CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING THE CRITERIA OF EFFICIENCY FOR THE CLASSIFICATION OF DAIRY FARMS

The paper aimed to present several criteria for dairy farms classification using a sample of 8 dairy farms from the Southern Romania whose data were collected for the year 2013. The most important indicator characterizing farm efficiency and size is milk yield because it is has a direct impact on gross margin or profit. Milk production cost should be also taken into account, as it is has a negative impact on the financial results. The application of the point method placed twofarms on the top position: F5 and F3, each one getting 45 points for the criteria taken into account. However, the farm F5 came on the 1st position for milk yield, marketed milk yield, gross product from milk, total gross product per cow and year and gross margin/cow/year and on the 7th position for variable costs, while the farms F3 came on the 3rd position for milk yield and variable cost, on the 2nd position for gross product from milk, total gross product per cow and year, and standard gross margin, and on the 1st position for heifer cost and own mechanical works as well. As a conclusion, dairy farmers should keep under control all the production cost items looking for measures to reduce costs as much as they can without affecting yield performance. Under an increased competition, farmers should pay attention to all the factors stimulating the growth of milk yield, as the higher milk production, the higher financial results.