Advisory instruments for the improvement of profitability on dairy farms

An advisory method developed in France was adapted for the application in Canton Jura and Bernese Jura to improve the profitability of dairy farms. Using this newly developed advisory instrument, an interdisciplinary team aimed to offer comprehensive consultancy. Data from 64 dairy farms was collected regarding environmental factors, management practices and related economic performance. Multivariate statistical analyses were performed to identify those factors most important for the operating profit. These analyses indicated that profitability with both hay and silage is significantly influenced by the quantity of milk produced from roughage. On the basis of these results, a classification scheme was developed with which specific optimisations respecting dependencies on environmental factors and management practices can be derived and their consequences for economic results estimated.