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Publication #DS178

Dairy Business Analysis Project: 2003 Financial Summary1

A. de Vries, R. Giesy, L. Ely, B. Broaddus, C. Vann, and B. Butler2

Introduction

The Dairy Business Analysis Project (DBAP) was initiated in 1996 by the University of Florida in an effort to measure and document the financial performance of Florida dairy businesses using standardized accounting measures. The University of Georgia has been a formal collaborator since 1998. A committee of dairymen appointed by Southeast Milk, Inc. oversees the project and helps direct its course. The DBAP website is http://dairy.ifas.ufl.edu/dbap/index.shtml.

Financial data for the year 2003 were collected from participating dairies and screened for completeness and validity. Each dairy then received a report detailing its financial results compared to the average results for the other participants and the six dairies with the highest net farm income from operations per cwt.

This publication is a summary of the financial performance in the year 2003. It is intended for general use by dairy farmers, the allied industry, and government, and educational professionals.

Data Collection and Accounting Methods

Dairy businesses in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama were asked to participate in DBAP. Participants were not a random sample of all dairies in the three states. The financial performance results in this publication are therefore not necessarily representative of the results of all dairies in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.

Most of the data were collected by extension agents when visiting farms using a standardized data collection spreadsheet. Occasionally, data were sent in by the dairy farms. The financial data were either entered into the spreadsheet on the farm or mailed in on paper copies of the spreadsheet.

The accounting methods follow the recommendations made by the Farm Financial Standards Council Farm Financial Standards Council. 1997. Financial Guidelines for Agricultural Producers.. All revenues and expenses were accrual adjusted. Cash receipts and expenses were therefore adjusted for changes in inventory, prepaid expenses, depreciation, accounts payable, and receivable. Depreciation data were taken from tax records. Asset valuation was based on market values, but the changes from January 1 to December 31 were kept small. Unpaid management was valued at $50,000 per farm. Gain/loss on sale of capital livestock resulted when livestock depreciation did not completely account for the gain or loss in the value of the purchased livestock during 2003. Appreciation resulted when machinery and building depreciation did not completely account for the gain or loss in the value of these capital assets during 2003.

The bottom line of each dairy business is its net farm income. Net farm income is the return to the owner and unpaid family members for their labor, management, and equity in the business. It is the total income available for owners salary, new investments, taxes, and paying off principal.

All submitted data were carefully scrutinized and checked for completeness. The cash flow statement reconciles the net cash flow resulting from the reported operating, investing, and financing activities with the reported available cash on the January 1 and December 31 balance sheets. The equity statement reconciles the changes in equity through reported retained capital and valuation with the calculated equity on the balance sheets. The reconciliation attempts typically result in unresolved imbalances. Both cash flow imbalance and equity imbalance had to be less than 10% for the business to be included in the summary results reported here.

Results

Twenty-seven dairies submitted financial data. Twenty-six dairies were included in the summary results. Of these, 17 were located in Florida and 9 in Georgia. The average herd size of the participating dairies was 1,316 cows and 619 heifers with 17,971 lbs. milk sold per cow. The average culling rate was 40%. The milk price received by DBAP participants averaged $15.89, 1% less than in 2002. Average total revenues were $17.66 per cwt. sold, unchanged from 2002. Total expenses averaged $18.27 per cwt., an increase of $0.37 compared to 2002. The largest items were purchased feed ($7.16) and personnel costs ($3.22). Net farm income from operations averaged a loss of $0.61 per cwt., a decrease of $0.38 compared to 2002. Net farm income per cwt. was a loss of $0.51.

Summary results are presented in Figures 1 through 5 and Tables 1.1 through 4.4. Some definitions and calculation rules are as follows:

  • Assets turnover ration = total revenues/average assests

  • Assets = value of assets on the balance sheet

  • Average assets = average of value of assets on January 1 and December 31

  • Average equity = average of value of equity on January 1 and December 31

  • Capital replacement and term debt repayment margin = NFIFO + depreciation + interest on term debt – net social security and income taxes – owner withdrawals – annual scheduled payments on term debt and capital leases.

