PCA Technical to diagnose the technical efficiency of dairy farms in Galicia (NW Spain)

Abstract

Improving the production efficiency of dairy farms is a hot topic. The current competitiveness in the dairy industry requires detailed investigation of the mechanisms that lead to optimal holdings. Yet, optimality is dependent on the production process developed on the farm, its size and type. This paper presents a research conducted on 50 dairy farms that are representative of Galician dairy farms with herd sizes in a range between 27 and 85 cows. The estimated yield is expressed in kilograms of whole milk per hour worked (kgFCmilk hour-1), we use the methodology of dairy farms congress indicating that we are at values well below the UE. We have analysed production efficiency by directly measuring the time spent by workers performing farm operations and determining the typological features of the farms. Based on the data obtained from dairy farms, we have classified farms into three groups according to their levels of efficiency by using multivariate analysis. Our research line aims at enhancing the profits of dairy farms in Galicia by providing farmers with ideas for improving the efficiency records of their productive processes.