The bio-economic approach was used to calculate economic weights for twelve production (dairy and growth), functional and carcass traits of Slovak Pinzgau cattle raised in dairy (A) and cow-calf (B) system. The breeding heifers for own herd replacement with ten reproduction cycles at maximum was produced. The sale of surplus male and female calves was assumed after finishing of weaning period in both systems. Milk production is with quota limited in Slovakia, but the quotas limits aren’t filling up if the whole dairy population is taken into account. In the system A, the base price per milk value was corrected according to the fat and protein content and somatic cells count. The marginal economic weights were calculated as the numeric derivation of the profit function. Marginal values were standardized (multiplied by the genetic standard deviation of the appropriate trait) and expressed as relative values (percentage proportion). The marginal economic weight for milk yield (+0.20 €) and for dressing percentage (+0.39 €) were the lowest in both systems. The highest marginal importance was found for production lifetime of cows in system A (+69.26 € per year and cow), and in system B (+52.55 € per year and cow), respectively. Functional traits achieved the highest marginal values in both systems. But the relative economic values for the functional traits complex represent only 37.04% in system A, and 73.52% in system B, respectively. The proportion of functional, production and carcass traits complexes was 37.04: 62.73: 0.23 in system A, and 73.52: 26.07: 0.41 in system B. The highest relative economic importance was observed for the 305 d milk production (37.70%) in system A and yearling weight (25.35%) in system B, respectively. Subsidies in the calculations were of positive effect on the profitability in the system B but it was not sufficient for positive profitability in the system A. The system A achieves negative profitability irrespective on assigned subsidies. The system B has positive profitability after accounting subsidies.

economic weights; Pinzgau breed; dairy system; cow-calf system

Published by University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb, CROATIA
Sponsored by Ministry Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia