Effect of changes in milk yield and inter-calving period on profitability of commercial dairy farm

Abstract

The present study was conducted for crossbred commercial dairy farms in India to study the effect of various reproductive parameters, viz. milk yield and intercalving period on their profitability. The base parameters were identified under the field conditions and a base model was prepared. The milk yield and inter-caving period under field conditions were about 15 litres per day and 14 months respectively. The result indicated that profitability ratios were more sensitive to worsening ICP than decrease in milk yield. An average farm of 100 animals would continue to be profitable even if average milk yield dropped from 15 to 12 liters/day, but would not sustain if ICP increased from 14 to 18 months, thus emphasising the need to focus R&D and extension efforts on improving both, productive and reproductive traits of animals.