Bayesian Analysis of Factors Influencing Milk Productivity of Small-hold Dairy Buffalo Farmers in South Luzon, Philippines
Thelma Saludes
Philippine Carabao Center at UP Los Baños, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
Hironobu Takeshita
*
Department of Bioresource Sciences, Graduate School of Bioagricutural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study analyzed the factors influencing milk productivity of smallholder dairy buffalo farmers in South Luzon, Philippines. We used a cross-sectional data collected from 61 dairy buffalo farmers. This is the first local study to apply a Bayesian approach. The empirical results revealed that among the socio-economic, farm, and technology characteristics investigated, the household size have a positive effect, the number of lactating dairy buffalo negative effect, and the technology adoption of data recording a positive effect on milk productivity of dairy buffalo farmers rendering these factors significant in the analysis of productivity.
Keywords: Bayesian approach, milk productivity, dairy buffalo production, smallholder farmers.