Abstract
Small-scale dairy systems play an important role in the Mexican dairy sector and farm planning activities related to resource allocation have a significant impact on the profitability of such enterprises. Linear programming is a technique widely used for planning and ration formulation, and partial budgeting is a technique for assessing the impact of changes on the profitability of an enterprise. This study used both methods to optimise land use for forage production and nutrient availability, and to evaluate the economic impact of such changes in small-scale Mexican dairy systems. The model showed satisfactory performance when optimal solutions were compared with the traditional strategy. The strategy using fresh ryegrass, maize silage and oat hay, and the strategy using a combination of alfalfa hay, maize silage, fresh ryegrass and oat hay appeared attractive options for providing a better nutrient supply and maintaining a higher stocking rate throughout the year than the traditional strategy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aguilar V.A. and Luevano G.A. 1999. Social and Economic Impact of Dairy Livestock in the Lagunera Region. Grupo Industrial LALA/SA de CV Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico, 165 pp.
Arriaga J.C. 1996. Feeding strategies of dairy cattle in small-scale dairy systems. In: Castelan O.O.A. (ed.), Strategies to Improve Small-scale Dairy Systems. University of Mexico State, Toluca, Mexico, pp. 45-68.
Arriaga J.C., Albarran P.B., Garcia A. and Castelan O.O.A. 2001. On-farm comparison of feeding strategies based on forages for small-scale dairy production systems in the highlands of Central Mexico. Exp. Agric. 38: 375-388.
Arriaga J.C., Espinoza O.A. and Albarran P.B. 1997a. Experiences in rural participatory research to improve the small-scale dairy systems in Toluca Valley. Proceedings of the National Workshop on Small-Scale Dairy Systems, University of Mexico State, Toluca, Mexico, pp. 52-60.
Arriaga J.C., Espinoza O.A., Castelan O.O.A., Rojo G.H., Valdes M.J.L. and Albarran P.B. 1997b. Results of the rural participatory research to improve the small-scale dairy systems in Mexico State. In: Rivera H.G., Arellano H.A., Gonzalez D.L. and Arriaga J.C. (eds), Research for Rural Development: Ten Years of Experiences from CICA. University of Mexico State, Toluca, Mexico, pp. 319-351.
Black R.J. and Hlubik J. 1980. Computer programs for dairy cattle feeding and management. Past, present and future. J. Dairy Sci. 63: 1366-1378.
Cain P.J. 1990. Budgeting the effects of adopting legume-based forage systems. Farm Management 7: 307-314.
Castelan O.O.A., Fawcett R.H., Arriaga J.C. and Herrero M. 2003. A decision support system for smallholder campesino maizecattle production systems. Agric. Syst. 75: 23-46.
Castelan O.O.A., Mathewman R., Fawcett R., Swith A., Gonzalez M.E., Burgos G.R. and De la Cruz J.D. 1997. Characterization and evaluation of peasant dairy systems: the case of two communities from the Toluca Valley. In: Rivera H.G., Arellano H.A., Gonzalez D.L. and Arriaga J.C. (eds), Research for Rural Development: Ten Years of Experiences from CICA. University of Mexico State, Toluca, Mexico, pp. 198-225.
De Lorenzo M.A. and Thomas C.V. 1996. Dairy records and models for economics and financial planning. J. Dairy Sci. 79: 337-345.
Dominguez V.I.A. 1997. Nutritional management of the cow: critical element of the peasant dairy systems. Proceedings of the National Workshop on Small-Scale Dairy Systems. University of Mexico State, Toluca, Mexico, pp. 71-80.
Espinoza O.A., Arriaga J.C. and Castelan O.O.A. 1997. Economic analysis of peasant milk production of the Toluca Valley. Proceedings of the National Workshop on Small-scale Dairy Systems, University of Mexico State, Toluca, Mexico, pp. 94-102.
García V.A. 1995. Integral diagnostic for dairy enterprises of the Tejaro co-operative in Michoacan State. University of Michoacan State, Morelia, Mexico, 12 pp.
Gonzalez D.J. and Arriaga J.C. 1996. Dairy cattle integration in farms of Mexico State. In: Castelan O.O.A. (ed.), Strategies to Improve Small-scale Dairy Systems. University of Mexico State, Toluca, Mexico, pp. 29-44.
Gonzalez L.G., Esperon E.E.A. and Gomez O.R.M. 1997. Development of the productive capability of low-income producers and small-scale dairy production in urban and rural communities. Proceedings of the NationalWorkshop on Small-scale Dairy Systems, University of Mexico State, Toluca, Mexico, pp. 17-20.
Kay R.D. 1986. Farm planning and budgeting. In: Farm Management: Planning, Control and Implementation. McGraw Hill, London, UK.
