ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY OF THE LOCAL DUAL-PURPOSE CATTLE

Base economic characteristics (total revenues, total costs, profit and profitability ratio) of the Slovak Pinzgau breed were calculated in this study. Under the actual production and economic conditions of the breed, production system is operated with loss (-457 € per cow and per year) and with negative profitability ratio (-20%). Optimisation of the production parameters on the level defined in the breed standard (5,200 kg milk per cow and year, 92% for conception rate of cows, 404 days of calving interval and 550 g in daily gain of reared heifers) and improved udder health traits (clinical mastitis incidence and somatic cells score) was of positive impact on the total revenues (+34%), on the effective utilisation of costs (+105%) and balanced profit of dairy systems. Next to the positive profitability of the system, higher quality and security of dairy milk products should be mentioned there. Moreover, direct subsidies as an important factor of positive economic result of dairy cattle systems has to be pointed as well. Subsidies should be provided to compensate the real biological limitation of the local breed farmed in marginal areas. However, improvement of the production parameters of the Slovak Pinzgau breed is recommended with the same attention to reach the economic sustainability of dairy production system. To reach economic sustainability of the breed from practical point of view, the farmer activity should be aimed especially to the enhanced herd management

Identification of production indicators important for definition of the selection criteria in cattle breeding.

The aim of the study was to apply all available information (for time period 2011 to 2013) about the dual purpose cattle breeds (Simmental and Pinzgauer) to the program package ECOWEIGHT and to suggest selection criteria for Slovak dairy and cow calf production systems. The main advantages of Ph.D. thesis were the calculation of economic weights with comprehensive consideration and updating of the current farming conditions, as well as the calculation of economic weights for new traits i. e. health and residual feed intake traits. For the calculations, the bio-economic model and the most common marketing strategy for given production system were used. The main comparative advantage of Simmental and Pinzgauer breeds, were the milk yield (dairy system) and proportion of sold calves per 100 cows (cow-calf system), respectively. For the both breeds and production systems the longevity of cows was detected as the weakness. The highest proportion in cost and revenues structure for the feeding and main products was observed, respectively. For both breeds and production systems, the profit (regardless of subsidies including) was not reached. For Simmental breed in dairy and cow calf system, the highest economic importance was observed for milk yield (19.9%) and fertility of cows (22.5%), daily gain of calves till weaning (age of 100 days; 16.1%) and weight of calves at 210 days of age (14.3%) and for the longevity of cows (11.4% and 12.4%), respectively. On the other hand, for SP breed the highest relative importance was observed for daily gain till weaning (100 days of age, 20.3%) and weight of calves at 210 days (100 days of age; 20.3%), milk yield (20.2%) and weight at 120 days of age (14.4%) and for longevity of cows (10.1% and 16.8%) in dairy and cow-calf population, respectively. Based on the results of Ph.D. thesis, it could be recommended to reconsider the current breeding objectives, as well as to redefine the selection indices of dual-purpose cattle breeds in Slovakia. The emphasise should be based to growth and functional traits, with the aim to integrate preferences of consumers (environmental criterion and popularity of animal products), as well as to ensure the sustainability of animal production

REVIEW OF METHODOLOGIES FOR COSTS CALCULATING OF RUMINANTS IN SLOVAKIA

The objective of this work was to synthesise and analyse the methodologies and the biological aspects of the costs calculation in ruminants in Slovakia. According to literature, the account classification of cost items is most often considered for construction of costing formula. The costs are mostly divided into fixed (costs independent from volume of herd’s production) and variable ones (costs connected with improvement of breeding conditions). Cost for feeds and beddings, labour costs, other direct costs and depreciations were found as the most important cost items in ruminants. It can be assumed that including the depreciations into costs of the basic herd takes into consideration the real costs simultaneously invested into raising of young animals in the given period. Costs are calculated for the unit of the main and by-products and their classification is influenced mainly by the type of livestock and production system. In dairy cows is usually milk defined as the main product, and by- products are live born calf and manure. The base calculation unit is kilogram of milk (basic herd of cows) and kilogram of gain and kilogram of live weight (young breeding cattle). In suckler cows is a live-born calf the main product and manure is the by-product. The costs are mostly calculated per suckler cow, live-born calf and per kilogram of live weight of weaned calf. Similar division of products into main and by-products is also in cost calculation for sheep categories. The difference is that clotted cheese is also considered as the main product of basic herd in dairy sheep and greasy wool as the by-products in all categories. Definition of the base calculation units in sheep categories followed the mentioned classification. The value of a by-product in cattle and sheep is usually set according to its quantity and intra- plant price of the by-product. In the calculation of the costs for sheep and cattle the “structural ewe” and “structural cow” proportionally integrate the costs of other categories of the herd into the costs of the basic herd. Subtraction, allocation and combined calculation methods of costs are the most used in breeding of ruminants. It is recommended to consider specific breeding conditions and objective calculation of costs for the relevant category, when picking out the method of calculation