Measuring agricultural sustainability in terms of efficiency: the case of Dutch sugar beet growers.

Sustainability embraces socio-economic and bio-ecological dimensions or attributes. This paper presents a conceptual framework for quantifying sustainability on the basis of efficiency theory commonly used in economics. The conceptual model is implemented using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Sustainability is measured for a sample of Dutch sugar beet growers. The average technical efficiency was only 50%. A positive correlation was found between technical efficiency and sustainable efficiency. Differences in efficiency among farmers were persistent within and between years. We conclude that there is considerable scope for improving the sustainability of arable farming by better management.

Basic framework for the economic evaluation of animal health control programmes.

The further integration of international markets means that co-ordinated policies against contagious animal infections have become increasingly important, and stricter demands for control and eradication should be expected in the future. To meet these demands, it would be desirable to create a computer simulation environment in which 'what if?' scenarios could be performed, in order to explore the epidemiological and economic effects of various infections and control strategies. The authors propose a flexible economic framework and illustrate this framework with an example. The framework has four elements: changes in the percentage of infectious herds, changes in product quantities, changes in product prices and economic integration. Each element is specifically defined and has its own input and output data, depending on the control strategy under consideration. In an illustration of the framework, probability distributions of the different control strategies are compared and the optimal strategy is chosen, according to the attitude of the decision-maker towards risk. Such a framework can be considered as a new standardised approach for comparing and selecting animal health control strategies, by integrating technical and economic data and principles.

[Practical application of recombinant bovine somatotropin: sequelae for man, animal and animal husbandry]. / Praktische toepassing van recombinant bovine somatotropine: gevolgen voor mens, dier en bedrijfsvoering.

Recombinant Bovine Somtatotropin (r-BST) may be produced commercially in the forseeable future. On the basis of a study of the literature, it may be assumed in all likelihood that administration of r-BST to dairy cows will not have a negative effect on public health. However additional research on potential biological activity of recombinant-BST or its fragments and of somatomedins after oral administration, is advisable. Negative effects on the health, fertility and life-span of animals were not observed so far under experimental conditions but any reference to field situations is absent in the literature. Treatment with r-BST should not be initiated prior to within eighty days after parturition. Administration of r-BST also requires proper management in terms of ration formulation and feeding to ensure maintenance of health and production of dairy cattle. The use of r-BST will result in a less accurate estimation of the breeding potential of selected cows, resulting in a reduction of the genetic improvement of milk production. Increased economic benefits should be obtained on farms having high stocking rates (2.35 dairy cows/ha) compared with those having low stocking rates (1.90), varying with the price of r-BST. It is anticipated that the use of r-BST will have little effect on the reduction of the number of dairy cattle and dairy farms up to 1995.

A three year herd health and management program on thirty Dutch dairy farms. I. Objectives, methods and main results.

A herd health and management program was carried out from May 1974 to May 1977 on thirty Dutch dairy farms which did not have specific herd or management problems. The number of cows per farm varied between 40 and 160. There was a control group of thirty-one comparable farms. The farms were visited every six weeks by the veterinarian of the Animal Health Service Institute, the local agricultural adviser of the NAAS and the local veterinarian. The aim of the program was a whole farm approach. The program had a mainly advisory character and it was up to the farmer to follow the advice given, which was based on the theoretically optimal solution but adjusted to the farm situation. The basis of the administration of herd health was the Herd Fertility Chart. Farm inspection was by detailed observation. The program was primarily practical, and could be carried out by a well-trained local veterinarian. The data of the first (preparatory) year were compared with the results of the following two years. The improvement in income feedcosts margin on the program farms exceeded that on control farms by Dfl. 176 per cow (therefore Dfl. 460 per ha. and Dfl. 12,535 per man). Factor Analysis showed that the herd health and management program influenced especially data concerning fertility. However this did not affect the income feedcosts margin per cow. The program also had an important influence on culling due to health problems and on feedcosts per cow, both of which considerably affected the income feedcosts margin per man.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A three year herd health and management program on thirty Dutch dairy farms. IV. Special aspects.