  • Cash flow coverage ratio = (cash revenues – cash expenses) / current liabilities

  • Current assets = short-term assets that can be utilized within one year

  • Current liabilities = liabilities due within one year

  • Current ratio = current assets / current liabilities

  • Debt to asset ratio = liabilities / assets

  • Debt to equity ratio = liabilities / equity

  • Depreciation expense ratio = depreciation / total revenue

  • Equity = assets – liabilities

  • Equity to asset ratio = equity / assets

  • FTE = full time equivalent worker, on average 54 hours per week

  • Interest expense ratio = interest paid / total revenue

  • Liabilities = value of liabilities on the balance sheet

  • Net farm income = NFIFO + gain on sale of capital assets

  • NFIFO = net farm income from operations

  • NFIFO ratio = NFIFO / total revenue

  • Operating expense ratio = (total operating expenses – depreciation) / total revenue

  • Operating profit margin ratio = (NFIFO + interest paid – unpaid management) / total revenues

  • Rate of return on dairy assets = (NFIFO + interest paid – unpaid management) / average assets

  • Rate of return on equity = (NFIFO – unpaid management) / average equity

  • Term debt and capital lease coverage ratio = (NFIFO + non dairy income + depreciation + interest paid on term debt – net social security and income taxes – owner withdrawals) / (annual scheduled payments on term debt and capital leases).

  • Working capital = current assets / current liabilities

Figure 1. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Milk per cow (lbs / year) by heifers per cows.


[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Figure 2. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Net farm income per cwt ($) by heifers per cows.


[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Figure 3. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Net farm income per cwt ($) by total expenses per cwt ($).


[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Figure 4. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Net farm income per cwt ($) by milk per cow (lbs / year).


[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Figure 5. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Net farm income per cwt ($) by average number of cows.


[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Tables

Table 1.1. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Business size and production efficiency by state and overall average, median, and standard deviation.

Overall

State Averages

Category

Average

Median

Std1

Florida

Georgia

Number of farms

26

26

26

17

9

Business Size

         

Average number of cows

1,316

823

1,276

1,363

1,228

Average number of heifers

619

376

790

739

394

Milk sold (million lbs)

24.69

14.04

25.66

24.19

25.64

FTE workers

24

15

24

25

24

Acres of pasture + cultivated land

732

421

632

796

610

         

Production Efficiency

         

Milk sold / cow (lbs)

17,971

18,214

3,355

16,770

20,238

Cows / FTE worker

55

56

22

59

46

Milk sold / FTE worker (million lbs)

0.96

0.93

0.38

0.99

0.92

Cull rate

0.40

0.36

0.16

0.39

0.44

1Standard deviation.

Table 1.2. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Revenues and expenses by state and overall average, median, and standard deviation.

 

Overall

State Averages

Category

Average

Median

Std1

Florida

Georgia

Number of farms

26

26

26

17

9

Revenues (per cwt)

         

Milk sold ($)

15.89

15.91

0.70

16.05

15.60

Raised, leased cow sales ($)

0.36

0.32

0.91

0.41

0.26

Heifer sales ($)

0.25

0.14

0.69

0.24

0.29

Gain on purchased livestock sales ($)

0.19

0.01

0.94

0.21

0.16

Other revenues ($)

0.97

0.59

1.27

0.62

1.63

Total revenues ($)

17.66

17.44

1.58

17.52

17.94

Expenses (per cwt)

         

Personnel ($)

3.22

2.94

1.46

3.43

2.83

Purchased feed ($)

7.16

7.06

1.27

7.43

6.64

Crops ($)

0.43

0.27

0.56

0.25

0.79

Machinery ($)

0.82

0.76

0.46

0.87

0.70

Livestock ($)

1.95

1.82

0.80

1.87

2.10

Milk marketing ($)

1.11

1.00

0.35

0.93

1.45

Buildings and land ($)

