Research Article
Piotr Sablik1 , Małgorzata Szewczuk1, Ewa Januś2, Piotr Błaszczyk3, Monika Rudzińska
1Department of Ruminant Science, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Klemensa Janickiego 29,71-270 Szczecin, Poland
2Institute of Animal Breeding and Biodiversity Conservation, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13,20-950 Lublin, Poland
3Information Technology Center, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Jagiello ́nska 20-21, 70-363Szczecin, Poland
Abstract. The aim of the study was to analyze the profitability of organic farming of Limousin cattle and to compare selected production parameters with the conventional management system. The material involved 39 cows and their offspring from an organic farm and 81 cows with calves kept on a conventional farm, both located in West Pomerania, Poland; the data were retrieved from the "BOS" database system. Body weight of calves was established at birth and at weaning (converted to standardized body weight at 210 days of age), weight gains of calves from birth to 210 days and cow's milk yield. In the organic farm, basic analysis of the profitability of beef production was carried out when selling bulls around 250 kg in live weight. The average weight of Limousin calves at birth was significantly higher in the organic farm compared to those born in the traditional farming system, whereas at 210 days of age, the calves from the latter system were characterized by a higher body weight. They also attained greater body weight gains, and their mothers were characterized by better milk yields. It was also found that in the organic farm the parameters were more favorable in heifers compared to bull calves. The analysis of the economic effects of beef production on an organic farm showed that the total production costs including overhead summed up to PLN 2,581, and the production cost of 1 kg live weight was at the level of PLN 10.33. The profitability parameters, including direct payment and without it, were 122% and 106%, respectively.
Keywords: Limousin cattle, rearing, organic production system, production costs, economic effect
Received: 5 Dec 2017
Accepted: 28 Dec 2017
Published online: 7 Feb 2018
Accesses: 759
Sablik, P., Szewczuk, M., Januś, E., Błaszczyk, P., Rudzińska, M., (2017). Profitability analysis of Limousin cattle organic farming compared to the conventional cattle management system. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 16(4), 57–62. DOI: 10.21005/asp.2017.16.4.09.