Technical-economic study of three productive alternatives of the dual-purpose bovine system in Meta-Colombia

Introduction. The profitability of the dual-purpose system (DPS) is affected by low production efficiency andhigh production costs generated in traditional management. Studies based on the reduction of expenses and increaseof income, could suggest strategies to improve economic efficiency. Objective. Determine the technical y profitableefficiency of three production alternatives for bovine DPS in Meta, Colombia. Materials and methods. Seventy-twoBos taurus x Bos indicus cows were selected, starting lactation, fed under grazing, during the period 2016-2017, in a farm in Meta, Colombia. The cows and their calves were distributed in three groups; alternative 1 (MA1): milking 2 times a week until weaning (100 days), alternative 2 (MA2): milking 2 times a week until weaning (240 days), andtraditional (MT): milking daily until weaning (240 days). In the calves, the weight at birth and at 252 days of age (W252) were measured, and the daily weight gain (DWG) was estimated. In the cows, the birth rate (BR) and themilk produced per lactation (MPL) were measured. The productive response fed the economic analysis projected for a breeding stock of 100 cows. Results. The W252 and DWG between MA1 (189.30 kg; 0.64 kg/animal/day) and MA2(186.10 kg; 0.63 kg/animal/day) were similar (P>0.05), but higher (p<0.05) than those of the MT (155.10 kg; 0.54 kg/animal/day). BR presented the highest benefit for MA1 (0.84 calves/cow/year), followed by MA2 (0.74 calves/cow/year) and MT (0.68 calves/cow/year). The MPL was 1204.36 kg for MT, 303.74 kg for MA2 and 158.75 kg for MA1.MA1’s profitability outperformed MA2 and MT by 9.5 and 9.2 %, respectively. Conclusions. The MA1 reflected thegreater economic efficiency mainly due to the effect of the increase in the BR and the decrease in production costs.