A stochastic bio-economic pig farm model to assess the impact of innovations on farm performance.

Recently developed innovations may improve the economic and environmental sustainability of pig production systems. Generic models are needed to assess the impact of innovations on farm performance. Here we developed a stochastic bio-economic farm model for a typical farrow-to-finish pig farm to assess the impact of innovations on private and social profits.

Derivation of economic values for production traits in aquaculture species.

Background: In breeding programs for aquaculture species, breeding goal traits are often weighted based on the desired gains but economic gain would be higher if economic values were used instead. The objectives of this study were: (1) to develop a bio-economic model to derive economic values for aquaculture species, (2) to apply the model to determine the economic importance and economic values of traits in a case-study on gilthead seabream, and (3) to validate the model by comparison with a profit equation for a simplified production system.

Methods: A bio-economic model was developed to simulate a grow-out farm for gilthead seabream, and then used to simulate gross margin at the current levels of the traits and after one genetic standard deviation change in each trait with the other traits remaining unchanged.

Fisher-Level Decision Making to Participate in Fisheries Improvement Projects (FIPs) for Yellowfin Tuna in the Philippines.

This study identifies the capabilities needed by small-scale fishers to participate in Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) for yellowfin tuna in the Philippines. The current literature provides little empirical evidence on how different models, or types of FIPs, influence the participation of fishers in their programs and the degree which FIPs are able to foster improvements in fishing practices. To address this literature gap, two different FIPs are empirically analysed, each with different approaches for fostering improvement.

Dutch dairy farms after milk quota abolition: Economic and environmental consequences of a new manure policy.

The abolition of the Dutch milk quota system has been accompanied by the introduction of a new manure policy to limit phosphate production (i.e., excretion via manure) on expanding dairy farms.

Economic and environmental effects of providing increased amounts of solid feed to veal calves.

Traditionally, veal calves receive most of their nutrients from milk replacer (MR). Nowadays, however, solid feed (SF; i.e.

Effect of feed-related farm characteristics on relative values of genetic traits in dairy cows to reduce greenhouse gas emissions along the chain.

Breeding has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from dairy farming. Evaluating the effect of a 1-unit change (i.e.

Investment appraisal of technology innovations on dairy farm electricity consumption.

The aim of this study was to conduct an investment appraisal for milk-cooling, water-heating, and milk-harvesting technologies on a range of farm sizes in 2 different electricity-pricing environments. This was achieved by using a model for electricity consumption on dairy farms. The model simulated the effect of 6 technology investment scenarios on the electricity consumption and electricity costs of the 3 largest electricity-consuming systems within the dairy farm (i.

Methods to determine the relative value of genetic traits in dairy cows to reduce greenhouse gas emissions along the chain.

Current decisions on breeding in dairy farming are mainly based on economic values of heritable traits, as earning an income is a primary objective of farmers. Recent literature, however, shows that breeding also has potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The objective of this paper was to compare 2 methods to determine GHG values of genetic traits.

Cost-effectiveness of feeding strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farming.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of 3 feeding strategies to reduce enteric CH4 production in dairy cows by calculating the effect on labor income at the farm level and on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the chain level (i.e., from production of farm inputs to the farm gate).

Comparing risk in conventional and organic dairy farming in the Netherlands: an empirical analysis.

This study was undertaken to contribute to the understanding of why most dairy farmers do not convert to organic farming. Therefore, the objective of this research was to assess and compare risks for conventional and organic farming in the Netherlands with respect to gross margin and the underlying price and production variables. To investigate the risk factors a farm accountancy database was used containing panel data from both conventional and organic representative Dutch dairy farms (2001-2007).

Quantifying the effect of heat stress on daily milk yield and monitoring dynamic changes using an adaptive dynamic model.

Automation and use of robots are increasingly being used within dairy farming and result in large amounts of real time data. This information provides a base for the new management concept of precision livestock farming. From 2003 to 2006, time series of herd mean daily milk yield were collected on 6 experimental research farms in the Netherlands.

Increasing the revenues from automatic milking by using individual variation in milking characteristics.

The objective of this study was to quantify individual variation in daily milk yield and milking duration in response to the length of the milking interval and to assess the economic potential of using this individual variation to optimize the use of an automated milking system. Random coefficient models were used to describe the individual effects of milking interval on daily milk yield and milking duration. The random coefficient models were fitted on a data set consisting of 4,915 records of normal uninterrupted milkings collected from 311 cows kept in 5 separate herds for 1 wk.

On-farm quantification of sustainability indicators: an application to egg production systems.

1. On-farm quantification of sustainability indicators (SI) is an effective way to make sustainable development measurable. The egg production sector was used as a case study to illustrate this approach.

Potential effects of accumulating environmental policies on Dutch dairy farms.

Consequences for farm management, environment, and economics of environmental policies for Dutch dairy farms were examined through modeling with two policies applied successively to typical dairy farms. Both policies aim to decrease nutrient losses in the soil. The first policy, the Mineral Accounting System (MINAS), is a farm gate balance approach that was introduced in 1998.

Economic aspects of the control of classical swine fever outbreaks in the European Union.

A framework for assessing the economic impact of classical swine fever (CSF) is presented, including an analysis of direct and indirect costs. Direct costs are divided into calculated costs, expenditure on control measures (payable costs) and costs due to financial transfers. The economic impact of current control strategies is described using practical examples.