comparing profitability of burlina and holstein friesian cattle breeds

8/6/2019 Comparing profitability of Burlina and Holstein Friesian cattle breeds

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CommuniCation

Comparing protability of

Burlina and Holstein Friesiancattle breeds

Denis Pretto, Massimo De Marchi, Chiara Dalvit,Martino Cassandro

Dipartimento di Scienze Animali. Università di Padova, Italy

Corresponding author: Dr. Denis Pretto. Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, Università di Padova, Agripolis. Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy - Tel. +39 049 8272614 - Fax: +39 049 8272633 -

Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT - Aim o this study was to compare protability o Burlina and Holstein Frie-sian cows in northern Italy. Cow’s protability was calculated or each breed, with consi-deration o economic incentive programs and alternative milk pricing scenarios. The die-rence in annual protability between Burlina and Holstein Friesian ranged rom −€719 to−€274 per cow per year. In a low-input management level with a cow’s incentive paymentand a specic cheese market strategy the low milk yield o Burlina can be compensate res-pect to Holstein Friesian.

Key words: Dairy cattle, Burlina, Local breeds, Protability.

I tal.J.anI m.ScI. vol. 8 (Suppl. 3), 65-67, 2009 65

Introduction - According to the most recent FAO’s estimates (DAD-IS, 2008), about one-

third o cattle breeds in Europe have been lost and a urther on-third are at risk o extinc-

tion. Local dairy cattle breeds can be portrayed to good milk coagulation ability (Pacini et al.,

2008) and related with the preservation o local traditions and typical ood products (Dalvit

et al., 2007). The Burlina (BU) cattle breed is reared in North-East Italy and population size

dramatically decreased in the past century (Pianta, 1982). Burlina cattle preserved good

tness and unctional traits and, it is well adapted to dicult environmental conditions as

marginal mountain areas (Dalvit et al., 2008). However, due to the lower milk production o BU cows, i compared to Holstein Friesian (HF) cows, the BU breed was progressively sub-

stituted in herds o the most productive area leaving the BU breed in the marginal areas,

although since some years an economic incentive has been provided by European Union

agricultural policy or endangered status (PSR 2007-2013). Traditionally, rom BU milk a

typical cheese called Morlacco has been produced and a pilot project in order to increase the

value o Morlacco cheese produced only rom Burlina milk has been developed. Aim o this

study was to compare protability o BU and HF cows assuming alterantive scenarios.

Material and methods - Comparison between HF and BU was carried out in the Tre-

viso province herds (northeast o Italy) using average value o production and reproduction



66

pretto et al.

perormance traits (Table 1) o ocial milk recording system (AIA, 2007). Yearly milk yield

was calculated according to Gandini et al. (2007). Productive lie were calculated multi-

plying average lactations number by calving interval, while replacement rate were calcu-

lated dividing 1 by productive lie. Rearing costs per heier, value o a cal at 1 week o age, value o a cow at culling, and insemination (semen and technician) costs were recorded

by breed experts and expressed as mean value related to year 2007. The two breeds were

compared in terms o dierence in protability (DP): DP=(RBU –CBU)–(RHF–CHF); where

RBU and RHF are the average revenues, and CBU and CHF are the average costs, respec-

tively in HF and BU breeds, expressed as € per cow per year. All revenues and costs were

considered per cow per year according to productive lie and calving interval. Value o a cal

at 1 wk o age and a cow at culling were set to 150€ and 400€, respectively in according to

local market suggested by breed experts.

Dierence in protability was calculated on the basis o two milk payment scenarios: the

rst one reers to milk fuid market (S-Milk) and the second one reers to milk o BU proces-sed to make Morlacco cheese by Burlina milk (S-cheese). DP in the rst scenario (S-Milk)

was simulated without current incentive payments (Ip) provided by European Union.

Results and conclusions - Burlina yearly milk yield was about 48% less than milk

produced by HF cows, but BU breed showed a more avourable situation or unctional

traits (Table 1). Burli-

na resulted in average

in 127 days open and

1.7 services per pre-

gnancy. These values

are lower than those

o HF, while the num-

ber o lactations was

higher (+1.28) and the

productive lie longer

(+1.1 years) than in

HF cows. Incentive

payments or, as an al-

ternative, the develop-

ment o a branded dai-

ry product aected DP(Figure 1).

