Economic values of live weight and feed-intake capacity of dairy cattle under Dutch production circumstances

This study estimated the effect of genetic change of live weight (LW) and d ry-matter intake capacity (DMIC) on labour income (economic values) in dair y cattle under different production circumstances. Dutch production circums tances in the years 1998 and 2008 were based on different scenarios and var ied with respect to product prices, milk output restrictions and environmen tal legislation. Linear programming was used to maximise labour income at f arm level. Economic values (EV) for LW ranged from - 0.29 to - 0.17 is an e lement of /kg/cow/year and depended on beef prices and marginal feed costs. Economic values For DMIC ranged from 18 to 40 is an element of /kg/cow/yea r and depended on the difference between marginal costs of roughage and con centrates. Estimated EVs were highly sensitive to levels of dry-matter inta ke and milk production. At higher DMIC levels, the EV for LW increased, whe reas the EV for DMIC decreased. At higher milk production levels, the EV fo r LW decreased whereas the EV for DMIC increased. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.