MARGINAL BENEFIT OF TRAITS IN MILK-PRODUCTION

This contribution contains calculations of single farm marginal utilit ies for milk and breeding traits under economic frame conditions to be expected for the future as well as a discussion of the macro economic effects of a continued increase of milk production. The results show that the utility of a continued increase of the milk traits depends mo st strongly upon the tradibility of milk quota amongst farms. If milk and fat quota are strictly fixed to a farm, an increase of milk and fa t yield is no more economic. An improvement of the breeding performanc e (functional life, stillbirth rate, calving performance, calving inte rval, age at first calving) and dry matter intake, however, results in a distinct improvement of the economic situation, even if quota trade is handled most restrictively Should milk prices be reduced In future , the marginal utility far productive traits (milk, fat, protein) will drop more pronouncedly than the one for breeding traits. The improvem ents of productivity in cattle breeding result in price effects which tend to diminish single farm marginal utility. This again concerns mil k traits much more than breeding traits.