M.Com. / The per capita consumption of fresh milk, a product of one of the primary production sectors in the developing economy of South Africa, namely agriculture, has declined from 61,1 kg in October 1962 to 32,0 kg in September 1983. During the period July 1973 to June 1984, the total volume of fresh milksold has declined by approximately 4 percent. A major contributing factor in this regard is the 26 percent decrease in the share of the door-to-door delivery operation during the same period. In addition, cost spirals, inflation and price regulation had a significant impact on the profit margin of the door-to-door delivery operation. These factors necessitate a review of alternatives which will improve the economy of the delivery operation whilst maintaining an acceptable level of customer service. In order to optimise the interrelationship between cost and customer service, important managerial and operational aspects of the existing door-to-door delivery . operation have been identified. Suggestions in this regard are based on the most widely acceptable theories in physical distribution, as well as consumer preferences which have been obtained by means of a questjonnaire distributed to a representative sample of the East Rand population. It was found that irrespective of the method which may be considered to economise the door-to-door delivery operation, the application of the physical distribution concept, in terms of organisational structure and cost accounting, will enhance the effectiveness and influence the success of implementation. It was found that physical distribution functions, and specifically order placing and processing, storage, despatch, returns, transport and production forecasting should be allocated to the distribution department. Due to the interrelationships that exist within and between the above functions which form part of the physical distribution system, the application of the total cost approach is necessary. The present method and procedure of traditional cost accounting and cost allocation are insufficient when evaluating the possible effect of implementing measures which may result in improved economy on the door-to-door delivery operation. In studying available literature, it was determined that alternatives which may economise the delivery operation, can be categorised as follows: -Methods to increase volumes, and -methods to reduce costs. Volumes can be increased by increasing the number of households to which fresh milk is delivered from door to door. However, consumers consider security of money and delivered product (24,1 percent), reliability of the delivery service (21,5 percent) and inconvenient times of delivery (22,9 percent) as the three most important reasons for not making use of the service. Convenience (41,7 percent) and price aspects (24,7 percent) have been found the two most important factors why consumers obtain fresh milk by means of the door-to-door delivery operation. Of the total number of consumers who normally buy their fresh milk requirements from cafes and supermarkets, approximately 52 percent indicated that they will make use of the delivery service provided reliability and more convenient times of delivery are ensured. It was found that by introducing a wider product range, packaging sizes will not have a significant impact on the volumes per point of sale as fresh orange (50,9 percent) and guava juice (27,8 percent) is preferred in one litre glass bottles. The above products are at present obtainable from the door-to-door delivery service. With regard to methods that may reduce physical distribution costs, 70,7 percent of the consumers indicated they will discontinue the delivery service if products were to be delivered at central points only. It was found that delivery vehicles are utilised for 6,7 hours (36 percent) per day and significant savings in fixed vehicle costs (35 percent) can be achieved by introducing two vehicle shifts (re-scheduling). Of the total number of consumers who normally obtain fresh milk by means of the door-to-door delivery operation, 91,8 percent indicated they will continue with the service even if delivery is only effected in the late afternoon.

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document Copyright 2000, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Beyers, L 2000, The structure of South African milk production technology: a parametric approach to supply analysis , MScAgric dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd- 02152006-112153/ > H128/th / Dissertation (MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / unrestricted

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A 1979 survey of labor practices of 321 randomly selected Virginia dairy herds was analyzed and labor data were combined with DHI records to determine for Holstein herds the relationship of labor management with subsequent enrollment in the Dairy Herd Improvement program, and the effect of labor management variables on the change in production variables through eight subsequent years. Employees classified as herds person received the highest monthly cash wage ($964) and those classified as calf person received the lowest wage ($562). Herds persons were the most educated type of employee with 65% having at least a high school education and half of those having attended college. The percent of farms remaining on DHI was influenced by cash wage, 67% for under $300/mo and 87% for above $999/mo. For production, 31% of the low production herds remained on DHI versus 84% for high production. In 1978, herds persons trained before hiring were associated with 955 kg more fat corrected milk per year. Herds where herds persons worked many hours for low pay had the largest increase in days open from 1978 to 1986. Milkers with more education were associated with a larger increase in fat corrected milk, but employment status for herds persons was more influential than for milkers in reducing mastitis. Increase in $100 in pay benefits for feeders working many hours resulted in 300 kg more milk. Feeders who were qualified before hiring also increased milk yield. High pay and many hours of work for fieldmen led to a significant 4 d reduction in days open, while low pay and many hours were related to increased breedings per conception. The importance of employees being trained before hiring was beneficial for most types of employees and several production variables. Difficulty keeping good workers, though detrimental to remaining on DHI, was associated with improved production, possibly because of a demand for quality efforts. Availability of educational programs was associated with reduced production, while availability of reading materials was beneficial to many DHI variables. Though not all results can be explained, several models had squared correlations between 50 and 80%. / Master of Science

A study was conducted to determine the break-even point of three comparative fluid milk casing and stacking operations. The first comparative models consisted of two filling machines with the processed cartons manually cased and stacked, compared with automated casing and stacking, on a cost basis. The second comparative models consisted of three filling machines with the processed cartons cased and stacked as in the first comparative models. The third comparative models consisted of four filling machines with the processed cartons cased and stacked as in the first and second set of models. The break-even point of the first comparative models was not reached within a 24 hour period based on 260 operating days per year. However, components of automation in the packing handling phase of the fluid milk plant operation were considered. The break-even point of the second comparative models was reached after 18-1/2 hours of operation. It is advisable for the operator of this combination of filling equipment to consider automation if he is operating the plant more than 18-1/2 hours per day. If this is not feasible, then those components of automation should be considered that would result in the greatest reduction in the packing handling costs of the processed milk. The break-even point of the third comparative models was reached at slightly over seven hours of operation. The operator will realize a savings by installing the automated equipment if it is operated at or above seven hours per day. / Master of Science

