Typology of dairy properties directed by young people in the region of the northern plateau of Santa Catarina

Abstract

The development and application of sustainability indicators that assist in decision making in dairy farming is an important current demand. In the Planalto Norte Catarinense dairy farming has grown through the support of public and private entities and farmers' organizations. This growth has led to discussions about local productive models, especially among young people, who have a longer productive life expectancy. This work aims to typify the milk production units in the Planalto Norte Catarinense based on the productive characteristics as a tool to explain the efficiency of the activity. Questionnaires were applied in July 2018 on 26 rural properties where young people are protagonists. The typification of rural properties occurred as a function of ten variables. The results indicate a greater influence of the income generation by area in the dairy activity compared to the operational costs. In these two axes, the properties were divided into five groups: high productive efficiency; high animal productivity; high operating cost; low productive efficiency; intermediary. The indicators used were efficient to portray the reality of the milk activity and the results suggest that for greater profitability in milk production, it is necessary to manage well the animal stocking, the animal productivity and the operational costs.

Keywords: Indicators. Dairy produtction. Sustainability. Farm succession. Typification.