THE CHANGE OF SOWING STRUCTURE AS A STRATEGY FOR IMPROVING COMPETITIVENESS OF FAMILY FARMS DIRECTED AT THE FINAL PRODUCTION OF FATTENED BEEF CATTLE

The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of sowing structureon family farm competiveness using the model of family farm directed at the finalproduction of fattened beef cattle in the conditions of unchanged estate size. Applying a partial budget analysis, it was examined whether the decision onbuying alfalfa hay or mercantile maize on the market and changing the sowingstructure was economically justified and under what conditions using additionalprocedure of sensitive analysis. Applying this approach, it was investigated to whatextent that decision contributed to improving the family farm profitability. Theresults of the conducted research show that the decision on buying mercantilemaize mainly contributes to improving competitiveness of family farms directed atthe final production of fattened beef cattle compared with the decision on buyingalfalfa hay. It is the consequence of the fact that buying mercantile maize on themarket will enable sowing structure changes, that is, buying mercantile maize willmake the area free, which according to some conservative estimations, can be usedfor the production of sufficient amounts of alfalfa and silage maize for fattening ofadditional 19 head, whereas buying alfalfa hay will make the area free, which canbe used for production of sufficient amounts of mercantile and silage maize forfattening of additional 6 head. In addition, it is shown that more rational way oforganising family farms directed at the final production of fattened beef cattle canadditionally use available land resources and in that way increase profitability andimprove competitiveness.