0.52

0.37

0.76

0.42

0.72

Interest ($)

0.49

0.36

0.55

0.56

0.36

Depreciation:

         
  • Livestock ($)

0.92

0.61

0.94

0.97

0.81

  • Machinery ($)

0.49

0.45

0.34

0.42

0.62

  • Buildings ($)

0.21

0.14

0.22

0.16

0.31

Other expenses ($)

0.94

0.89

0.44

0.96

0.90

Total expenses ($)

18.27

18.04

2.20

18.28

18.24

Net farm income from operations ($)

(0.61)

(0.76)

2.69

(0.77)

(0.30)

Gain on sale of capital assets ($)

0.09

0.00

0.51

0.14

0.01

Net farm income ($)

(0.51)

(0.33)

2.82

(0.63)

(0.29)

1Standard deviation.

Table 1.3. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Financial performance by state and overall average, median, and standard deviation.

Overall

State Averages

Category

Average

Median

Std1

Florida

Georgia

Number of farms

26

26

26

17

9

Liquidity

         

Current ratio

2.01

0.63

4.04

1.48

3.00

Working capital

(161,312)

(41,242)

778,878

(172,449)

(140,275)

Solvency

         

Debt to asset ratio

0.41

0.39

0.26

0.40

0.43

Equity to asset ratio

0.59

0.61

0.26

0.60

0.57

Debt to equity ratio2

(173.91)

0.62

895.28

0.88

(504.07)

Profitability

         

Rate of return on assets

(0.01)

(0.03)

0.09

(0.01)

(0.01)

Rate of return on equity

(0.18)

(0.06)

0.60

(0.03)

(0.48)

Operating profit margin ratio

(0.06)

(0.05)

0.18

(0.06)

(0.05)

Financial efficiency

         

Asset turnover rate

0.70

0.69

0.41

0.66

0.78

Operating expense ratio

0.92

0.90

0.17

0.93

0.90

Depreciation expense ratio

0.09

0.08

0.06

0.09

0.10

Interest expense ratio

0.03

0.02

0.03

0.03

0.02

Net farm income ratio

(0.04)

(0.04)

0.16

(0.06)

(0.02)

Repayment capacity

         

Cash flow coverage ratio

0.27

0.13

4.87

(0.67)

2.04

Term debt coverage ratio3

0.32

0.00

2.71

0.35

0.26

Capital replacement margin4

(143,812)

(55,854)

892,392

(142,134)

(146,981)

1Standard deviation.

2One dairy with a very small negative equity had a very large negative debt to equity ratio.

3Term debt and capital lease coverage ratio.

4Capital replacement and term debt repayment margin.

Table 1.4. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Balance sheet by state and overall average, median, and standard deviation.

Overall

State Averages

Category

Average

Median

Std1

Florida

Georgia

Number of farms

26

26

26

17

9

Balance sheet (January 1)

         

Current assets / cow ($)

491

281

455

358

742

Total assets / cow ($)

5,902

4,470

3,737

5,450

6,757

Current liabilities / cow ($)

654

412

670

677

610

Total liabilities / cow ($)

1,905

1,665

1,365

1,940

1,840

Equity / cow ($)

3,997

2,274

4,119

3,510

4,917

Balance sheet (December 31)

         

Current assets / cow ($)

447

337

367

358

615

Total assets / cow ($)

6,294

4,329

5,174

5,391

8,000

Current liabilities / cow ($)

544

338

562

572

491

Total liabilities / cow ($)

2,023

1,939

1,297

1,826

2,394

Equity / cow ($)

4,271

2,319

5,535

3,565

5,606

1Standard deviation.

Table 2.1. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Business size and production efficiency by average number of cows and milk per cow.

