Measurement of the relative technical efficiency of the farms associated to Coounion in Guasca Cundinamarca

Objective. To determine the relative technical efficiency using the data envelopment analysis DEA of farms associated to the Coounion. Materials and methods. A total of 12 farms associated to the Coounion Cooperative, municipality of Guasca (Cundinamarca) were studied. Data were obtained during a period of one year (June/01/2008 to May/31/ 2009) and structured in six variables, of which two models both appear with four variables that are oriented to the inputs with constant scale returns (CRS). The First Model consists of three entries: Nutrition, Maintenance, Milking, and one output: Milk. the Second Model has two entrances: Nutrition, Maintenance, and two outputs: Meat and Mreeding. Results. From the twelve farms studied only one presented the best efficiency, for both models (Model 1 and 2). Therefore, the best practices of this farm were considered to be applied on the others farms Conclusions. To apply the methodology DEA in cattle farms is viable because it allows to focus mainly in those variables that are controllable by the rancher like the consumables. Therefore, the evaluation of the relative technical efficiency was developed oriented to the consumables. It was demonstrated that the farms can maintain their present levels of production making significant reductions in their costs.