Análise técnica e econômica da atividade leiteira em três propriedades da bacia leiteira de Parnaíba-Piauí

Abstract

To adequately meet the milk demand of the Brazilian market will require modernizing productive activities and intensifying production systems. Activity performance fundamentlly derives from the use of technology and on milk farming specialization. Productivity growth is the result of the synergy between reseach, extension and education. Knowledge of production costs constitutes a relevant aid and guarantee in decision making. Many local farms now consider production cost analysis an indispensable practice and some use efficient, customizable software for the purpose. The objective of the present study was to perform a technical and economic analysis of the milk production in the Parnaíba milk farming zone, based on primary data collected from three of the most modem farms in the Parnaíba river basin. The technical analysis was based on a characterization of the selected producers using data obtained through questionnaires and interviews with producers and managers. The economic analysis was based os a complete inventory of the properties carried out in the second semester of 2002 and first semester of 2003. A 12-month long survey aided by producers and managers provided an overview of production costs and revenues. Our finding show that the technological milk production standard of the milk farm Várzea may be classified as good, based on the presence of major indicators of recommended technology. Overall, profitabiblity indices suggest that producers may increase their profits without making new investiments simply by making more efficient use of existing infrastructure. The profitability analysis concluded that the producers of the farms Jandira and Várzea are making profits, while a net cash revenue analysis indicates that the farm Monte Alegre sustains itself with resources obtained from activities other than milk farming . The study also reveals that the crisis currently experienced by the sector is due mainly to the high cost of concentrated feed required by lactating cows. The author suggests replanning milk farming operational costs in terms of grain use for concentrated feed production, and redimensioning farming investments such as by introducing more livestock, thereby increasing milk production and reducing fixed production costs.