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 dry-matter intake capacity (DMIC) on labour income (economic values) in dairy cattle under different production circumstances. Dutch production circumstances in the years 1998 and 2008 were based on different scenarios and varied with respect to product prices, milk output restrictions and environmental legislation. Linear programming was used to maximise labour income at farm level. Economic values (EV) for LW ranged from 2 0.29 to 2 0.17 /kg/cow/year and depended on beef prices and marginal feed costs. Economic values for DMIC ranged from 18 to 40 /kg/cow/year and depended on the difference between marginal costs of roughage and concentrates. Estimated EVs were highly sensitive to levels of dry-matter intake and milk production. At higher DMIC levels, the EV for LW increased, whereas the EV for DMIC decreased. At higher milk production levels, the EV for LW decreased whereas the EV for DMIC increased.  2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.