 

Average number of cows

Milk per cow (lbs / year)

Category

< 500

500-

1150

> 1150

< 16,600

16,600-

19,500

> 19,500

Number of farms

9

8

9

9

8

9

Business Size            
Average number of cows

287

788

2,814

996

781

2,112

Average number of heifers

205

428

1,203

219

577

1,058

Milk sold (million lbs)

5.01

13.99

53.89

14.94

13.83

44.10

FTE workers

6

17

49

15

17

41

Acres of pasture + cultivated land

299

434

1,429

695

604

881

           
Production Efficiency            
Milk sold / cow (lbs)

17,161

17,852

18,886

14,402

18,131

21,396

Cows / FTE worker

44

54

66

61

55

48

Milk sold / FTE worker (million lbs)

0.73

0.94

1.22

0.89

0.97

1.03

Cull rate

0.48

0.35

0.37

0.35

0.46

0.40

Table 2.2. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Revenues and expenses by average number of cows and milk per cow.

 

Average number of cows

Milk per cow (lbs / year)

Category

< 500

500-

1150

> 1150

< 16,600

16,600-

19,500

> 19,500

Number of farms

9

8

9

9

8

9

Revenues (per cwt)            
Milk sold ($)

15.45

15.95

16.28

16.00

16.15

15.56

Raised, leased cow sales ($)

0.22

0.35

0.50

0.54

0.27

0.25

Heifer sales ($)

0.11

0.24

0.41

0.12

0.52

0.15

Gain on purchased livestock sales ($)

(0.11)

0.40

0.31

0.49

(0.19)

0.24

Other revenues ($)

1.94

0.48

0.43

1.25

0.64

0.98

Total revenues ($)

17.60

17.42

17.94

18.39

17.39

17.18

Expenses (per cwt)            
Personnel ($)

3.65

3.32

2.72

2.81

3.68

3.23

Purchased feed ($)

6.87

7.71

6.95

7.43

6.87

7.14

Crops ($)

0.57

0.46

0.27

0.41

0.52

0.39

Machinery ($)

0.83

1.00

0.63

0.62

1.14

0.72

Livestock ($)

1.85

2.38

1.66

2.12

1.84

1.87

Milk marketing ($)

1.15

1.09

1.09

1.14

1.04

1.14

Buildings and land ($)

0.80

0.40

0.35

0.73

0.43

0.40

Interest ($)

0.79

0.27

0.39

0.71

0.35

0.40

Depreciation:            
  • Livestock ($)

0.75

0.44

1.51

0.91

1.01

0.85

  • Machinery ($)

0.59

0.37

0.50

0.49

0.35

0.62

  • Buildings ($)

0.18

0.16

0.29

0.19

0.15

0.30

Other expenses ($)

1.22

0.66

0.91

0.92

0.95

0.95

Total expenses ($)

19.26

18.27

17.28

18.47

18.32

18.02

Net farm income from operations ($)

(1.66)

(0.85)

0.66

(0.09)

(0.93)

(0.84)

Gain on sale of capital assets ($)

(0.13)

0.29

0.15

0.14

(0.00)

0.13

Net farm income ($)

(1.79)

(0.56)

0.81

0.06

(0.93)

(0.71)

Table 2.3. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Financial performance by average number of cows and milk per cow.

 

Average number of cows

Milk per cow (lbs / year)

Category

< 500

500-

1150

> 1150

< 16,600

16,600-

19,500

> 19,500

Number of farms

9

8

9

9

8

9

Liquidity            
Current ratio

1.00

1.70

3.29

0.67

2.26

3.12

Working capital

(15,265)

(142,326)

(324,236)

56,470

(146,443)

(392,311)

Solvency            
Debt to asset ratio

0.46

0.24

0.52

0.46

0.34

0.44

Equity to asset ratio

0.54

0.76

0.48

0.54

0.66

0.56

Debt to equity ratio1

3.35

0.41

(506.11)

3.27

0.85

(506.43)

Profitability

           

Rate of return on assets

(0.05)

(0.02)

0.04

(0.01)

0.00

(0.02)

Rate of return on equity

(0.29)

(0.04)

(0.21)

(0.22)

(0.01)

(0.30)

Operating profit margin ratio

(0.16)

(0.05)

0.05

(0.04)

