Factors influencing concentrate feeding: dairy farmers' perceptions of dairy production system characteristics and market relations

This study aimed to investigate factors that influence the use of concentrate in dairy farms based on farmers' perceptions of dairy system characteristics and relationships with the dairy industry. Data were collected through questionnaires administered on-site to 155 dairy farmers in Paraná State, Brazil. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Dairy farmers' perceptions were measured by the theoretical constructs, concentrate feeding, forage, genetics, management, and market. The results revealed that dairy farmers' decision to adopt concentrate feeding was mainly determined by the genetic construct (defined by herd genetics and breeding technology) and the market construct (defined by the ability of farmers to negotiate milk prices with the industry and the number of interested buyers). Concentrate feeding was also found to be influenced by farmers' perceptions of the management construct (management of costs and animal performance) and the forage construct (forage source and farmers' self-confidence in providing forage to cows throughout the year). These findings suggest that strategies aimed at stimulating concentrate feeding in dairy farms should focus on the following factors (listed in order of importance): genetic improvement, farmer–industry relations, financial and herd management, and forage supply and availability.