Agro-terrorism has become a major concern since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks due to characteristics that create unique problems for managing the threat of an agro-terrorist attack. The costs of trucking delays alone were in the tens of millions of dollars. Over the last few years, the government has spent billions of dollars on biological surveillance and record keeping in preventing potential attacks. Several public and private initiatives are currently in use. Examples include 1) the bio-terrorism regulation of 2004 on maintenance of records; 2) establishment of food protection centers for research and teaching excellence; and 3) investments in emerging technology, such as radio frequency monitoring (RFEM) technology, with the potential to track shipments and provide real-time data that can be used to prevent agro-terrorism risks along food supply chains. This thesis addresses the costs and risk premiums associated with alternative tracking strategies, where and when along the milk supply chain these strategies will reduce the most risks, and what policy implications are associated with the most costeffective tracking strategy. To accomplish these objectives, stochastic optimization is used to determine the costs and risk premiums of alternative tracking strategies. Next, the realoptions method along with a portfolio of options, also referred to as the "tomato garden" framework, is used to determine where and when alternative intervention strategies should be implemented to reduce the most risks. Finally, policy implications are derived on the cost-risk tradeoffs, probability of attacks, and containment efforts if there is an attack by using game theory to determine the incentives needed to motivate participants in the milk supply chain to invest in security measures.

MScAgric / ABSTRACT: Small dairy farms in South Africa are observed to have higher costs than larger farms, and whether those higher costs are due to technology or inefficiency has implications for policy. This research focused on finding the curve that best represents the relationship between average cost and level of output. That was done by relating average cost to actual output. However, it was found to be more appropriate to relate average cost to planned output on the basis that costs are more likely to reflect what the farmer expects output to be. As a result, a pragmatic two-step procedure was adopted. In the first step, the farmer’s planned output was determined by estimating a production function based on the farmer’s actual use of inputs, i.e., land, number of cows in the herd, labour, feed and veterinary costs. In the second step, the long-run average cost (LAC) curve was estimated where average cost is calculated as total cost divided by planned output and this is then related to the level of planned output. To identify the determinants of production cost thus the drivers of higher costs on small farms, the cost of milk production by farm size was decomposed into frontier and efficiency components with a stochastic cost curve and long run cost curve using data from dairy farms in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa). Financial data of 37 farms for the period 1999 to 2007 were used in econometrics estimation of long run average cost curve (LAC) function for different level of production (as a proxy of planned output). Results show that average cost curves exhibiting variation in unit cost with output thus suggesting the existence of economies of size with larger farms being able to produce any given level of output at lower costs compared to their smaller counterparts. The study found that long-run average cost curve (LAC) for the sample of dairy farms is L-shaped rather than U-shaped.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Technology: Public Management, Durban University of Technology, 2017. / Disasters are on the increase globally with devastating effects. The devastation caused by these disasters in various countries highlights the need for increased commitment and investment, by government and various stakeholders, in disaster risk reduction. This study investigated disaster risk reduction strategies in Zimbabwe’s dairy supply chains. The study was initiated on the premise that Zimbabwe is at high risk and vulnerable to natural and man-made hazards. The study is set in the backdrop of declining output across all agricultural sectors evident particularly in the dairy farming sector that has seen inadequate supply of raw milk and dairy products by local producers in Zimbabwe. This study therefore sought to assess the collaborative strategies by government, dairy organisations and dairy supply chain stakeholders to reduce disaster risks in the dairy industry. The study employed a mixed-method approach (qualitative and quantitative) to investigate collaborative disaster risk reduction strategies used by dairy supply chain stakeholders to avoid supply chain disruptions. The study used a sample size of 92 dairy farmers, from major milk producing regions of Zimbabwe, for the questionnaire. The Cronbach alpha test for reliability showed a reliable questionnaire. Furthermore, the study used information from key informants, 30 retailers and 20 dairy officers for one-on-one interviews. Quantitative data was analysed using STATA (version 13). OLS regression analysis was done and results were compared with those of the Tobit models as a test for robustness of the results. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis derived from observations and interviews and descriptive statistics presented in tables and bar charts. Notable in the literature reviewed is lack of coordination amongst stakeholders in strategies to reduce disaster risks in dairy supply chains in Zimbabwe. This study adopted a collaborative proactive framework and tested it as a strategy to reduce disaster risks in dairy supply chains. The study gives four major findings. Firstly, dairy supply chains in Zimbabwe were exposed to a number of risks which are: international competition, competition from local giants, financial risks, political risks, technological risks, environmental risks and production risks. Secondly, findings from regression analysis indicated that an overall index of disaster risks significantly influenced job losses, food security, milk productivity and growth of ventures in dairy businesses. Thirdly, there were isolated cases of planned coordination by stakeholders in the industry to reduce the negative effects of disasters across the supply chain. There was collaboration among dairy farmers, processors, NGOs, and government departments of agriculture and environment. Fourthly, an index of collaborative strategies regressed against dependent variables of variables of supply chain cost, lead time milk sales, and variety and quality of milk demonstrated that collaborative strategies in dairy supply chain significantly influenced supply chain costs and variety and quality of milk and milk products. It is expected that the study will assist government in the formulation of public policies for the dairy sector leading to improved access to high quality raw milk and milk products for consumers thus resulting in improved nutrition and food security for the people of Zimbabwe. Policy recommendations highlight that instead of the current maximum of the 5 year lease given to white commercial farmers, the government should consider issuing out long term leases in order to protect long-term investment in dairy projects. Government should, therefore, create an enabling environment for stakeholder partnerships in the dairy sector. / D