The profitability division of the C.G.A

Faced with the improvements and specialisation in milk production, one must study the possibilities of an increase in beef production with herds which do not market milk. Is it possible to envisage herds specialised in the production of « lean » meat ? In collaboration with zootechnicians we are studying the economic advantages of possible technical improvements on the level of the farm, and hope to determine the best adapted production systems. A first model was built for Aubrac. On large-sized grass-growing farms, with summer pastures, the production system is basically that of lean meat. The optimal area of mountain pasture required is between 50 and 100 % of the basic grass-producing area. The fattening of a certain number of steers is possible when the price of cereals decreases or when they can be grown the labour force is sufficiently great. The number of weaned calves per cow is the zootechnical factor having the greatest economic influence. With a high weaning rate, the stock-raising system is made « younger » and more firmly directed towards lean meat. Large scale farms, control of the weaning rate and the régularisation of the selling price of « lean meat » : such are the conditions necessary for specialisation toward the production of calves intended for fattening.