(0.09)

(0.05)

Financial efficiency

           

Asset turnover rate

0.46

0.82

0.84

0.74

0.61

0.73

Operating expense ratio

0.98

0.98

0.82

0.89

0.96

0.92

Depreciation expense ratio

0.09

0.06

0.13

0.09

0.09

0.10

Interest expense ratio

0.04

0.02

0.02

0.04

0.02

0.02

Net farm income ratio

(0.11)

(0.05)

0.03

(0.01)

(0.07)

(0.05)

Repayment capacity

           

Cash flow coverage ratio

0.56

(2.37)

2.31

0.63

(2.02)

1.93

Term debt coverage ratio2

(0.00)

(0.64)

1.50

(0.11)

0.73

0.39

Capital replacement margin3

(163,538)

(2,965)

(249,283)

236,269

(158,648)

(510,706)

1One dairy with a very small negative equity had a very large negative debt to equity ratio.

2Term debt and capital lease coverage ratio.

3Capital replacement and term debt repayment margin.

Table 2.4. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Balance sheet by average number of cows and milk per cow.

 

Average number of cows

Milk per cow (lbs / year)

Category

< 500

500-

1150

> 1150

< 16,600

16,600-

19,500

> 19,500

Number of farms

9

8

9

9

8

9

Balance sheet (January 1)            
Current assets / cow ($)

389

291

770

286

364

809

Total assets / cow ($)

7,943

5,529

4,194

4,802

6,903

6,112

Current liabilities / cow ($)

734

390

808

603

660

698

Total liabilities / cow ($)

2,317

1,018

2,282

2,181

1,769

1,751

Equity / cow ($)

5,625

4,511

1,911

2,622

5,134

4,361

Balance sheet (December 31)            
Current assets / cow ($)

364

270

687

214

412

710

Total assets / cow ($)

8,999

5,825

4,007

4,573

6,982

7,404

Current liabilities / cow ($)

343

431

845

297

514

816

Total liabilities / cow ($)

2,723

1,057

2,181

2,051

1,778

2,212

Equity / cow ($)

6,275

4,768

1,826

2,522

5,204

5,192

Table 3.1. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Business size and production efficiency by net farm income per cwt and rate of return on assets.

 

Net farm income / cwt ($)

Rate of return on assets (%)

Category

< $(1.15)

$(1.15) -

$0.50

> $0.50

< (4.45)%

(4.45)% -

0.5%

> 0.5%

Number of farms

9

8

9

9

8

9

Business Size            
Average number of cows

839

1,802

1,362

440

2,183

1,422

Average number of heifers

309

906

675

278

985

636

Milk sold (million lbs)

15.71

36.19

23.46

7.56

43.54

25.07

FTE workers

19

34

22

12

40

23

Acres of pasture + cultivated land

485

808

910

317

1,072

843

           
Production Efficiency            
Milk sold / cow (lbs)

17,252

19,622

17,220

16,626

18,901

18,487

Cows / FTE worker

42

58

65

41

61

63

Milk sold / FTE worker (million lbs)

0.70

1.10

1.11

0.66

1.12

1.14

Cull rate

0.46

0.38

0.37

0.49

0.38

0.34

Table 3.2. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Revenues and expenses by net farm income per cwt and rate of return on assets.

 

Net farm income / cwt ($)

Rate of return on assets (%)

Category

< $(1.15)

$(1.15) -

$0.50

> $0.50

< (4.45)%

(4.45)% -

0.5%

> 0.5%

Number of farms

9

8

9

9

8

9

Revenues (per cwt)            
Milk sold ($)

15.68

15.72

16.26

15.62

16.12

15.97

Raised, leased cow sales ($)

(0.03)

0.82

0.33

0.04

0.55

0.51

Heifer sales ($)

0.05

0.32

0.40

0.04

0.36

0.37

Gain on purchased livestock sales ($)

(0.03)

(0.16)

0.73

(0.19)

0.30

0.48

Other revenues ($)