The ultimate objective of a herd health and management program must be optimal farm net profit. Maximal profit can be expected by carrying out a program based on a whole farm approach. A simple and well-ordered registration system is one of the most important aspects for the success of a program. Experiences with the different registration systems of the program are discussed. In the future it is desirable to process the registered data by computer. The farmer should know the possibilities of the program in advance and must be motivated to carry out advice. When giving advice veterinarians have to take into account the specific circumstances on each farm and the objectives of the farmer. The veterinarian also has to be well-informed about the factors which influence the farm net profit and to this end cooperation with other experts is necessary. In this trial close cooperation between the veterinarian and agricultural adviser were seen as a very positive feature of the program. The program must be carried out at regular times in a fixed sequence, which covers complete herd health and farm management. The frequency of farm visits depends on the problems, farm size and the season. On average one visit per month will be sufficient for farms up to 100 dairy cows. Cooperation between farmer and veterinarian is one of the essential aspects. Frequent evaluation is very stimulating. The benefits of a herd health and management program were found to be substantial in this trial. Therefore the costs of the program can be considered by the farmer to be a sound investment.

[The decision to replace dairy cows in case of difficult-to-achieve pregnancy: an economic evaluation]. / De vervangingsbeslissing bij melkvee in geval van moeilijk te verkrijgen dracht: een economische evaluatie.

The question approached is, 'How long will it be profitable to continue breeding dairy cattle in cases of poor reproductive performance, differing in age and milk production potential, until it has to be decided to cull them?' This question was expressed in an economic replacement model for dairy cattle. The essence of the model is a comparison of anticipated incomes from a cow present in the herd an a replacement cow. For herd cows, the critical production level (expressed as a percentage of the herd level, after correction for age and stage of lactation) below which it is no longer profitable to breed empty cows was calculated. This was done at ten stages in each lactation. It was found to be profitable to continue breeding cows with poor reproductive performance for a long period: even up to 8-9 months after calving in young cows showing an average production level or higher. The most important factor affecting the calculated critical production levels was found to be the repeatability of an unduly long calving interval of the cow concerned: if problems regarding reproductive performance are also expected in future lactations, breeding should be stopped earlier in lactation.

[Simulation as an aid in the study of the course and effects of an infectious animal disease. A prospective study exemplified by transmissible gastroenteritis in a pig breeding farm]. / Simulatie als hulpmiddel bij het bestuderen van het verloop en de effecten van een besmettelijke dierziekte. Een oriënterend onderzoek aan de hand van TGE op een varkensvermeerderingsbedrijf.

The possibilities of applying simulation in a study on the occurrence and effects of infectious animal disease are reported. For this purpose a model of transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) was designed on a pig-multiplying farm. Using this model, the effects of certain management policies on the financial loss caused by TGE were quantified. It is concluded that computer simulation may be of great help in studying animal disease. It may result in better understanding of the manner in which a disease will exert its effects on the farm or on the population. Moreover, it offers an opportunity of predicting the effects of alternative procedures in prevention and control.

[Economic aspects of disease in animals, with special reference to dairy cattle (author's transl)]. / Economische aspecten van dierziekten, in het bijzonder bij melkvee.

The factors mainly determining the losses caused by animal diseases, and the manner in which the economic effects are felt by the various groups of those concerned, are considered with reference to each form of disease. The losses on farm level due to those diseases among dairy cattle, which are common in most areas but vary in degree on each farm are discussed in greater detail. The losses are quantitated in part after differentiation of three components, namely prior to disposal (less efficient production and cost of veterinary treatment), on disposal (reduced slaughter value and idle production factors), and missed future income due to forced replacement. Moreover, the decision to replace animals is considered, also with reference to cows with disease. Finally, the question of which extension of veterinary knowledge is desirable to promote economic research, is discussed.

[Economic aspects of diseases and dairy herd health programs in the Netherlands with special reference to mastitis (author's transl)]. / Economische aspecten van ziekten en ziektebestrijding, in het bijzonder mastitis, in de Nederlandse melkveehouderij.

