z.M., Albarrán-Portillo, B., González-Reyna, A., Hernández-Martinez, J., Rebollar-Rebollar, S., Cardoso-Jiménez, D., Dorantes-Coronado, E.J., and Gutierrez-Cedillo, J.G., 2009. Dual purpose cattle production in Mexico. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 41, 715–721.
Rebollar, R.S., Hernández, M.J., González, R.F.J., García, M.A., Albarrán, P.B., and Rojo, R.R., 2011. Canales y márgenes de comercialización del queso añejo en Zacazonapan, México. Archivos de Zootecnia, 60, 883–889.
Solano, C., Bernués, A., Rojas, F., Joaquín, N., Fernández, W., and Herrero, M., 2000. Relationships between management intensity and structural and social variables in dairy and dual-purpose systems in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Agricultural Systems, 65, 159–177.
Solano, C., León, H., Pérez, E., Tole, L., Fawcett, R.H., and Herrero, M., 2006. Using farmer decision-making profiles and managerial capacity as predictors of farm management and performance in Costa Rican dairy farms. Agricultural Systems, 88, 395–428.
Vance, A., 2013. Aging farmers not cause for alarm. Feedstuffs. Food Link. Connecting farm to fork. (85):49, Retrieved December 3, 2013 from http://feedstuffsfoodlink.com/story-aging-farmers-cause-alarm-71-105506.
Vilaboa-Arroniz, J., Días-River, P., Ruíz-Rosado, O., Platas-Rosado, D.E., González-Muñoz, S., and Juárez-Lagunes, F., 2009. Caracterización socioeconómica y tecnológica de los agroecosistemas con bovinos de doble propósito de la región del Papaloapan, Veracruz, México. Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 10, 53–62.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the financial support of the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACyT) and the Autonomous University of Mexico State (UAEMEX) as well for the funding of this research through the projects 3293/2012M (UAEMex) and 129449-2009CB (CONACyT).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Albarrán-Portillo, B., Rebollar-Rebollar, S., García-Martínez, A. et al. Socioeconomic and productive characterization of dual-purpose farms oriented to milk production in a subtropical region of Mexico. Trop Anim Health Prod 47, 519–523 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-014-0753-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-014-0753-8