Technical efficiency in dairy farms: Research framework, literature classification and research agenda
International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management
ISSN: 1741-0401
Article publication date: 6 March 2017
Abstract
Purpose
This systematic literature review integrates the findings of existing studies regarding technical efficiency (TE) in dairy farms. The purpose of this paper is to offer a research framework that assembles TE descriptors, a classification of previous literature that provides the basis for the synthesis and research agenda.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper systematically reviews 86 survey research studies using rigorous and reproducible procedures. The review is applied to published survey research.
Findings
The framework relates context, inputs, outputs and metrics of TE. There is no agreement among the authors on the context and determinants of TE. The main determinants of TE are geographical location, farm size, investments in veterinary care, feeding and milking practice, TE model estimation techniques, public policy, and management-related variables. This paper offers ten propositions for future research on the controversial results on the determinants of TE. The authors also explore the reasons for the discrepant results based on the Debreu-Farrell’s definition of TE, the contingency theory and the resource-based view of the firm, elucidating the literature and serving as a basis for future investigation. Implications for dairy farmers and researchers close the review.
Originality/value
Meta-analysis and meta-regression studies were long at the forefront of reviews in the TE of dairy farms. This paper offers a novel qualitative research synthesis with frameworks and the classification of previous literature and a research agenda, which provides a new and different perspective for analysis, by innovating over the available quantitative procedures to combine statistical results.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the two referees and the editor for their comments and suggestions, as well as the research agencies CAPES, CNPq, FAPERJ and Alexander-von-Humboldt (BEX 8221/14-6) for their support.
Citation
Mareth, T., Thomé, A.M.T., Scavarda, L.F. and Cyrino Oliveira, F.L. (2017), "Technical efficiency in dairy farms: Research framework, literature classification and research agenda", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 66 No. 3, pp. 380-404. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-09-2015-0131
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited