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Practices Used by Dairy Farmers to Reduce Seasonal Production Variability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2016

Andrew A. Washington
Affiliation:
Department of Economics, Southern University, Baton Rouge
Richard L. Kilmer
Affiliation:
Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Florida, Gainesville
Richard N. Weldon
Affiliation:
Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Florida, Gainesville

Abstract

The objective of this analysis was to identify the production practices used by farmers to change seasonal production. Production practices included milk production per cow, proportion of cows milking, number of first lactation animals entering the herd, number of cows leaving the herd, number of days to first breeding, and calves born. Farms that participated in a seasonal pricing plan during 1993, 1994, and 1995 decreased production practice seasonality in response to price premiums, which caused a decrease in production seasonality compared to nonparticipating farms. Participating farms showed a preference for adjusting entering first lactation animals and number of calves born, but did make adjustments in other practices as well.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association 

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