Sustentabilidad económica a nivel de empresa: aplicación aunidades familiares de producción de leche en México

The objective of this study was to assess economic sustainability of family milk production systems in Mexico. The sustainability indicators were estimated through a weak sustainability model. Ecological net added value was calculated for four family systems: milk in backyard (MinB), milk in grazing (MinG), dual purpose cattle private ownership (DPP) and dual purpose cattle communal ownership (DPC) and for two technology levels: traditional and improved. Data on beef and milk production, costs, investment and income were captured in farms in the States of Guanajuato, Tabasco and Veracruz. Secondary data referred to natural resources degradation and exhaustion was used. Sustainability indicators obtained for MinB, MinG, DPP and DPC were 486, 870, 678 y 633 pesos respectively, for farms applying improved technology and 289, 215, -2 y 74 pesos respectively, for farms using traditional technology. This study indicates that milk production in family enterprises is economically sustainable when improved technology is applied.