This work was carried out to apply a simulation model for the bioeconomic evaluation of feeding strategies for dairy herds and evaluate the physical productivity and the bioeconomic efficiency of feeding systems for dairy cows using feeding forage based strategies for cows with five levels of milk yield. An computational platform developed with the programs CNCPS v5.0 and electronic spreadsheets of Microsoft Excell® was used, in way to simulate the production and demands of nutrients of a complete lactation for cows of different milk yield levels. Economic analyses in seven strategies of feeding were carried out. The income over feed costs (RMCA) showed interaction among the feeding strategy with the milk yield levels. The strategies based on corn silage during the dry season and pastures during rain season resulted in higher RMCA for all milk yield levels, although the other feeding strategies present closed results, depending on the milk yield level. In the evaluated strategies, as higher was the milk yield per cow, greater was the productivity (PROD/ha) and the RMCA per area (RMCA/ha). As higher was the carrying capacity of forages or the stoking rate, which determined area was submitted, considering determined feeding strategy and milk production level, higher was PROD/ha and the RMCA/ha. For RMCA per cow, forages of greater energy density result in decreased feeding costs and increase in the income per animal. The RMCA/ha was strongly influenced by the support capacity of the forages, in all milk yield levels.
bioeconomic efficiency; dairy cattle; simulation
