Cost-benefit analysis of a milk production system with crossbred animals in northern Minas Gerais

A simulation study was conducted to estimate the production costs of animals with different proportions of Holstein genes and annual return per cow in a herd from the northern region of Minas Gerais. Data from the zootechnical archive of Fazenda Queluz, Francisco Sá, MG, Brazil, comprising the period from 2007 to 2012 were used. The production system consists of crossbred Holstein x Zebu (HZ) cows with a genetic composition ranging from 1/4 HZ to 7/8 HZ. Total revenue per animal, annual profit per cow and variation in profitability were estimated over the years according to genetic composition. The revenue from milk production was greater for 7/8 HZ cows, but the estimated annual profit per cow was only 7.75% of total revenue, followed by 3/4 HZ cows which also exhibited low profit (4.11%). The highest profit was observed for 3/8 HZ cows, followed by 1/4 HZ and 1/2 HZ animals. Inversion of the genetic composition of the herd was observed over the years. In 2007, 64% of cows of the herd were 7/8 HZ, while in 2012, 7/8 HZ cows had been replaced with 1/4 HZ, 3/8 HZ and 1/2 HZ animals, accounting for 90% of all genotypes. Despite the greater production of animals with a higher proportion of Holstein genes, the change to cows with a higher proportion of genes of dairy Zebu breeds increased profitability, a fact that might be attributed to the greater economic efficiency of this genotype.