Optimizing Production in Small-Scale Beef Cattle Farm

The focus of our contribution is optimization of planning and breeding in a small-scale beef cattle farm in a long-term horizon. We present a vast linear programming model capturing all categories of cattle. The overall balance of cattle categories is influenced in a positive sense by the reproduction cycle and purchasing of heavily pregnant heifers in a monthly sense. The decrease in the overall state of the herd is caused by herd turnover and sales in the meat sector. Our intention is to design a mathematical model and find through linear programming such balance that generates the maximum and stable profit in a long-term horizon. The constraints are determined by the availability of space in cattle stables and herd turnover. We maximize the profit over sales of meat bulls and meat cows. The life cycle of all categories is captured by a tree graph. On its basis, the mathematical model of linear optimization is presented in detail. We optimize according to various scenarios of purchases and sales subjected to changing prices, subsidies and limits of farm capacity. It occurs that the subsidies play a key role in maintaining of prosperous farm under the current circumstances in the market.