DAIRY FARMS (VAQUERIAS) IN CUBA: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LABOUR COSTS AND LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY AS DEPENDING ON FARM SIZE
B. Robes , L. Angarica
Summary
Milk production has increased in Cuba in recent years.
The factors that contributed to this good result include the establishment of
modern vaquerias furnished with advanced milking and other equipments. Nevertheless,
live work (labour costs) account for as much as 20 % of the total costs of milk
production. The analysis has shown that the largest-capacity vaquerias (288
dairy cows) have the highest labour productivity: on such dairy farms the labour
demand is 0.38 days and labour costs are 2.73 Cuban pesos per 100 litres of
milk. There are potential reserves for increasing the production of milk: the
milk yields can be increased by up to 20 %, the capacity of the vaquerias can
be increased by up to 14 %, and labour demand can be reduced by as much as 30
%.
Key words:
cattle, reserves in cattle breeding, agriculture in
Cuba