1.45

0.40

0.99

1.82

0.45

0.57

Total revenues ($)

17.12

17.09

18.71

17.33

17.77

17.89

Expenses (per cwt)            
Personnel ($)

4.28

3.00

2.37

4.01

2.93

2.70

Purchased feed ($)

7.79

7.48

6.23

7.50

7.67

6.36

Crops ($)

0.27

0.44

0.60

0.42

0.45

0.43

Machinery ($)

0.98

0.80

0.66

0.94

0.83

0.68

Livestock ($)

2.20

1.95

1.69

2.42

1.89

1.52

Milk marketing ($)

0.97

1.18

1.19

0.99

1.22

1.13

Buildings and land ($)

0.42

0.31

0.81

0.85

0.29

0.40

Interest ($)

0.72

0.32

0.42

0.67

0.43

0.37

Depreciation:            
  • Livestock ($)

0.91

0.63

1.18

0.67

1.19

0.92

  • Machinery ($)

0.36

0.52

0.60

0.41

0.40

0.66

  • Buildings ($)

0.20

0.20

0.24

0.14

0.39

0.14

Other expenses ($)

1.21

0.76

0.83

1.16

0.91

0.76

Total expenses ($)

20.29

17.60

16.84

20.17

18.60

16.07

Net farm income from operations ($)

(3.17)

(0.51)

1.87

(2.84)

(0.82)

1.82

Gain on sale of capital assets ($)

(0.17)

0.18

0.29

(0.17)

0.32

0.17

Net farm income ($)

(3.34)

(0.33)

2.16

(3.01)

(0.51)

1.99

Table 3.3. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Financial performance by net farm income per cwt and rate of return on assets.

 

Net farm income / cwt ($)

Rate of return on assets (%)

Category

< $(1.15)

$(1.15) -

$0.50

> $0.50

< (4.45)%

(4.45)% -

0.5%

> 0.5%

Number of farms

9

8

9

9

8

9

Liquidity            
Current ratio

1.57

1.01

3.33

1.58

0.51

3.76

Working capital

(285,656)

(617,762)

368,764

(93,853)

(867,383)

398,847

Solvency            
Debt to asset ratio

0.40

0.35

0.49

0.39

0.50

0.36

Equity to asset ratio

0.60

0.65

0.51

0.61

0.50

0.64

Debt to equity ratio1

(506.48)

0.72

3.44

3.11

(569.61)

0.81

Profitability

           

Rate of return on assets

(0.08)

(0.02)

0.07

(0.08)

(0.03)

0.08

Rate of return on equity

(0.42)

(0.06)

(0.06)

(0.36)

(0.36)

0.15

Operating profit margin ratio

(0.22)

(0.04)

0.09

(0.22)

(0.05)

0.10

Financial efficiency

           

Asset turnover rate

0.48

0.83

0.80

0.49

0.71

0.90

Operating expense ratio

1.07

0.93

0.77

1.07

0.91

0.79

Depreciation expense ratio

0.09

0.08

0.11

0.07

0.11

0.09

Interest expense ratio

0.04

0.02

0.02

0.04

0.02

0.02

Net farm income ratio

(0.20)

(0.03)

0.10

(0.18)

(0.05)

0.10

Repayment capacity

           

Cash flow coverage ratio

(2.62)

0.88

2.60

(2.49)

0.07

3.20

Term debt coverage ratio2

(0.97)

0.20

1.72

(1.06)

0.30

1.72

Capital replacement margin3

(315,482)

(813,319)

622,976

(226,751)

(935,347)

642,714

1One dairy with a very small negative equity had a very large negative debt to equity ratio.

2Term debt and capital lease coverage ratio.

3Capital replacement and term debt repayment margin.

Table 3.4. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Balance sheet by net farm income per cwt and rate of return on assets.

