Short communication: Milk fat payment affects the relative profitability of Jersey and Holstein-Friesian cows at optimal comparative stocking rate

摘要

Choice of stocking rate and breed of cow are 2 strategicdecisions that affect the profitability of pasturebaseddairy farm businesses. This study sought to analyzethe effects of a range of fat and protein prices onthe profitability of the Jersey (J) and Holstein-Friesian(HF) breeds at 2 comparative stocking rates (CSR):80 kg of body weight (BW) per tonne of dry matter(DM) of feed (CSR80), and 100 kg of BW per tonneof DM of feed (CSR100). Data were obtained from arecently published study, and equations constructedto determine the values for fat and protein at whicheach breed broke even (profit = NZ$0/ha; at time ofwriting, NZ$1 = US$0.69 or €0.60), returned equalprofit, and exceeded the other breed by 1% or 5%. AtCSR100 there were few combinations of fat and proteinprices for which HF were more profitable than J. AtCSR80, J and HF were equally profitable at a fat priceof NZ$5.67 ± NZ$0.20 per kilogram, depending on proteinprice. The study also highlighted the importance ofincluding volume adjustments in milk price calculationswhen differences in milk composition exist, as the fatprice at which the profitability of HF and J were equalwas NZ$1.23/kg lower when volume adjustments wereincluded. The recent increase in the value of fat relativeto protein favors J. Farmers should consider the medium-to long-term outlook of fat price when evaluatingbreed choice for their farm system.