Costs and services of alpine farm management

Economic calculations were carried out on four different inspection plants of the lower and medium size classes, which differ mainly in their management form, but also in their development, electrification and building equipment. In addition to costs and benefits, the labour economic aspect was also examined. As an alternative to alpine farming, the domination of land in the surroundings of the home operation was considered. As long as no investments are required, the benefits in all four alpine farms exceed the costs of the Alpung. On the two larger inspection farms, the alpineing of cattle makes sense in the long term, i.e. the total costs are covered and the employment of external staff reduces the workload of farmers in the summer months. On the other hand, on the smaller inspection farms, the alpification of the animals causes an increase in the working time for farmers. Only one of the two smaller investigative plants will cover the costs of alpine farming in the long term. As long as no investments are required, the benefits in all four alpine farms exceed the costs of the Alpung. On the two larger inspection farms, the alpineing of cattle makes sense in the long term, i.e. the total costs are covered and the employment of external staff reduces the workload of farmers in the summer months. On the other hand, on the smaller inspection farms, the alpification of the animals causes an increase in the working time for farmers. Only one of the two smaller investigative plants will cover the costs of alpine farming in the long term. Milk processing in an alpine dairy is only profitable on the larger of the two melcals. For the two melkalms, calculations with young cattle show that the operation of a young cattle at the same location is more economical under current conditions when the working hours of family workers are not assessed, but the dairy livestock has advantages from a labour-economic point of view. The main factors influencing the profitability of an alpine farm were not only the location, the development, the building equipment and the personnel situation, but also the legal framework conditions (Milk Guarantee Ordinance and Milk Hygiene Ordinance) and the funding programmes: the extensive support measures do not take into account the economic disadvantages of smaller investigative firms. Despite higher premiums, the poor development on one of the four investigative firms causes economic disadvantages compared to those with truck-capable development. The Milk Guarantee Ordinance provides important incentives for the inspection companies to produce milk on the alpine pasture.