Economic sustainability of suckler cow herds; a farm modelling approach

Žgajnar, Jaka (author), Kavčič, Stane (author)

Across all farm types, suckler cow production in Slovenia remains largely extensive, relying heavily on permanent grassland of varying quality. Labour requirements per livestock unit are relatively low, while land-use efficiency and forage productivity are constrained by terrain, land fragmentation, and low land fertility. These factors collectively shape the economic sustainability and competitiveness of suckler cow systems within less favoured areas (LFA). An analysis of seven typical agricultural holdings (TAHs) reveals substantial variability in production systems, cost structures, and gross margin. Smaller farms with limited land resources generate modest gross margin and depend strongly on budgetary support, which may account for more than 60% of total gross margin. In contrast, larger and more consolidated farms from land perspective, achieve higher labour productivity and better economic returns, mainly due to scale of economies and better management. Despite recent improvements in market conditions driven by higher calf prices the sector remains economically fragile and highly dependent on budgetary transfers. Strengthening structural adjustment, improving forage quality, and enhancing market orientation are key to increasing the long-term resilience and sustainability of Slovenia’s suckler cow sector.

• Language: English
• Keywords: cattle production, suckler cows, economics, economic analysis, farm model, typical agricultural holdings, Slovenia
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Geographic coverage: Slovenija
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 9 str.
• Numbering: Vol. ǂ122, no. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-184603
• UDC: 631:636.2
• ISSN on article: 1854-1941
• DOI: 10.14720/aas.2026.122.2.24433
• COBISS.SI-ID: 284406019
• Publication date in RUL: 10.07.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Acta agriculturae Slovenica
• Publisher: Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za agronomijo in Oddelek za zootehniko, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za agronomijo in Oddelek za zootehniko, Univerza v Ljubljani, Biotehniška fakulteta, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 1854-1941
• COBISS.SI-ID: 219581184

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Ekonomska trajnost reje krav dojilj; pristop modeliranja na ravni kmetije

Abstract

Med vsemi kmetijskimi dejavnostmi je reja krav dojilj v Sloveniji med najbolj ekstenzivnimi in pretežno temelji na trajnem travinju različne kakovosti. Potreba po delu na žival je relativno nizka, medtem ko sta učinkovitost rabe zemljišč in dosežena intenzivnost pridelave krme omejeni zlasti zaradi reliefa, razdrobljenosti zemljišč in pogosto tudi slabše rodovitnosti trajnega travinja. Ti dejavniki skupaj vplivajo na ekonomsko trajnost in konkurenčnost sistemov reje krav dojilj na območjih z omejenimi možnostmi za kmetijsko dejavnost (OMD). Analiza sedmih tipičnih kmetijskih gospodarstev (TAH) razkriva znatno raznolikost v proizvodnih sistemih, strukturi stroškov in bruto dodani vrednosti. Manjše kmetije z omejenimi zemljišči dosegajo skromno bruto dodano vrednost in so močno odvisne od proračunskih podpor, ki lahko predstavljajo več kot 60 % celotne bruto dodane vrednosti. Nasprotno pa večje in bolj konsolidirane kmetije z vidika obdelovalnih površin dosežejo višjo produktivnost dela in ugodnejše ekonomske kazalnike, predvsem zaradi izkoriščanja učinkov ekonomije obsega in učinkovitejšega upravljanja. Kljub nedavnim izboljšavam tržnih razmer, predvsem zaradi višjih cen telet, sektor ostaja ekonomsko ranljiv in močno odvisen od proračunskih podpor. Krepitev strukturnih prilagoditev, izboljšanje kakovosti krme in močnejša tržna usmerjenost so ključni za povečanje dolgoročne odpornosti in trajnosti slovenskega sektorja reje krav dojilj.

• Keywords: krave dojilje, ekonomika, ekonomska analiza, kmetijski model, tipična kmetijska gospodarstva

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: V4-2402
• Name: Razvoj trajnostne živinoreje v Sloveniji