Melhoramento da eficiência e gestão das explorações de bovinos de carne em Portugal

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to analyze the efficiency of beef cattle in Portugal, in the Alentejo and Beira Interior and identify their relationship with the characteristics of the farm and its management practices in order to improve their efficiency. The methodology is based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) in order to determine the technical efficiency of farms and logarithmic multiple regression to analyze the determinants of efficiency. The results show that beef cattle farms can increase their efficiency if they adopt better management practices, namely, to reduce hiring and unskilled labor, and invest in new investments adjusted to the activity. Strengthening measures of the national and Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is suggested to promote the qualification of human resources and their management skills and invest in education in the sector with adequate academic degrees on agricultural economics. The conclusions also suggest the reinforcement of public policies in order to increase the innovation at the sector and to promote this beef production systems environmental sustainable in Portugal.