Martínez R.A., Quiroga M., Thomas N. and Byerly K.F. 1981. Alternative forage production patterns for dairy cattle under conditions of limited water supply in northern Mexico. Proceedings of the XIV International Grassland Congress, Lexington, KN, pp. 804-806.
Méndez C.M.D., Tzintzun R.R. and Val-Arreola D. 2000. Production evaluation, environmental effects and problems in smallscale dairy farms. Livestock Research for Rural Development, Centre for the Investigation of Sustainable Systems of Agricultural Production, Cali, Colombia.
Nicholson C.F., Blake R.W., Urbina C.I., Lee D.R., Fox D.G. and Van Soest P.J. 1994a. Economic comparison of nutritional management strategies for Venezuelan dual purpose cattle systems. J. Anim. Sci. 74: 1680-1696.
Nicholson C.F., Lee D.R., Boisvert R.N., Blake R.W. and Urbina C.I. 1994b. An optimisation model of the dual purpose cattle production systems in the humid lowlands of Venezuela. Agric. Syst. 46: 311-334.
NIIMS 2003. www.secofi-sniim.gob.mx/SNIIM-Pecuarios-Nacionales/ SelAli.asp. Web page viewed 3 February 2003.
Nix J. 1996. Farm Management Pocketbook, 26th Edition. University of London, Wye, UK.
NRC 1988. Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle, 7th Edition. National Academy of Sciences Press, Washington, DC.
Pesti G.M. and Miller B.R. 1993. Economic analysis. In: Animal Feed Formulation: Economics and Computer Applications. AVI Books, New York, pp. 1-35.
Ramirez.R.E., Ramirez G.M., Tzintzun R.R. and Val-Arreola. 1999. Advances in the analysis of the dairy systems in the Patzcuaro Lake area. Proceedings of the National Meeting on Animal Production Systems in Peri-urban Areas. Metropolitan Autonomous University at Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico, pp. 1-8.
Renobato V.F., Espinoza O.V., Herrejon R.G., Brunnet P.L. and Garcia B.G. 2001. Evaluation of production costs from smallscale units in the Benito Juarez community in the Almoloya de Juarez Municipality of Mexico State. Proceedings of the 37th National Meeting on Animal Production Research, Ministry of Agriculture (AGARPA), Chiapas State, Mexico, p. 33
Reyes A.A., Blake R.W., Shumway C.R. and Long J.T. 1981. Multistage optimization model for dairy production. J. Dairy Sci. 64: 2003-2016.
SAGAR 1999. Report on national agricultural production, Agriculture Information System. Ministry of Agriculture, Mexico City, Mexico, 12 pp.
Salas R.G. 1998. Re-initiating the ovaric activity postpartum of Holstein cows in small-scale dairy systems. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Michoacan State, Morelia, Mexico, 138 pp.
Schmit T.M. and Knoblauch W.A. 1995. The impact of nutrient loading restrictions on dairy farm profitability. J. Dairy Sci. 78: 1267-1281.
SARH 1991. Livestock census: development rural district 092, Mexican Ministry of Agriculture (ARH), Mexico City, Mexico, p. 3
Tozer P.R. 2000. Least-cost ration formulations for Holstein dairy heifers by using linear and stochastic programming. J. Dairy Sci. 83: 443-451.
Tseng W.T. and Mears D.R. 1975. Modelling systems for forage production. Trans. ASAE 18: 206-212.
Tzintzun R.R., Ramirez G.M., Ramirez G.R.E., Val-Arreola. and Mendez C.M.D. 2000. Advances in dairy production analysis in Patzcuaro Lake area. University of Michoacan State, Morelia, Mexico, 12 pp.
Tzintzun R.R., García V.A., Garcidueñas P.R., Mendez.M.D., Sanchez.J.M., Fernandez L.H. et al. 1997. Family dairying in the Morelia area of Michoacan State: extension service project between University of Michoacan State and the local dairy sector. Proceedings of the National Workshop on Small-scale Dairy Systems, University of Mexico State, Toluca, Mexico, pp. 30-37.
Urzúa J.W., Nuñez O.J.M. and Garcia O.M. 1998. The economic dimension in the primary production. In: Rodriguez G.G. and Chombo M.P. (eds), The Trade-off of Power: Globalisation and the Dairy Industry Chain in West Mexico. Research Centre in Social Anthropology (CIESAS), Mexico City, Mexico, pp. 139-158.
Val-Arreola D. 1998. Margin maximisation of income over feed cost in small-scale dairy systems. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Michoacan State, Morelia, Mexico, 111 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Val-Arreola, D., Kebreab, E., Mills, J. et al. Forage production and nutrient availability in small-scale dairy systems in central Mexico using linear programming and partial budgeting. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 69, 191–201 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:FRES.0000035173.67852.e8
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:FRES.0000035173.67852.e8