Evaluation of determinants affecting technical efficiency of dairy farms

This paper highlights the determinants that influence the technical efficiency of dairy farms in the Chhattisgarh plains of India. For the present investigation, 44dairy farms were randomly selected and administered with pre-developed questionnaires. The data obtained were analyzed using the Cobb-Douglas production function via FRONTIER 4.1 to identify various determinants and management parameters that affect the technical efficiency of dairy farms. A longer calving conception interval (β = - 0.03), regular faecal examinations (β= - 0.08), and the presence of a loose housing system (β= - 0.06) had significantly negative influences (P < 0.10) on technical efficiency. It was concluded that measures to improve peak milk yield (β = 0.58), lactation persistency (β = 0.82), strategic culling of animals (β = 0.03), regular deworming (β = 0.10), high labor productivity (β = 0.15), and improved ratios of pregnant to non-pregnant animals (β = 0.07), forage to concentrate (β = 0.07), and milch to dry animals (β = 0.08) along with the presence of irrigation facilities (β = 0.07), proper dairy waste disposal (β = 0.05) and utilization (β = 0.04), and environmentally controlled dairy housing (β = 0.36), would enhance technical efficiency. The study recommends better feeding, housing, and waste management practices to improve the efficiency of milk production in dairy farms across the Chhattisgarh plains and similar agro-climatic zones of India.