Analysis of feed conversion efficiency in dairy cattle farms in Thrace Region, Turkey

This study is conducted in Turkey, which is free of the disease in animal production in the Thrace region. Cattle milk production is approximately 19 million tons in Turkey and the milk yield per cattle is 3.14 tons year(-1). The aim of this study is to examine the feed conversion rates of dairy cattle farms in Thrace Region both in terms of energy efficiency and from an economic point of view and to make suggestions for increasing the energy efficiency. In addition, to reveal the economic achievement criteria by analyzing according to farm size. A face to face survey is conducted with 220 dairy cattle farms. Scores of the energy use efficiency obtained in the study ranged between 0.19 for the group I farms and 0.43 for the group IV farms. The results of the energy productivity vary between 0.06 kg MJ(-)(1) and 0.14 kg MJ(-)(1) according to the farm size. The feed conversion ratio in the region is calculated as 125.07%. The benefit-cost ratio of the region is calculated at 1.22. In order to increase efficiency scores in the region, agricultural policies should be developed in order to encourage efficiency in the use of input in cattle breeding farms. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.