Brechas de rentabilidad econ ómica en pequeñas unidades de producción de leche en el altiplano central mexicano Gaps in economic profitability among small-scale dairy farms in the Mexican Highland Plateau

Between large and small-scale dairy farms (SSDF) there are gaps in economic profitability (EP) due to significant scale economies, but also can be found within the small-scale stratum, hindering the technological advancement and milk production sustainability. The aim was to identify the presence of EP gaps and relate them to productive factors in SSDF. Eighty nine owners were interviewed (2011) in SSDF located in the Mexican Highland Plateau (Valley of Aguascalientes), recorded in the SAGARPA Program for Technical Training and Assistance (sample: 95% confidence and 10% accuracy; SSDF with 1.0) were calculated on annual basis. Only one of five SSDF had surplus results (17/89=19.1%; CI95%: 14.9, 23.3 %), directly associated (P 1.0: 7/20 vs 10/69). These results suggest that public and private policies could focus their efforts to bridging the PE gaps between SSDF, improving the reach of technical potential for milk production, trading strategies, employment, and natural resources preservation.