Milk production and functioning of the farm : factors of variation in the farms of Pays de Thones

Abstract

An analysis of milk production (kg/cow/year) was conducted in 67 dairy farms, located in the Pays de Th6nes (Haute-Savoie, France) and registred with the Milk Control Board. These farms had already been classified, in another study, into 12 different types, on the basis of their functioning. Milk production in the different farms varied between 1 800 and 6 220 kg/cow/year. This variation was not due to farm structures (size, forage management system) but to the control on the genetic factors and herd management (calving management, winter and summer feeding). The most productive farms were also those which presented the best economic valorization of milk, partly because of the production of good quality cheeses. Milk production results have been analysed between as well as within farm types. The conclusions were as follows : 1 / some farm types are better than another to express milk production potential, 2 / there was, in some cases, a lack of consistency between the main factors of milk production improvement (genetics and nutrition), 3 / genetics and nutrition alone did not always account for the differences in milk production. In addition, the different farm types did not all present the same progress margins. These results are discussed on the basis of the analytical methods used and their importance in development strategies.