 

Net farm income / cwt ($)

Rate of return on assets (%)

Category

< $(1.15)

$(1.15) -

$0.50

> $0.50

< (4.45)%

(4.45)% -

0.5%

> 0.5%

Number of farms

9

8

9

9

8

9

Balance sheet (January 1)            
Current assets / cow ($)

290

751

460

238

809

460

Total assets / cow ($)

8,064

5,569

4,036

7,915

5,502

4,244

Current liabilities / cow ($)

561

766

647

764

894

330

Total liabilities / cow ($)

2,177

1,354

2,124

2,049

2,183

1,515

Equity / cow ($)

5,887

4,214

1,913

5,866

3,319

2,730

Balance sheet (December 31)            
Current assets / cow ($)

356

638

367

297

730

344

Total assets / cow ($)

9,100

5,787

3,939

9,026

5,257

4,485

Current liabilities / cow ($)

525

847

293

429

1,050

208

Total liabilities / cow ($)

2,098

2,024

1,947

2,005

2,322

1,775

Equity / cow ($)

7,003

3,763

1,992

7,021

2,935

2,710

Table 4.1. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Business size and production efficiency by assets per cow and liabilities per cow.

 

Assets per cow ($)

Liabilities per cow ($)

Category

< $4,000

$4,000-

$5,200

> $5,200

< $1,400

$1,400-

$2,400

> $2,400

Number of farms

9

8

9

9

8

9

Business Size            
Average number of cows

1,438

1,979

605

1,160

1,624

1,199

Average number of heifers

711

707

450

739

738

394

Milk sold (million lbs)

25.29

38.21

12.07

22.21

29.92

22.53

FTE workers

27

33

15

27

29

18

Acres of pasture + cultivated land

838

1,021

368

615

959

647

           
Production Efficiency            
Milk sold / cow (lbs)

16,629

18,457

18,880

19,163

17,793

16,936

Cows / FTE worker

63

63

39

46

55

64

Milk sold / FTE worker (million lbs)

1.03

1.14

0.74

0.86

0.94

1.10

Cull rate

0.41

0.32

0.46

0.43

0.34

0.43

Table 4.2. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Revenues and expenses by assets per cow and liabilities per cow.

 

Assets per cow ($)

Liabilities per cow ($)

Category

< $4,000

$4,000-

$5,200

> $5,200

< $1,400

$1,400-

$2,400

> $2,400

Number of farms

9

8

9

9

8

9

Revenues (per cwt)            
Milk sold ($)

16.09

16.03

15.57

15.72

15.78

16.15

Raised, leased cow sales ($)

0.67

0.20

0.19

0.30

0.29

0.48

Heifer sales ($)

0.16

0.24

0.37

0.23

0.08

0.43

Gain on purchased livestock sales ($)

(0.04)

0.85

(0.17)

0.13

0.34

0.11

Other revenues ($)

0.98

0.50

1.37

0.90

0.73

1.24

Total revenues ($)

17.85

17.83

17.32

17.29

17.23

18.42

Expenses (per cwt)            
Personnel ($)

2.65

2.65

4.32

3.86

2.98

2.80

Purchased feed ($)

6.97

7.07

7.41

7.50

7.06

6.90

Crops ($)

0.33

0.44

0.53

0.35

0.56

0.41

Machinery ($)

0.65

0.75

1.03

0.92

0.88

0.65

Livestock ($)

1.87

1.79

2.17

2.08

1.92

1.83

Milk marketing ($)

1.09

1.20

1.05

1.05

1.11

1.17

Buildings and land ($)

0.87

0.31

0.36

0.43

0.42

0.70

Interest ($)

0.38

0.49

0.61

0.19

0.41

0.87

Depreciation:            
  • Livestock ($)

0.81

1.43

0.56

0.32

0.68

1.72

  • Machinery ($)

0.60

0.47

0.40

0.37

0.67

0.45

  • Buildings ($)

0.18

0.33

0.15

0.11

0.25

0.29

Other expenses ($)

0.96

0.93

0.94

0.79

0.88

1.15

Total expenses ($)

17.36

17.86

19.54

17.97

17.82

18.96

Net farm income from operations ($)

0.50

(0.03)

(2.22)

(0.68)

(0.59)

(0.54)

Gain on sale of capital assets ($)

(0.02)

0.46

(0.12)

(0.04)

0.34

0.02

Net farm income ($)

0.48

0.43

(2.34)

(0.73)

(0.25)

(0.52)

Table 4.3. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Financial performance by assets per cow and liabilities per cow.

