How can production levels influence decision making on organic dairy farms in Brazil?

The aim of this study was to characterize organic dairy systems in Brazil. It was hypothesized that the production level of the herd influences the productivity and marketing aspects of organic milk production systems. A descriptive analysis was carried out in which the variables were geographical location, herd size, animal production, feed used, health and reproduction management, organic inputs used, feed production management, and transportation of products. The characteristics of the systems were evaluated according to the level of production, with farmers divided into 3 groups, with the upper extract comprising farms with an average production of over 16 L/cow per day (HIG), the medium extract with a production between 10.5 and 16 L/cow per day (MED), and the lower extract with an average production of less than 10.5 L/cow per day (LO). The variables were subjected to binomial logistic regression and comparisons were made by odds ratio. The average area of the properties was 107 ha (minimum 3 ha and maximum 1,450 ha); the area for organic milk production was 44 ha (minimum 1 ha and maximum 550 ha). The average daily milk production was 645 L/d (minimum of 12 L/d and maximum of 5,000 L/d), with an average production of 13 L/cow per day (minimum of 4 L/cow per day and maximum of 25 L/cow per day). The herds had an average of 58 cows (minimum 2 cows and maximum 310 cows) and 40 lactating cows (minimum 2 and maximum 255 cows). The average annual production was 7,517 L/ha per year (minimum 21 L/ha per year and maximum 29,877 L/ha per year). The average number of family workers was 2 (minimum 2 and maximum 7); the average number of external workers was 3 (minimum 2 and maximum 16). The HIG and MED farms were found to be 90% less likely to produce cheese. In addition, HIG and MED farms were 10.7 and 6.6 times more likely to have Holstein × Jersey crosses in their herd, respectively. The MED farms were 80% less likely to have Urochloa spp. pastures, whereas HIG farms were 93.2% less likely to have Urochloa spp. pastures and 92% less likely to use chopped grass to supplement the herd. However, the odds of having Megathyrsus maximus pastures was 4.66 times greater for HIG. In addition, HIG farms were 4.5 times more likely to use any type of management software. The analysis of certified organic dairy farms revealed a concentration in the Southeast region of Brazil, where production is mainly focused on milk, whereas other regions have more diversified organic production. The HIG farms are more likely to use specialized cattle breeds, herd supplementation, pastures formed by higher-yielding forage species with greater nutritional value, and management software. These results emphasize the need for public policies that promote the adoption of technological and sustainable practices to increase the efficiency and productivity of the organic dairy sector.