The strategy o

incentive payments

(S-Milk+Ip) partially

compensated (28%)

the lower income rom

BU cows with respect

to HF cows. When milk

was sold or Morlacco

cheese production, DP

Table 1: Performances and economic data used forHolstein Friesian and Burlina breeds.

Breed

Item Holstein Friesian Burlina

Production and Reproduction performances:

- Year milk yield, kg 9,460 4,893

- Protein, % 3.28 3.25

- Fat, % 3.62 3.58

- Days open, d 182 127

- Calving interval, years 1.27 1.12

- Services per pregnancy, n 2.6 1.7

- Average lactations number 2.44 3.72

- Productive life, years 3.1 4.2

- Replacement rate, % 32 24

Revenues and costs:

- Incentives payment per cow/year1 - 200.00€

- Milk value for uid milk industry, €/kg 0.38€ 0.38€

- Milk value for Morlacco-Burlina cheese, €/kg - 0.43€

- Rearing costs per heifer 1,600.00€ 1,200.00€

- Insemination costs 30.00€ 30.00€

- Feed cost per kg of milk 0.156€ 0.144€

- Feed cost per day of dry period 1.74€ 1.40€1incentive payment from European Union (PSR 2007-2013).

I tal.J.anI m.ScI. vol. 8 (Suppl. 3), 65- 67, 2009



67

17th I nt. Symp. anImal ScIence DayS

changed rom −€519 to −€274 (47%), due to the high price o single-breed cheese. The DP

was equal to zero in HF LowProd scenario when HF yields 7,900kg, as in the case o herds

located in marginal areas. According to Gandini et al. (2007) results evidenced that Ip is

insucient to make local breeds protable. Nevertheless in the marginal areas, the develo-

ping o brand products is useul to saeguard local breeds, preserve territory and traditional

culture link to livestock activity.

REFERENCES - A.I.A. 2007. Milk recording activity: Ocial Statistics. Italian Bree-

ders Association (A.I.A.), Roma, Italy. DAD-IS. 2008. http://dad.ao.org/. Dalvit C., M. De

Marchi, M. Cassandro. 2007. Genetic traceability o livestock products. A review. Meat Sci.

77: 437-449. Dalvit, C., M. De Marchi, R. Dal Zotto, E. Zanetti, T. Meuwissen, M. Cassandro,

2008. Genetic characterization o the Burlina cattle breed using microsatellite markers. J. Anim. Breed. Genet., 125: 137-144. Gandini, G., C. Maltecca, F. Pizzi, A. Bagnato, R. Rizzi,

2007. Comparing local and commercial breeds on unctional traits and protability: the

case o Reggiana Cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 90: 2004-2011. Pacini, F., A. Fellin, C. Andrighetto, R.

Dal Zotto, M. De Marchi, M. Cassandro, A. Lombardi, 2008. Detection o B k-casein variant

(CSN3*B) in Burlina dairy cattle by PCR-TTGE. Dairy Sci Technol. 88: 217-223. Pianta,

A. 1982. Il problema Burlina. Storia di una razza. Comunità montana del Grappa, Paderno

del Grappa (TV). PSR, Piano Di Sviluppo Rurale. 2007-2013. Pagamenti agroambientali.

Sottomisura biodiversità. Misura 214/.

I tal.J.anI m.ScI. vol. 8 (Suppl. 3), 65-67, 2009

Figure 1. Difference in protability between Burlina (BU) and Holstein Friesian (HF)breeds in relation to milk pricing scenarios and presence of economic in-centives: milk uid sold to dairy industry (S-Milk), S-Milk and economic

incentives to BU cows (S-Milk+Ip), milk production sold as Morlacco cheeseby BU milk plus economic incentives to BU cows (S-Cheese+Ip), and S-Cheese+Ip with HF low milk yield (7,900kg) (HF LowProd) in a low-inputmanagement level.

-719

-519

-274

0

-800

-600

-400

-200

0

200

S-Milk S-Milk + Ip S-Cheese + Ip HF LowProd

P r o f t a b i l i t y ,

e

/ c o w / y r

comparing profitability of burlina and holstein friesian cattle breeds

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