ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CALF MORTALITY ON DAIRY FARMS
IN
KUWAIT
M. A. RAZZAQUE, M.
BEDAIR, S. ABBAS AND T. AL-MUTAWA
Aridland Agriculture and Greenery Department,
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), P.O. Box 24885, Safat13109, Kuwait
Abstract
Objective of this study was to investigate the
economic impact of mortality of pre-weaned calves on dairy cattle enterprise in
Kuwait. Cost/benefit analysis model was applied to two
different situations: in the first situation, a baseline scenario, field survey
data without intervention using 1,280 newborn calves was used in first calving
season. In the second situation, the intervention scenario (improved
management), 665 newborn calves were used in second calving season during the
following year. Calving seasons extended for 7 months from September to March.
Calf performance studies were conducted from birth to weaning. Economic model
was constructed on Microsoft Excel and used to evaluate the impact of calf
mortality on calf enterprise. Results showed that gross
margins increased from 13 to 35% as a result of implementation of intervention
measures during the second calving season over baseline scenario. A significant
correlation between increased veterinary expenses and an increase in revenues (r2
= 0.65, P<0.05) was observed. If the intervention measures such as colostrum
feeding, nutrition and hygiene had not been implemented, the farms would have
lose income from 12 to 51% of the gross revenues. Net income was influenced by
costs of feeds, veterinary services and laborers. Discounted cash flow studies
on a whole farm basis revealed that the impact of interventions was small
(0-3%). Calf mortality could not be isolated from whole farm for assessing its
impact on dairy farm economics. Economic studies demonstrated the cost/benefits
of using the improved techniques of calf rearing.