Typology of beef production systems according to bioeconomic efficiency in the south of Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the bioeconomic efficiency of beef cattle production systems in the south of Brazil. A survey was conducted with 33 beef cattle farmers operating with complete cycle production systems in areas larger or equal to 900 ha. Answers were classified in two drivers, technology (TEC) and management (MAN), which were separated into subfactors with their respective components. Multiple correspondence analysis, Tukey test, cluster analysis, and Pearson correlation were the statistics procedures. The TEC components were above normal for Brazilian farmers, but the gross margin is still lower than that needed to generate financial resources for a proper remuneration of cattle farmer. Farmers were classified into three clusters according to bioeconomic efficiency: low (LEL), intermediate (IEL), or high-efficiency level (HEL). The TEC driver differentiated the LEL x HEL clusters and the MAN, mainly expressed in costs, the IEL x HEL. Positive correlation between age at first mating and age at slaughter in the HEL cluster explains the higher costs when compared to IEL because of the use of differentiated feed resources. Investments in technologies related to herd feeding in HEL cluster improved the productivity by only 20% and the cost per hectare by 95 USD ha-1 in comparison to IEL cluster. The main differences between farmers are because of the use of technologies related to feeding and cost management. Therefore, before implementing a new technology, an economic evaluation is necessary.