R. Bras. Zootec.02/Apr/2026;55:e20240216.
The effect of grasslands and pastures on dairy farming and cattle farming efficiency: The case of Türkiye and European Union countries
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to analyze the effect of grasslands, meadows, and pastures on the efficiency of dairy farming and cattle farming in Türkiye and European Union countries. The primary data for this study included information on the production of raw milk and cattle meat, nitrogen content in treated manure, dairy cow populations, livestock standard units (LSUs), and the extent of grasslands, meadows, and pastures in both European Union countries and Türkiye. In the study, two distinct models were developed: one to assess dairy farming efficiency and the other to evaluate cattle farming efficiency. Dairy farming refers specifically to the production system that focuses on milk production from dairy cows. In contrast, cattle farming is a broader term that encompasses both dairy cattle and beef cattle. Data envelopment analysis was used to calculate the efficiency scores. The difference between dairy farming and cattle farming efficiency values was tested using the Mann-Whitney U test, and the results indicated a statistically significant difference in total efficiency (z = −2.462, P = 0.014) and technical efficiency (z = −3.416, P = 0.001) values. The significant difference in total efficiency values suggests that cattle farming is more efficient than dairy farming. Regarding grasslands, meadows, and pastures, countries with below-average grassland areas showed higher total efficiency values for cattle farming. Additionally, in countries where meadow and pasture areas are below average, total efficiency values for both dairy farming and cattle farming were higher. These findings suggest that the higher efficiency values observed in countries with below-average meadow and pasture areas may be explained by the structural characteristics of their production systems. In the absence of abundant natural forage resources, farmers are likely to adopt more intensive and resource-efficient management strategies, which enhance both total and scale efficiency. In other words, the scarcity of grassland acts as a driving force toward optimizing input utilization, resulting in improved efficiency outcomes in both dairy and overall cattle farming.