 

Assets per cow ($)

Liabilities per cow ($)

Category

< $4,000

$4,000-

$5,200

> $5,200

< $1,400

$1,400-

$2,400

> $2,400

Number of farms

9

8

9

9

8

9

Liquidity            
Current ratio

1.23

0.65

3.98

2.09

1.42

2.44

Working capital

(298,290)

(384,520)

174,073

(117,986)

(147,344)

(217,054)

Solvency            
Debt to asset ratio

0.45

0.52

0.28

0.18

0.39

0.67

Equity to asset ratio

0.55

0.48

0.72

0.82

0.61

0.33

Debt to equity ratio1

3.36

(569.59)

0.54

0.26

0.71

(503.29)

Profitability

           

Rate of return on assets

0.02

0.00

(0.04)

0.00

(0.02)

(0.01)

Rate of return on equity

(0.18)

(0.30)

(0.09)

(0.02)

(0.06)

(0.47)

Operating profit margin ratio

0.01

0.00

(0.18)

(0.06)

(0.04)

(0.07)

Financial efficiency

           

Asset turnover rate

1.02

0.72

0.36

0.88

0.56

0.64

Operating expense ratio

0.87

0.86

1.04

0.98

0.92

0.86

Depreciation expense ratio

0.09

0.12

0.07

0.05

0.09

0.14

Interest expense ratio

0.02

0.03

0.03

0.01

0.02

0.05

Net farm income ratio

0.02

(0.01)

(0.14)

(0.04)

(0.04)

(0.05)

Repayment capacity

           

Cash flow coverage ratio

1.53

0.34

(1.07)

(1.41)

1.51

0.84

Term debt coverage ratio2

1.68

0.47

(1.17)

0.96

(0.25)

0.19

Capital replacement margin3

(105,742)

(352,377)

3,509

(72,767)

(294,954)

(80,509)

1One dairy with a very small negative equity had a very large negative debt to equity ratio.

2Term debt and capital lease coverage ratio.

3Capital replacement and term debt repayment margin.

Table 4.4. 

DBAP 2003 Summary - Balance sheet by assets per cow and liabilities per cow.

 

Assets per cow ($)

Liabilities per cow ($)

Category

< $4,000

$4,000-

$5,200

> $5,200

< $1,400

$1,400-

$2,400

> $2,400

Number of farms

9

8

9

9

8

9

Balance sheet (January 1)            
Current assets / cow ($)

287

816

406

336

712

449

Total assets / cow ($)

3,229

4,523

9,802

6,186

5,929

5,594

Current liabilities / cow ($)

863

747

361

406

469

1,066

Total liabilities / cow ($)

1,653

2,331

1,779

664

1,588

3,428

Equity / cow ($)

1,576

2,191

8,022

5,522

4,342

2,165

Balance sheet (December 31)            
Current assets / cow ($)

342

624

393

358

602

398

Total assets / cow ($)

3,298

4,238

11,118

7,547

6,157

5,164

Current liabilities / cow ($)

646

811

205

450

535

645

Total liabilities / cow ($)

1,662

2,189

2,236

697

2,217

3,176

Equity / cow ($)

1,636

2,050

8,881

6,850

3,940

1,987

Footnotes

1.

This document is DS178, one of a series of the Animal Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date January 2005. Reviewed June 2012. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

A. de Vries, Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Sciences; R. Giesy, Extension Agent IV; L. Ely, Professor, Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia; B. Broaddus, Extension Agent I; C. Vann, Extension Agent II; B. Butler, Graduate Student, Department of Animal Sciences; Cooperative Extension Service, UF/IFAS, Gainesville, FL 32611.


The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.