Animal diseases cause considerable losses among dairy cattle in the Netherlands. Model calculations show that the loss on farm level from animal diseases is approximately Dfl 440.--per cow per annum. Increasing attention is being paid to one of them e.g. mastitis. This disease causing an annual loss on farm level of approximately Dfl 125.--per average cow present (a.c.p.). Currently, a Mastitis Control Program (MCP) is being advocated. When the expected profits and cost of the MCP are analysed, different economic levels can be distinguished. Analysis on farm level showed that, when the MCP is carried out, the average calculated losses can be reduced by half, so that, with the exception of the first years, an increase in income of Dfl. 30.--per a.c.p. is anticipated. When less than 12.5 percent of the quarters are infected and less than 2 or 3 per cent of the quarters show clinical mastitis in a period of twelve months, the expected profits of the MCP are less than the cost. When all the farmers (the "sector") reduce the incidence of mastitis, the expected increase in income will be smaller because of price-effects. From the national point of view, the profitability of the MCP will primarily depend on the national-economic net price of the additional milk production, which should be higher than Dfl. 30.--per 100 kg. to make it pay. Finally, it was evident that production of the same quantity of milk by fewer animals, resulting from a reduction of the incidence of mastitis, is profitable on a national level, because of a decrease in the import of concentrates.

[Productive life-span of dairy cows and its economic significance. II. The replacement of dairy cows: an economic model (author's transl)]. / De gebruiksduur van melkvee en zijn economische betekenis. II. Een economisch model voor de vervanging

A model, initially based on the work of Zeddies (10), is presented , by which the economic aspects of the replacement problem may be studied. First, the principle underlying the replacement decision is discussed. Then, the data to be included in the model are determined. This mainly concerns the elements associated with age, such as milk production, the value of newborn calves, the slaughter of the cows, the feed cost and the cost of a pregnant heifer just before calving. The age-associated probability of culling is also included in the model. A number of questions regarding the economic importance of the duration of herd life have been studied using this model. In the third paper, the results of this application of the model will be presented.

[Productive life-span of dairy cows and its economic significance. III. Economic evaluation: results obtained by model calculations (authors transl)]. / De gebruiksduur van melkvee en zijn economische betekenis. III een economische evaluatie: uitkomsten van modelberekeningen

A reduction of the forced replacement rate is found to be of major economic importance on the farm level. In the model, the income earned from a fifth lactation of a cow showing an average production is approximately Dfl 440 higher than the earned income per annum over the average herd life of 4.3 lactations. A farm with a herd of fifty cows showing average production and an average herd life of 5.3 years will have approximately Dfl 9600 more earned income each year than a similar farm with an average herd life of 3.3 years. The yield resulting from a longer herd life is subject to the law of diminishing returns. For the annual income from a dairy herd, a sixth lactation is of less importance than a fifth lactation, etc. The economic importance of a long herd life appears to be remarkably stable, i.e. hardly affected by: (a) The average productive capacity of the herd as regards milk and/or meat. (Note: Differences in milk-producing capacity within a herd have a marked effect on the economic value of an additional lactation by an individual cow). (b) The presence or absence of a moderate genetic improvement (1 per cent per annum) in milk-yield.

[Productive life-span of dairy cows and its economic significance. I. Disposal of dairy cows: the current situation (author's transl)]. / De gebruiksduur van melkvee en zijn economische betekenis. I. De huidige situatie met betrekking tot de vervanging

The current situation regarding the replacement of dairy cows is discussed. Attention is successively paid to the duration of herd life and the replacement rate, the reasons for disposal and the relationship between age and the probability of disposal. Little research including all the required elements at the same time has been done in this field. Therefore, the literature can offer only a rough idea of the current situation regarding the replacement of dairy cows (Tables 1 and 2). Further research along a few lines presented in this paper is advocated. However, the findings derived from the literature may be used in an economic model to quantify the economic significance of differences in the herd life of dairy cows. This subject will be elaborated in two subsequent papers.