INFLUENCE OF PRODUCTION SYSTEM ON MILK PRODUCTIVITY IN INTERIOR OF SÃO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the influence of the production system on milk productivity in farms from Birigui microregion, São Paulo, Brazil. The study was based on data collection from milk production systems in the aforementioned region, through a structured interview. Convenience sampling was carried out, with 15 producers chosen from each productive stratum (according to daily milk production: small - up to 100 L; medium - 101 to 300 L; large - more than 300 L), totaling a sample with 45 milk producers. Only farms with grazing or semi-feedlot system for roughage feeding base were included. To evaluate the influence of different factors on milk productivity, multivariate regression and multivariate analysis of variance with Tukey's post-test were performed. The verified productivity (mean ± standard deviation), which represents the study response variable, was 6,274.9 ± 4,981.4 L/ha/year. With the statistical analysis, it was possible to identify roughage feeding base and milk production per days of calving interval as predictive variables that influence productivity, being roughage feeding base the one that exerted the greatest influence on the response variable. There was no difference in productivity between farms that used short-duration grazing system and roughage feeding base in the trough (p>0.05), but both had higher productivity (p<0.05) compared to farms that used continuous grazing system and alternated grazing system, which did not differ from each other (p>0.05). Regarding roughage feeding base, the results indicate the importance of adequate pasture management and demonstrate the feasibility of using, for milk production, rotational grazing instead of semi-feedlot. About milk production per days of calving interval, the results denote the importance of attention to production and reproduction together, and not in isolation, so that there is productive efficiency in the system. The focus of work from producers, technicians, researchers and other participants of milk production chain must be sustainability and animal welfare.